Carlson named new Pediatric Chair Douglas Carlson, MD SIU School of Medicine alumnus been named professor and chairman

V.38:7
10.10.14
IN THIS ISSUE
Carlson new Peds chair
Carlson named new Pediatric Chair
SIU School of Medicine alumnus
Douglas Carlson, MD, (ʹ84) has
been named professor and chairman
of the Department of Pediatrics.
BRA Day in Chicago
Primary Care Month
Civil Service advisor
Diversity Week events
Jingle Mingle
Calendar strips
Mammogram Mondays
Self defense clinic
Tuition assistance at SIU
Chili's is on a mission
SECA support
Denim & Diamonds
Employee of the Month
Caught in the Act
Publications
New faculty
Media coverage
CALENDAR
To submit an item to the School
calendar, click here:
www.siumed.edu/news
/calen.htm
OCTOBER
10.11
Walk to Stop Diabetes, 9 am
check in, 10 am start,
Washington Park. Come out to
support Team Sole Sisters.
Contact team captain Sara
Lopinski, 545-7985 and get more
info at
diabetes.org/stepoutcapitolcity
Carlson has spent his career at
Washington University School of
Medicine in St. Louis and St. Louis
Childrenʹs Hospital, most recently
as a pediatrics professor, director of
the pediatric hospitalist medicine division and Associate
Chief Medical Officer for Quality and Safety. He first
joined Wash U in 1987 after completing his residency
there.
Carlson serves in numerous leadership roles on
numerous committees and pediatric organizations. He is
the Workforce Taskforce Leader for the Pediatric Hospital
Medicine Leadership Committee, chair of the Society of
Hospital Medicine Pediatric Committee and chair of the
Pediatric Hospital Medicine National Conference
Planning Committee. (more)
SIU team in Chicago for BRA Day
The Institute for Plastic Surgery will again be showing its
support for Breast Reconstruction Awareness (BRA) Day
on October 12 at the Chicago Marathon and Fitness Expo.
The marathon is being held on the same weekend and at
the same location ‐‐ McCormick Center ‐‐ as the American
Society of Plastic Surgeons annual meeting.
Dr. Nicole Sommer and plastic surgery staff will host a
specially decorated BRA Day/SIU Plastic Surgery booth at
the expo, offering to take photos of interested runners.
Participants can download the photos at SIUʹs website,
where they will also receive information about BRA Day
and SIU Plastic Surgery. Guests will be encouraged to post
their photos on social media sites using the BRA Day and
SIU hashtags. The Institute also has special Breast Cancer
race bibs (below) available for runners to wear in honor or
memory of someone. 10.14
Mandatory online state ethics
training begins.
The BRA Day/SIU
team includes Dr.
Sommer, Bethany
Tschantz, Dina
Carr, Nicole West
and Maria Ansley.
10.14
Teaching on the Fly, noon - 1
pm, 913 N. Rutledge, Room
Also,
congratulations to
Dr. Sommer. She
1
1252. Dr. Harald Lausen
presents a Hit the Ground
Running talk for the Academy for
Scholarship in Education.
Videoconferenced to Carbondale
and Quincy Family Practice.
and her husband competed in the Little Debbie IRONMAN
competition in Chattanooga on Sept. 28 to benefit the
Crohns and Colitis Foundation of America, and she came
in first in her age group!
10.15
12th Annual Women's Health
Conference: Healthy, 'Wellthy'
and Wise, 7:45 am - 3:15 pm,
James T. Dove, MD Conference
Center, Prairie Heart Institute at
St. John's Hospital, 619 E. Mason
St. Special fee of $25 for SIU
SOM faculty, staff & residents;
www.siumed.edu/cme
October is Primary Care Month
10.16
Defensive Medicine: Real World
Cases of Doctors & Lawyers,
5:30 - 8 pm, Sangamo Club, 227
E. Adams. Joint meeting of the
Sangamon County Medical
Society and Sangamon County
Bar Association, 217-726-5106.
10.18
Walk in the Park for Epilepsy, 8
am registration, 9 - 11 am,
Washington Park playground
area. Register by phone
800-800-6401.
