![Commencement 2021](https://www.siumed.edu/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_1120/public/2021-10/SIU_Commencement_2021-7174.jpg?h=37fba25f&itok=haJJ2WI9)
Taking the field for 2021 Commencement
On a sunny Saturday afternoon in May, seventy physicians and three graduate students from SIU School of Medicine received their diplomas at the school’s 47th annual commencement.
![Jesse Britz](https://www.siumed.edu/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_1120/public/2021-10/Britz-17.jpg?h=28e6e82b&itok=_BJRG9UC)
Aspects of a Learner | Jesse Britz
Hailing from Divernon, Illinois, Jesse Britz is a pharmacology and neuroscience graduate student in the Department of Pharmacology. He has been the student representative of the Graduate Program Committee and chief coordinator of “Brain Awareness Week.”
New approaches needed to battle chronic diseases post-COVID
Since early 2020, health care systems around the world have been adapting to the pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now deep into its second year, its impact cannot be understated.
![John Flack](https://www.siumed.edu/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_1120/public/2021-12/Dr_Flack_Environmentals-8507.jpg?h=b8aa45f6&itok=J25noMwv)
Meet John Flack
Constantly moving medical care upstream Tucked in the far corner of John Flack’s finished basement is the fish room, a space filled floor to ceiling with aquariums — 135 of them, to be exact. Each
![woman stressed gloomy room](https://www.siumed.edu/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_1120/public/2021-10/Depressed-girl-iStock-sq-web.jpg?h=affda635&itok=7Q6FXLoH)
SIU Medicine enrolling patients for clinical study to treat depression
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, October 18, 2021 – Clinical depression affects more than 17 million people in the United States. Among those afflicted, 1 out of 3 has what is called treatment-resistant
![crystal awards for surgical education](https://www.siumed.edu/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_1120/public/2021-10/Surgery%20Teaching%20Awards%202021%20-8935.jpg?h=888f493f&itok=oCq2-bkQ)
Learners recognize surgical educators with 2021 teaching awards
Medical students and residents have determined the recipients of the 2021 Department of Surgery Teaching Awards. Nick Tadros, MD, MCR, was named the "Outstanding Educator of the Year." Emily Serafin
![stethoscope laptop](https://www.siumed.edu/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_1120/public/2021-06/iStock_000079867679_Full.jpg?h=67a61902&itok=3z1rvoNj)
Report, Webinar Focuses on Impact of COVID-19 and the Rural Health Workforce
SPRINGFIELD, IL – A new report dissects the impact of COVID-19 on the rural health workforce and identifies methods the state can utilize current health workers more efficiently while committing to
![Eric Hargan](https://www.siumed.edu/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_1120/public/2021-09/HEADSHOT%20-%20HARGAN.jpg?h=bc36c6a0&itok=qfkq_6Ih)
Former HHS Acting Secretary and Deputy Secretary Eric Hargan Joins SIU Medicine Population Science and Policy Advisory Board
Springfield, IL – SIU Medicine Department of Population Science and Policy (PSP), an academic medical department dedicated to improving the social determinants of health in rural and underserved
![Abdul Swied with patient](https://www.siumed.edu/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_1120/public/2021-09/Swied_Gastro-web.jpg?h=b3660f0d&itok=xOi0g__1)
Gastroenterology adds Fellowship program
The SIU Division of Gastroenterology has obtained ACGME accreditation for a new Fellowship program. The achievement has been reached after decades of development. A fellowship is advanced training a