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Six generations of family medicine
Growing up in Chicago, Cynthia Thomas, MD, didn’t always dream of being a doctor, but she wanted a career where she could help others and excelled at math and science in middle school. After hearing
![Students](https://www.siumed.edu/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_1120/public/2021-12/Students1CMYK.jpg?h=05142a12&itok=rI8cIzXE)
Student groups bond over adversities, diversity
In the days following the killings of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd and Breonna Taylor in spring 2020, protests erupted across the United States. Though a pandemic made gatherings more difficult
![Julio and Walter at COVID test site](https://www.siumed.edu/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_1120/public/2021-12/Julio_PastorWalterRivas-CovidTestSite-CMYK_0.jpg?h=b8aa45f6&itok=lU3eqItC)
Learning the language of trust
Julio Barrenzuela is adept at overcoming cultural barriers. Now, in the midst of a pandemic, he holds hope that an SIU outreach program can improve the health of Springfield’s Latino and undocumented
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Burnside, faculty make MEDPREP a welcoming environment
Fifteen years ago, Randy Burnside, PhD, was in New Orleans with his wife, her family and a new 2-month-old son when Hurricane Katrina struck, pushing 8 feet of water into their home. He had just been
![Inclusion](https://www.siumed.edu/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_1120/public/2021-12/Wendi_El-Amin_2020-3551-CMYK.jpg?h=e4912402&itok=PLSsDnL3)
Wendi Wills El-Amin’s journey to the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
“I'm a third-generation healer. My father is a physician; my grandmother delivered babies. It's part of my path and I want to honor this legacy.” Wendi Wills El-Amin, MD, is also a third-generation
![IDPH Lab 2](https://www.siumed.edu/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_1120/public/2021-12/IDPH%20Lab%20shoot%20Aspects%2043-2-7013%20CMYK.jpg?h=b8aa45f6&itok=AFdqoTuG)
Lab students step up, test up
The global pandemic has exposed some vulnerabilities within the American health care system that should surprise no one: International travel bans can disrupt supply lines. Fragmented health systems
![COVID testing](https://www.siumed.edu/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_1120/public/2021-12/Dynda%20Covid%202%20CMYK.jpg?h=4ba415c6&itok=qUGpnT3n)
SIU School of Medicine’s COVID-19 Response
In March 2020, SIU School of Medicine faced the challenges of COVID-19 with a level of collaboration, innovation and resourcefulness that demonstrates the true strength of our organization. As the
![John Mellinger](https://www.siumed.edu/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_1120/public/2021-12/John%20Mellinger%20MD-5245.jpg?h=8a65af4b&itok=beAkKz97)
Leading in turbulent times
In her book Leadership in Turbulent Times, Doris Kearns Goodwin recounts the life stories and presidential journeys of Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt and Lyndon Johnson. A major
![IDPH Lab](https://www.siumed.edu/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_1120/public/2021-12/IDPH%20Lab%20shoot%20Aspects%2043-2-7128%20CMYK.jpg?h=b8aa45f6&itok=ggHHxgbc)
Research adds science, strength to SIU COVID response
State institutions are required to have emergency response plans in place for catastrophic events like floods, fires, tornadoes and active shooters. A global pandemic, on the other hand, is not