10.22
Brown Bag Lunch Series - The
100/0 Principle: The Secret of
Great Relationships, noon - 1
pm, 3A155 St. John's Pavilion,
presented by HR's David Ziebler.
Call 545-9741.
10.23
Blood drive, 10 am - 4 pm, 327
W. Calhoun, Prairie Sangamon
Rm.
SIU School of Medicine is top‐ranked in producing primary
care resident physicians. As part of Octoberʹs Primary Care
Month, medical students have organized activities to help
classmates and the public better understand the primary
care fields ‐‐ family practice, internal medicine and
pediatrics. The events are in Springfield, and SIU staff,
faculty and students are invited to attend or get involved in
the outreach activities. For more details, contact Tracey
Smith, 545‐2200.
■ Oct 14, Urban League Head Start Nutrition Training‐
Portion Size, 1108 E. Cook
■ Oct 15, 5:30 ‐ 6:30 pm, Health Care System Today ‐‐
Overview of Cost, Access, Quality of Care and ACA, Dr.
Nathan Moore, 913 N. Rutledge, Telehealth Rm. ■ Oct 16, 5 ‐ 6 pm, Direct Primary Care, Dr. Kristin
Newcome and Dr. Timothy Miller of Priority Health
Family Medicine, South Auditorium
■ Oct 21, Urban League Head Start Nutrition Training‐
Rethink Your Drink, 1108 E. Cook ■ Oct 22, 10 ‐ 11 am, Contact Ministries Breadline
■ Oct 22, 5:30 ‐ 6:30 pm, High Value Care: Informed
Decisions that Reduce Waste and Improve Health
Outcomes, Dr. Susan Hingle, South Auditorium
■ Oct 23, 9 am ‐ noon, Health Jam activities with Southern
View School, IPE Outreach Event, multiple SIU locations.
Morning tour guides and lunchtime delivery volunteers are
needed (the latter from 11:30 am ‐ noon). Contact Hope
Cherry at 545‐3825 to help.
10.25
Denim & Diamonds fundraiser, 6
pm, Crowne Plaza Springfield,
3000 S. Dirksen Parkway.
Simmons Cancer Institute hosts
the 14th annual event. See
article for details.
10.27
Sex, Bias and Health Outcomes,
4 - 5 pm, South Auditorium, 801
North Rutledge. Joslyn Fisher,
MD, Baylor College of Medicine,
delivers the keynote address for
Diversity Enrichment Week,
October 27-31, with daily
noon-day presentations followed
by a meal and roundtable
discussions. For more information
contact Dr. Wesley McNeese,
545-1323. See article for details.
10.28
ThinkFirst's 25th Anniversary
Party, 3 - 5 pm, Memorial MC
Rm. D229. Celebrating a quarter
A Black Hawk Elementary student travels through the
circulatory system obstacle course at the 2013 Health Jam.
■ Oct 23, Health Literacy Training at Urban League ■ Oct 24, 9 am ‐ noon, and noon ‐ 3 pm, Health Jam
activities with Southern View Elementary, IPE Outreach
Event, multiple SIU locations. Morning and afternoon tour
guides and lunchtime delivery volunteers are needed (the
latter from 11:30 am‐noon). Contact Hope to help.
■ Oct 27, 1:15 pm, Shoes That Fit at Enos Elementary
■ Oct 28, Urban League Head Start Nutrition Training‐
Celebrate Cooking, 1108 E. Cook ■ Oct 29, 10 am ‐ 1 pm, St. Johnʹs Breadline
2
century of injury prevention with
refreshments, games, prizes &
special guests.
NOVEMBER
11.12
Essential Immigration
Information for Students &
Faculty, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm,
913 N. Rutledge, Telehealth Rm.
1252. Attorneys Nancy Vizer and
Frank Martinez offer tips for
maintaining status, attaining
permanent residency and more.
Call 545-6601 for more info.
11.21
19th Annual Memory Loss
Conference for Professionals,
Crowne Plaza Hotel and
Conference Center, 3000 S.
Dirksen Pkwy.
www.siumed.edu/alz
11.22
19th Annual Memory Loss
Conference for Families, Care
Partners & General Public,
Crowne Plaza Hotel and
Conference Center, 3000 S.
