Children entering pre-k, kindergarten, 6th or 9th grade, or who are new to Springfield Public School District 186, are required to have school physicals and immunizations. Meningococcal vaccines are also required for all students entering 12th grade if they have not already had the vaccine. Parents are encouraged to schedule appointments with their children’s primary care doctor or physician. Families who do not have a primary care doctor or who have difficulty accessing medical care may benefit from free clinics held in August. “Having a primary care physician within a medical home is crucial

The month of August is marked by several significant events: the Illinois State Fair, kids returning to school and, of course, World Breastfeeding Week, celebrated Aug. 1-7 every year worldwide! In honor of one of the breast, er, best weeks of the year, we spoke with SIU School of Medicine certified lactation counselor Melissa Nicol, RD, to answer the most frequently asked questions about breastfeeding. What are the benefits of breastfeeding? Breastfeeding has numerous benefits for mother and baby. Some of the benefits breast milk provides to babies include: antibodies to provide protection

Family physicians in six Illinois communities are hosting students from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine July 31 – August 25. The students are participating in the school’s Family Medicine Preceptorship Program. [See the list below for the student or physician from your community.] The experience provides an opportunity for students to use their medical knowledge in an office setting under the supervision of an experienced physician. The students choose from more than 160 family practice physicians in Illinois for their preceptorship experience. They will graduate from medical

Family physicians in six Illinois communities are hosting students from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine July 31 – August 25. The students are participating in the school’s Family Medicine Preceptorship Program. [See the list below for the student or physician from your community.] The experience provides an opportunity for students to use their medical knowledge in an office setting under the supervision of an experienced physician. The students choose from more than 160 family practice physicians in Illinois for their preceptorship experience. They will graduate from medical

Family physicians in six Illinois communities are hosting students from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine July 31 – August 25. The students are participating in the school’s Family Medicine Preceptorship Program. [See the list below for the student or physician from your community.] The experience provides an opportunity for students to use their medical knowledge in an office setting under the supervision of an experienced physician. The students choose from more than 160 family practice physicians in Illinois for their preceptorship experience. They will graduate from medical

Looking for a pediatrician to schedule a back-to-school physical for your child? Southern Illinois University Medicine will open a pediatrics clinic in Decatur on August 2. Sandra Yockey, MD, a board-certified pediatrician, is accepting new patients at the lower level of 102 W. Kenwood Ave., in Decatur, between the hours of 8 am – 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. “As a pediatrician, I enjoy learning each child’s story and then working with families to figure out what plan of care seems best for that child and that family,” Yockey said. “It’s an honor to be trusted by families and a real joy to

Looking for a pediatrician to schedule a back-to-school physical for your child? Southern Illinois University Medicine will open a pediatrics clinic in Decatur on August 2. Sandra Yockey, MD, a board-certified pediatrician, is accepting new patients at the lower level of 102 W. Kenwood Ave., in Decatur, between the hours of 8 am – 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. “As a pediatrician, I enjoy learning each child’s story and then working with families to figure out what plan of care seems best for that child and that family,” Yockey said. “It’s an honor to be trusted by families and a real joy to

When a house is robbed, rarely is the question posed of “Why was the house decorated that way if it didn’t want burglarized?” When a car is broken into, no one says “Well it should have been covered up.” But when someone is sexually harassed, assaulted or raped, those are always the first words uttered. Survivors or sexual assault face not only unimaginable trauma, but judgment after the fact. Many survivors don’t report attacks to avoid this or because of the societally prevalent idea that no one would believe them anyway. In the first of two blogs examining why victims don’t report attacks, we’re looking at sexual assault. We spoke to Jeanné Hansen, licensed clinical social worker with the SIU School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry, about why these crimes go so heavily unreported.

When a house is robbed, rarely is the question posed of “Why was the house decorated that way if it didn’t want burglarized?” When a car is broken into, no one says “Well it should have been covered up.” But when someone is sexually harassed, assaulted or raped, those are always the first words uttered. Survivors or sexual assault face not only unimaginable trauma, but judgment after the fact. Many survivors don’t report attacks to avoid this or because of the societally prevalent idea that no one would believe them anyway. In the first of two blogs examining why victims don’t report attacks, we’re looking at sexual assault. We spoke to Jeanné Hansen, licensed clinical social worker with the SIU School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry, about why these crimes go so heavily unreported.

Heat stroke is one of the leading causes of death among children. “People must remember that temperatures of cars are very deceiving,” explains Dr. Wendi El-Amin, a family medicine physician at SIU Center for Family Medicine. “One of the greatest tragedies reported in the media each year involve children who are left in cars and die. Approximately 37 children pass away every year from this preventable tragedy.” Children are especially at risk because their bodies overheat approximately five times faster than an adult body. Even with the windows cracked, a vehicle can reach 125° F in minutes