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SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE | SPRING 2018 | 41-2

OLYMPIC DREAMS SIU’S DR. JEONG DIRECTS

INTERNATIONAL CARE TEAM

Gibson, the Sangamon County Courthouse Facility Dog, visited SIU School of Medicine in March, providing a warm and fuzzy study break for students. In his day job, Gibson assists crime victims, witnesses and others during the stressful stages of legal proceedings.

ASPECTS

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE SIUMED.EDU/ASPECTS

SPRING 2018

VOL. 41 | NO. 2

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COVER

REGULARS

Dr. David Jeong writes about his experience as team physician for the Winter Olympics.

2 Campus News

12 An Olympic Feat

10 Research

FEATURES

11 Aspects of a Learner

6 Match Day 2018

24 Foundation

20 Alumni News

Another 68 students match with their futures.

8 Measuring MEDPREP’s Effectiveness

Dr. Anneke Metz studied 15 years of MEDPREP alumni to see how well they are meeting the SIU SOM mission.

The mission of SIU School of Medicine is to assist the people of central and southern Illinois in meeting their health care needs through education, patient care, research and service to the community.

CAMPUS NEWS

Aspects is published quarterly by Southern Illinois University School of Medicine Office of Public Relations & Communications.

Dean and Provost Jerry Kruse, MD, MSPH Executive Editor Karen V. Carlson, MA Contributors Lauren Crocks, MS Steve Sandstrom Jordan Hammer Photographers Jason Johnson Stephen Buhman Cover Illustration Jordan Hammer Address Correspondence: Office of Public Relations & Communications SIU School of Medicine P.O. Box 19621 Springfield, IL 62794-9621 217.545.2155 isilveri62@siumed.edu SIU School of Medicine and SIU Medicine comply with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.

SIU School of Medicine and SIU Medicine cumple con las leyes federales de derechos civiles aplicables y no discrimina por motivos de raza, color, nacionalidad, edad, discapacidad o sexo.

SIU School of Medicine and SIU Medicine respecte les lois fédérales en vigueur relatives aux droits civiques et ne pratique aucune discrimination basée sur la race, la couleur de peau, l’origine nationale, l’âge, le sexe ou un handicap.

Southern Illinois University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action institution in accordance with civil rights legislation and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sex, age, handicap or other factors prohibited by law in any of its educational programs, activities, admissions, or employment practices.

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MACY FOUNDATION GRANTS MED SCHOOL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN SOCIAL MISSION In April, the School received the 2018 Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation Award for Institutional Excellence in Social Mission in Health Professions Education. The Milken Institute School of Public Health at the George Washington University and the Beyond Flexner Alliance granted the annual award, which recognizes “outstanding leadership in advancing social mission in health professions education.”

SIU Medicine won in the category of Institutional Excellence “for its dedication to a social mission, pursuit of health equity, unwavering commitment to the residents of central and southern Illinois, and continued success in educating caring, compassionate, socially responsible leaders in medicine and health sciences.”

“If every part of our country had a health science university focused on the health of its regional population the way Southern Illinois University does, we would be a healthier people,” said Fitzhugh Mullan, MD, board chair of the Beyond Flexner Alliance. “Bravo, SIU!” The Beyond Flexner Alliance focuses on health equity and the education of health professionals as providers of more equitable and fairer health care. The Alliance defines social mission as “activities or initiatives that teach, model, or improve community engagement, diversity, disparities reduction, value based care, or engagement with the social determinants of health. Social mission enhancement means making programs not only better, but fairer.”

SIU School of Medicine was noted for its longtime efforts in meeting the social mission of the 66-county region of central and southern Illinois. For example, numerous partnerships and an Office of Regional Programs with four hub sites have worked to improve health outcomes through community coalitions, social innovations and the creation of health care infrastructure. SIU Medicine also has expanded the reach of its federally qualified health centers to provide health and social services to its patients. A neighborhood “hotspotting” program has decreased the number of “super users” of hospital emergency rooms.

The school has been noted in national research studies for its excellence in social mission in medical school and residency training. When

Watch the video: https://youtu.be/EBDL41AByJM

compared to other medical schools in the US, SIU consistently ranks above the 90th percentile for the percentage of graduates who are from underrepresented groups in medicine, who practice primary care medicine, and who serve medically vulnerable populations.

To better serve its social mission, SIU School of Medicine created the Office of Population Science and Policy (OPSP) in 2016. An academic research and policy organization, OPSP is dedicated to understanding and advancing the health, development and wellness of residents through population science, social innovation and policy formation.

SIU School of Medicine has been frequently acclaimed for its innovative medical education, including efforts in addressing the social mission.