Dirksen Pkwy.
www.siumed.edu/alz
PERSONNEL
Welcome to:
Barbara Butler, Certified Medical
Assistant, and Jayme Ray,
Medical Office Associate, Family
and Community Medicine Springfield
Jennifer Raines, Certified Nurse
Practitioner, Internal Medicine
Sherry Smith, Certified Nurse
Practitioner, Internal Medicine Endocrinology
JoEllen Powers, Office Manager,
Medical Humanities
Michelle Johnson, Certified
Nurse Practitioner, Neurology
Makisha Johnson, Medical Office
Associate, Psychiatry Clinic
Linn Downey, Account
Technician, SIU HealthCare
Patient Business Services
Farewell to:
Shari Randall, Center for
Alzheimer's Disease
Stephanie Davis, Family &
Community Medicine - Decatur
Brianne Farrell, Hazel Lewis
and Feiya Wang, Internal
Medicine
Martha Wolters (retirement),
Psychiatry Clinic
Catherine Holdman, OB-GYN
Emily Boatman, Shawna Burris,
Debra Suhre (retirement),
■ Oct 29, Head Start Urban League Health Fair and Shoes
That Fit Activity ■ Oct 30, 5:30‐6:30, Changes in Evidence‐Based Medicine,
Dr. Omar Vargas, 913 N. Rutledge Telehealth Rm. ■ Oct 31, 9 ‐ 11:30 am ‐ Enos School Fall Read‐in, SIU
volunteers welcome; contact Steve Sandstrom, 545‐5616. New Civil Service Advisory Committee rep
We welcome Mindy Conlee as the
SIU School of Medicineʹs
representative to the State
Universities Civil Service Advisory
Committee. The committee consists
of civil service employees elected
from each institution covered by the
State Universities Civil Service
System. (Because she was the sole
nominee for the post, an October election was
unnecessary.)
Mindy is an editorial writer in the Office of Medical
Education. She will be our campus representative
beginning January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2018.
ʺIʹm eager to represent the school and be a part of the
Employee Advisory Committee,ʺ Mindy says.
A Springfield native, she has worked at SIU School of
Medicine for nearly 20 years, in the departments of Med
Ed, Family and Community Medicine, Residency Affairs
and the Office of Education and Curriculum. Currently,
she is the managing editor of Teaching and Learning in
Medicine, which is one of the leading medical education
journals in the world and has been edited at SIU SOM
since 1989.
Diversity Enrichment Week, October 27 - 31
The public and SIU School of Medicine staff and students
are invited to a week of free lectures and panels Oct. 27 ‐ 31
in honor of Diversity Enrichment Week.
The Schoolʹs faculty and
experts from across the
nation will meet to discuss
health care challenges from
multiple religious
perspectives and the unique
challenges women face as
health care providers, including discrimination from
patients and female‐on‐female bullying. All presentations will be held from 11:30 am ‐ 12:30 in SIUʹs
South Auditorium, 801 N. Rutledge in Springfield, and
teleconferenced to Carbondale in Lindegren 310, 303 and
Wheeler 104. Lunch follows each talk (reservation required)
from 12:30 ‐ 1 pm. Springfield lunches will be served in the
Pearson Museum, Carbondaleʹs in Lindegren 310. For lunch
reservations, contact Debby Kassube in Springfield,
217‐545‐7334, or Colby Chamnes in Carbondale at
618‐453‐1465 no later than October 15.
The sessions are:
Monday, Oct 27 ‐ "Women in Medicine: The VIEW" 3
Surgery
Jeffery Stults and Connie Willis
(retirement), Surgery Clinic
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
ENOS SCHOOL
FALL READ-IN
The teachers at
Enos School are
hosting the
annual Fall
Read-In from 9
am - 11:30 on
Friday, October 31. We need to
scare up a few more SIU
volunteers to read to a couple of
classes for 30 minutes.
Readers may bring a favorite
book or one can be provided.
Please contact Steve
Sandstrom, 545-5616.
Employees can participate in
these kinds of activities at Enos
with the approval of their
supervisors.
ENOS NEEDS MENTORS &
READERS TOO!
Can you spare a few hours this
year to make an impression that
could last a lifetime?
