2023 Commencement: Take the less-traveled road New physicians, research scientists and instructors at SIU School of Medicine received their diplomas on May 20, at the school’s 49th annual commencement. The ceremony at the Performing Arts Center at the University of Illinois Springfield celebrated the achievements of the graduates and featured speeches from faculty members, alumni and administrators. Greg Poland, MD, was the commencement speaker. Poland is the director of Mayo Clinic’s Vaccine Research Group, editor-in-chief of the journal Vaccine and has been a medical advisor to four U.S