Be a mentor to a young Enos
student who needs one. This role
is one of the most important that
our medical students and
employees fulfill. The kids love
it, and so will you! If you would
like to be a child's mentor,
contact Jan Meyers, 545-2860.
If you would like to be a
classroom reader and share
stories with a very receptive
audience, call Julie Robbs at
545-5772.
We extend our sincere
gratitude to:
1. SIU staff who donated
baskets for the Enos Health Fair
2. our employees who made the
Enos back-to-school supply drive
such a success, and
3. the Department of Surgery,
for its donation of $5000 to go
toward field trip expenses for the
Enos students
Panelists: Dr. Chris ne Todd, associate professor, Internal
Medicine; chair of Medical Humani es;
Dr. Wendy Willis El‐Amin, associate professor, FCM &
Medical Educa on;
Dr. Mar Hla a, assistant professor, Internal Medicine;
Dr. Coral Tieu, third year resident, Otolaryngology;
Karen Bertels, MSIV, Class of 2015;
moderator: Kelly Armstrong, PhD, assistant professor,
Medical Humani es Keynote Address, 4 ‐ 5 pm ‐ "Sex, Bias and Health Outcomes" Joslyn Fisher, MD, MPH, FACP, associate professor of
medicine and medical ethics, Baylor College of Medicine,
Houston, Tex. A recep on follows in the Pearson Museum.
Tuesday, Oct 28 ‐ "How Gender Iden ty Relates to Health Care
Dispari es" Jonna Cooley, PhD, execu ve director, Phoenix Center
Wednesday, Oct 29 ‐ "Religious Diversity" Panelists: Jason West, MSIII ‐ Chris an;
Rawan Musai f, MSIV ‐ Muslim;
Nipun Gupta, MSIII ‐ Hindu;
moderator: Mar n Woulfe, minister, Abraham Lincoln
Unitarian Universalist Congrega on
+ audience par cipa on: "10 Ques ons on the Five Major
World Religions" Thursday, Oct 30 ‐ "'They' Is a Four‐Le er Word"
Dr. J. Kevin Dorsey, PhD, dean and provost, SIU School of
Medicine
Friday, Oct 31 ‐ "Physicians' A tudes Toward Mental Illness"
Dr. Laura Shea, assistant professor, Internal Medicine‐
Psychiatry; associate residency training director, Psychiatry
Make the Jingle Mingle merrier
On December 2 weʹll kick off the
holidays in style at the Jingle
Mingle. The School of Medicineʹs
employee reception runs from 1:30
‐ 4 pm. How does a lobby space become a
winter wonderland? With help
from the many outstanding elves who rise to the ʹJingle
Mingle Challengeʹ every couple of years! This competition
tradition is designed to bring out the creativity of SIU staff
who like baking, decorating and fun. Teams can register
now to reserve one of the 13 festive table spots. (As an
early Christmas present, a Secret Santa will underwrite a
portion of this yearʹs team decoration costs!) Forms can be
found here; theyʹre due by Friday, Oct. 17. Teams are
encouraged to go through department administration to
avoid duplication.
Hosted by the Civil Service Council, this seasonal event is
guaranteed to lift spirits and convert any workplace
Scrooge. Stop by during the afternoon and enjoy the
variety of food, music, door prizes and company! 2015 computer calendar strips now available
Plan into the future with a free
calendar strip ideal for a computer
or workstation, compliments of
4
A PUBLIC AFFAIRS
PRIMER
Public Affairs. Contact Sheila
Jessen, 545‐2155.
HEALTH & WELFARE
siumed.edu/news
Mammogram Mondays
What is Public Affairs?
The Regional Cancer Partnership of Illinois will provide
free mammograms for uninsured and under‐insured
women ages 40 and older on Mondays in October at two
Springfield locations. The free event is possible through a
$20,400 grant from the Memorial Affiliate of Susan G.
Komen. Over the last two years, approximately 170 women
have benefited from this grant.
The Office of Public Affairs
directs the public relations/
communications programs for SIU
School of Medicine. We also
regularly coordinate with the
clinical marketing efforts of SIU
HealthCare to ensure integrated
and strategic public relations.
Our goal is to make the SIU
School of Medicine's mission and
brand come alive with clear,
consistent and top quality
communications.
This installment concludes the PA
overview series.
WHAT CAN OUR OFFICE DO
FOR YOU?
We handle
MEDIA COMMUNICATION.
We coordinate all contact with
commercial media. This includes:
* Writing/distributing news
releases
* Answering reporters' requests
* Pitching stories
* Connecting media with faculty
* Providing media training
Common topics we handle:
* New and innovative programs/
services/procedures
* Public education events
* Unusual cases or patient
success stories/patients for drug
studies
* Faculty reactions to health
news
* Grants/published research
* Health and wellness topics
Some TIPS:
* Please refer all media contacts
to us
* Let us coordinate and package
your news
* Tell us about your
achievements
Lauren Murphy
Media Coordinator
The free screening mammograms will be offered by
appointment at Simmons Cancer Institute, 315 W.
Carpenter St. and at St. Johnʹs Pavilion, 301 N. 8th St. Appointments at St. Johnʹs Pavilion will be made available
from noon ‐ 3:30 pm on Monday, October 13, 20 and 27.
Call 217‐757‐6400, ext. #3 for appointments at the Pavilion
location. Memorial Medical Center will offer appointments
at SCI from 4 ‐ 7 pm on Mondays in October.
Appointments can be made by calling 788‐4042. No walk‐in
appointments are available at either location. (more) Fight Back Clinic offers self-defense tips
The Civil Service Council is offering a
self‐defense workshop for SIU
employees this fall. The Fight Back
Clinic will teach you safe, simple and
effective methods of self‐protection.
Though designed primarily for
women, the seminar is open to
anyone who would like to learn basic
self‐defense techniques and be more
confident. No previous experience is
necessary; loose, comfortable clothing is recommended. Five different class times will be available: Oct 21 ‐ 327 Calhoun Prairie/Sangamon, 11:30‐12:30 pm & 12:30
‐ 1:30 pm
Nov 5 ‐ SCI Wellness Center, Rm. 3015, 12:30‐1:30 pm
Nov 6 ‐ Dove Center at St. John's Hospital, noon ‐1 pm & 1‐ 2 pm The lunchtime classes will be taught by Steve Harvey, a 4th
degree black belt Shotokan karate instructor. SIU
employees can register through the HealthStream system.
1. Enter your HealthStream user ID and password
2. Go to ʺCatalogʺ at the top of the screen
3. The cursor will be in the search box ‐‐ type in Fight
Back and click search
4. Click on the Fight Back hyperlink (under ʺNameʺ)
5. Click on ʺShow Class Scheduleʺ (Do not click on
ʺEnroll in this Courseʺ since there are multiple
training dates/times)
6. Click on the ʺRegisterʺ button located on the right of
the preferred date/time
5
We also:
* compile and update 'Quick
Facts' about SIU SOM
siumed.edu/news/quickfacts.html
* maintain biographies of faculty
and staff
siumed.edu/news/FacList.htm
* coordinate appearances of
medical experts for community
events
* provide weekly event and news
updates to campus bulletin
boards
* distribute news releases,
media advisories and public
service announcements to media
* maintain financial records for
Public Affairs
* provide general office support
Sheila Jessen
Office Manager
BLOG & LINKS
SIU Healthy Dose @
SJ-R.com
How can you help Sangamon
County get healthier?
October is Breast Cancer
Awareness Month
The what, why and how of
whole grains
Do you have a medical topic
that's blog-worthy?
Would you like to share news
about an event on Facebook but
don't have a page?
Contact Public Affairs and we can
help!
Examiner back issues
Other School of Medicine
newsletters (intranet)
HealthStream identifies employees by user ID so names
arenʹt required. Registrants can verify the class they signed
up for by clicking the ʺMy Learningʺ page. They can also
un‐enroll by following steps 1 ‐ 6 above.
LEARN MORE ABOUT:
Tuition Assistance Programs
SIU School of Medicine offers a number of ways to help
you further your education at an affordable level. You can
pursue a scholastic track that gets you to a better job title
within SIU ‐‐ and beyond.
Tuition waivers (graduate and
undergraduate) are available to
Civil Service employees at all
state‐supported universities in
Illinois. Faculty or Principal
Administrative employees can get
tuition waivers to attend SIUC and
SIUE only.
Full‐time employees who attend
college classes are eligible for a
maximum of six hours/two classes
for the fall and spring semesters
and three hours/one class for the summer semester. Some
technical degree programs arenʹt covered under the tuition
waiver program; interested employees should check with
the university they plan to attend to ensure the specific
program is covered. Tuition reimbursement is available to Civil Service,
Principal Administrative and Research employees who are
enrolled at any other degree granting institution not
covered by the tuition waiver program. The institution
must be accredited and the coursework must be for credit;
tuition for non‐credit coursework is not reimbursed. Maximums based upon your annual salary apply and a
grade of ʹCʹ or above must be earned before
reimbursement will be paid.
Tuition waivers are also available for your children.
Public Act 90‐0282 directed Illinois public universities to
make available a 50% tuition waiver for undergraduate
education at Illinois public universities for eligible children
under age 25, of employees of public universities who have
seven or more years of total employment, at 50% time or
greater. If youʹre a qualified employee who has children
preparing for college, apply! For questions about tuition reimbursement, contact Stacy
Bond. Direct tuition waiver questions to Vicky Morrison.
For academic career counseling, contact Lisa Fowler. Learn more about these benefits on the HR intranet site,
under the lefthand column menu, and in an upcoming
email. FUNDRAISING
Chili's helping spring mission trip
The SIU medical students are
6
LATEST NEWS
RELEASES
from the Office of Public
Affairs
Diversity Week encourages
exploration of health care
disparities, bias
Outreach events planned for
Primary Care Month
Med students work with local
physicians
SCI highlights Breast Cancer
Awareness Month
NEWS RELEASE ARCHIVE
raising money for the medical
mission trip to Nicaragua in April. Chiliʹs at 2891 S. Veterans Parkway
is partnering with the medical school to help. Bring in this
coupon through October 31 and Chiliʹs will donate 10% of
all proceeds from your dine‐in or carry out meals. Please
share this information with your friends and family. All
money raised is used directly to purchase medications and
supplies for the trip. The mission trip team is hosting a delicious fundraiser in
December, too. Join them at Itʹs All About Wine, 1305
Wabash Ave, Springfield, on Thursday, Dec. 4 for a silent
auction, wine and appetizers. Purchase wine from Dec 4‐11
and 10% of all proceeds go to the trip. For more
information contact Amanda Bakker.
Nicaragua needs YOU!
The medical student‐run mission trip is headed to
Nicaragua with 18 third and fourth year medical students. They need more practitioners to join them! If you have
ever dreamed of serving abroad, are an MD, NP or PA and
have time from April 9‐18, 2015, please contact Dr. Tabatha
Wells or Amanda Bakker.
Collective giving through SECA The SECA campaign is underway through November 7.
The State and University Employees Combined Appeal
gives you the opportunity to donate to the charitable cause
of your choice to enhance the health and well‐being of
others with zero overhead ‐‐ 100% of each contribution is
sent to the charity of your choice. Campaign literature was sent in campus mail last month
and via email on Sept. 12 from Angie Doolin. Should you
have any questions regarding this information please
contact your SECA campaign ambassadors Deanne Wise,
545‐7927, and Vicky Morrison, 545‐8035.
If you are unable to give monetarily this year, please visit
the SECA website for opportunities to volunteer for
charities.
Thank you for your consideration of ways we can work
together to improve our community.
7
Simmons Cancer Institute is hosting its 14th annual Denim
& Diamonds fundraiser Saturday, Oct. 25. The funds raised
will support innovative research projects and enhance
patient comforts. More than 90 percent of the money
raised at the event stays local.
Guests at Denim & Diamonds are encouraged to dress in
their finest denim or formal attire for the event, which will
begin at 6 pm at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 3000 S. Dirksen
Parkway, Springfield. This yearʹs theme is ʺBling‐ʹnʹ‐Swing.ʺ
Tickets are $125 per person or $1,250 for a table of 10 and
are available by calling 217‐545‐2955. The evening features both live and silent auctions, a
gourmet dinner and music by Miss Jubilee & The
Humdingers of St. Louis. Visit the auction website at
www.siumed/edu/cancer and click on Denim & Diamonds.
(more) HONORS & AWARDS
Employee of the Month
The October Civil Service Employee
of the Month is Stephanie George
from the Department of Surgery. Her
nominator said: ʺStephanie provides
excellent customer service. She
creatively evaluates reception
challenges, welcomes opportunities to
discuss her thoughts with team
members and management. She has a
strong work ethic, exhibits accountability and completes
tasks with an enthusiastic attitude. She is a positive role
model, leads by example, respects individual differences,
completes tasks in a timely, accurate manner and willingly
assists others. Stephanie is a skilled and knowledgeable
trainer and she has excellent communication skills.ʺ
Stephanie answered some questions for our profile.
1. How long have you worked at the School?
I have worked at SIU since the fall of 1999.
2. What do you like best about working at SIU School of
Medicine?
The opportunity to serve our pa ents, family members and
providers in this fast‐paced, ever‐changing health‐care
environment.
3. ʺI highly recommend ...ʺ
Listening to music ‐‐ all kinds of music. It's a great stress
reliever. 4. What is the most interesting job youʹve held outside the
school?
I was a disc jockey back in the disco era. Some of my
co‐workers may not know that I work on‐air part me for WYMG
and WQQL.
8
5. What is your favorite thing to do away from work?
Spending me with my grandsons, Becke , 5, and Caleb, 12.
6. ʺMy motto for living:ʺ
Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans. ‐
John Lennon. Your life is not a dress rehearsal. Enjoy every
moment of each day and make it great. 7. If you could meet anyone ‐ alive or dead, real or
imaginary, who would it be?
I'd love to meet my great grandparents on both sides of my
family.
8. The best thing about autumn is:
The cold, crisp, clean scent of the air first thing in the morning.
Caught in the Act
The following employees have recently
been Caught in the Act of Excellence.
Kirtana Witherspoon, Dianthe Cobb,
Stephanie Davis and Barb Hamm,
FCM‐Decatur, ʺI applaud all of their
efforts and positive attitude with the
implementation of our new Team Care
Model for patient visits. Their dedication to patient care
and quality is invaluable.ʺ
Theresa Mims, Internal Medicine, ʺI came to Theresa with
a shipping emergency after 4 pm one day, and she not only
helped to find a box, pack everything up and get the UPS
setup done online, but she stayed after 4:30 and even took
the box to the drop‐off. I very much appreciate her help.ʺ
Barb Hamm, FCM‐Decatur, caught by a patient ‐‐ ʺBarb is a
positive and helpful person who is always sincere and
caring.ʺ
Donna Clark and Bonnye Black, OB‐GYN, ʺwilling to stop
what she is doing, no matter how busy she is, to answer
my questions or help me with something I am learning to
do.ʺ
Rhonda Williams, Surgery, ʺhas covered the front desk
during lunch hours and when needed for the past several
months. She is a true team player and willing to do
whatever it takes to provide excellent customer service.
She is quick with a smile and is always pleasant.ʺ
Jason Johnson, Public Affairs, ʺJason was approached by
the med students to help create their ALS Ice Bucket
Challenge video. He shot it on a Tuesday evening and then
edited it the next morning. Jason gave his evening to this
project even though it was his birthday. I think this shows
the kind of enthusiasm Jason has for his job.ʺ
RESEARCH
Publications
Lisa Volk‐Draper, Kelly Hall, Caitlin Griggs, Sandeep
Rajput, Pascaline Kohio, David DeNardo, Sophia Ran.
Paclitaxel therapy promotes breast cancer metastasis in a
TLR4‐dependent manner. Cancer Research 2014, 74:19,
5421‐34.
New faculty
9
Andrea Braundmeier‐Fleming, PhD,
has joined the faculty as an assistant
professor in the medical microbiology,
immunology and cell biology, and
obstetrics and gynecology
departments. Her research focus is
reproductive diseases. Before joining
SIU, she was a research assistant
professor in reproductive immunology
in the animal sciences department and the Institute of
Genomic Biology at University of Illinois at Urbana‐
Champaign (2009‐11) and a post‐doctoral fellow in the
obstetrics and gynecology department at U of I in Chicago
(2005‐09).
Braundmeier‐Fleming completed her doctoral studies,
received a masterʹs degree in reproductive physiology
(2005, 2002) and a bachelorʹs degree in animal sciences
(1999) at U of I‐UC.
Paul J. Cagle Jr., MD, has joined the
School of Medicine as an assistant
professor in the Division of
Orthopaedic Surgery specializing in
shoulder and elbow surgery. He is also
a member of SIU HealthCare. Cagle completed a shoulder and elbow
fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital in
New York City (2014) and received
additional training in shoulder replacement, shoulder
stabilization and rotator cuff repair in Lyon, France. He
completed his orthopaedic surgery residency at the
University of Minnesota in Minneapolis (2013). Cagle
earned his medical degree at Loyola University Chicago
Stritch School of Medicine (2008) and his bachelorʹs degree
in biology at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa
(2004).
SIU School of Medicine alumna Holly
Eltrevoog, MD, has joined the faculty
as an assistant professor of
orthopaedic surgery. She is also a
member of SIU HealthCare.
Eltrevoog completed an orthopaedic
trauma fellowship at the University of
Missouri Hospital in Columbia, Mo.
(2014) and an orthopaedic surgery
residency at Akron General Medical Center in Akron, Ohio
(2013).
She earned her medical degree at SIU School of Medicine
(2008) and a bachelorʹs of science degree in biology from
the University of Illinois at Champaign‐Urbana (2004).
Swati Pathak, MD, has joined the
faculty as an assistant professor of
internal medicine, specializing in
hematology/oncology. She will work at
Simmons Cancer Institute and is also
a member of SIU HealthCare.
Pathak completed a fellowship in
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hematology and oncology at
Montefiore Medical Center, University
Hospital for the Albert Einstein College of Medicine
(AECOM) in Bronx, NY (2014). She completed a residency
in internal medicine at Maimonides Medical Center,
University Hospital, AECOM in Brooklyn (2011). She
earned a bachelor of medicine and bachelor of surgery
(MBBS) from M.L.N. Medical University in Allahabad,
India (2001).
Brittany Thomas‐Ottino, PsyD, has
joined the faculty as an assistant
professor of psychiatry. She is also a
member of SIU HealthCare.
Thomas‐Ottino has extensive
experience working with complex
co‐occurring disorders, mood
disorders, anxiety disorders and
patients with behavioral concerns
including self‐injurious behaviors and eating disorders. She
also provides family and couples therapy.
Before joining SIU, Thomas‐Ottino worked as a clinical
psychologist and program director at the Gateway
Foundation (2009‐14) and as an adjunct instructor at SIU
School of Medicine (2012‐14). She completed her
post‐doctoral fellowship at South Campus Therapeutic Day
School in Palatine (2008) and gained experience as a
practicum student at the Naval Hospital Great Lakes, now
the James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center, in Great
Lakes, Ill. (2005‐06) and Robert W. Depke Juvenile Justice
Complex in Vernon Hills (2004‐05). Thomas‐Ottino also
worked as a substance abuse counselor and corporate
trainer for Correctional Counseling, Inc. in Memphis
(2000‐03).
Thomas‐Ottino earned both her doctorate and masterʹs
degrees in clinical psychology at Argosy Universityʹs
Illinois School of Professional Psychology in Schaumburg
(2007, 2005). She earned a bachelor of science degree at
Western Illinois University in Macomb (1999).
Media coverage 10.1.14 - 10.9.14 ■ Dr. Robert Mocharnuk, SCI and Internal Medicine, was
interviewed by WICS, 10.9.2014. He also discussed
Mammogram Mondays in an interview on WTAX on
10.6.14. ■ Dr. Marthe dela Cruz, Pediatrics, was interviewed by
WTAX about a recent study published on childhood
obesity prevention, 10.8.14.
■ Dr. David Steward, Community Health, was quoted in
an interview with WICS about the community health
assessment, 10.7.14. ■ Dr. Doug Carlson, Pediatrics and medical director of St.
Johnʹs Childrenʹs Hospital, spoke with WMAY about the
new developments in the enterovirus, 10.3.14. ■ Dr. Janek Koirala, Internal Medicine‐Infectious Diseases,
was interviewed by WMAY about the spread of the Ebola
virus, 10.1.14. 11
facebook.com/siumed.edu Next issue: Oct 24
Deadline: Oct 21
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