In 2013, it received three lifetime achievement Aspire to Excellence Awards from the Association for Medical Education in Europe, in the categories of student engagement, student assessment and social accountability.

“SIU Medicine is dedicated to improving the health of the region we serve through advancing the social mission in health education in a variety of ways,” said Jerry Kruse, MD, MSPH, dean and provost of SIU School of Medicine. “We thank all our faculty, learners and staff, as well as our partners for their tireless dedication to this mission.”

CAMPUS NEWS

designed by Dooder/Freepik

STRUCTURAL HEART DISEASE PROGRAM UNDER WAY

ONLINE COURSES PROVIDE EASY ACCESS TO CME CREDITS Need CME credits but don’t have time to travel to a conference? SIU Office of Continuing Professional

The SIU Medicine Structural Heart Disease Program was developed in July 2017 with the support of the SIU Medicine Department of Internal Medicine and the Division of Cardiology.

Its team offers less invasive, alternative treatments for patients who are deemed inoperable or have elevated/intermediate risks for open heart procedures for the treatment of structural heart conditions.

The group began in 2018 with the launch of its Watchman™ program.

Patients with irregular heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation, or AFib, have an increased risk of blood clots, which can lead to a stroke. The watchman aims to help reduce that risk.

Implanted into the heart in a one-time procedure, the Watchman™ device is designed to close off an area of the heart known as the left atrial appendage, where blood tends to pool and cause clots in patients living with AFib. According to SIU Medicine structural heart experts Abdul Moiz Hafiz, MD, and Giselle Baquero, MD, most patients can stop taking warfarin, or similar blood thinning medications, within 45 days of the procedure.

FLACK JOINS ACP BOARD OF REGENTS John M. Flack, MD, MPH, professor and chair of internal medicine, has become a member of the Board of Regents of the American College of Physicians (ACP), the national organization of internists. His term began during the Internal Medicine Meeting 2018.

The Board of Regents is the main policy-making body of the College. Dr. Flack has been a Fellow of the American College of Physicians since 2008 and was recently awarded Mastership in 2018. Mastership is awarded to highly accomplished ACP fellows demonstrating eminence in practice, leadership or in medical research.

Dr. Flack is currently a member of the National Institute of Health NHLBI Institutional Training Mechanism Review Committee, as well as an associate editor for the American Journal of Hypertension and is the newly elected President of the American Hypertension Specialist Certification Program. He also serves as vice president of the Hypertension Professional Education Committee for the American Heart Association. Among his accomplishments and awards, Dr. Flack received the “Medical Innovator” Award from Sangamon County Medical Society in 2016, Detroit News Michiganian of the Year (2009) and has been repeatedly named to Top Doctor, Best Doctor and Super Doctor lists.

Development comes to the rescue. Six online courses are currently available now.

Visit www.siumed.edu/cpd and click on “Learners” and “Online Courses” for more information.

CURRENT COURSES: HPV: You are the Key to Cancer Prevention Where Medicine Meets Public Health: WIC Where Medicine Meets Public Health: Prediabetes Radon Module: Predictors & Spatial Variation of Radon Testing in Illinois Radon Module: Lung Cancer: Public Enemy #1 Radon Module: Radon Origins, Risks, Policies, Measurements & Mitigation

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CAMPUS NEWS

Above right, Dr. Vidhya Prakash thanks supporters during the official launch of the Alliance for Women in Medicine and Science. Above left: Dr. Rexanne Cagaanan and Dr. Sharon Onguti; below left: Dr. Wendi El-Amin.

Alliance for Women in Medicine and Science digs into issues AWIMS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Rexanne Lagare Caga-anan, MD Sana Waqar, MD, MBBS Sharon K. Onguti, MD, MPH RESIDENCY SUBCOMMITTEE Elizabeth Nielsen, MD Vanessa Williams, MD Nicole Abbott,MD Yasmina ArroyoJimenez, MD

The SIU Alliance for Women in Medicine and Science (AWIMS) launched in early 2018, reflecting SIU Medicine’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, justice and fairness.

Dr. Vidhya Prakash has been named director of AWIMS. Its mission is to provide a supportive forum to promote honest discussion and positive change in the realms of gender equity, career opportunities, work-life balance and community service. The alliance will champion professional development and the promotion of women in medicine and science and will reside within the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Dr. Prakash co-founded the Department of Internal Medicine’s Women in Medicine group in 2015. In February, the Alliance hosted a panel on sexual harassment in the clinic.

AWIMS is the latest example of an overall expansion of the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion that implements strategies and initiatives to celebrate and enhance SIU Medicine’s diverse campus. The office now includes interest groups for Latino and LGBTQ students and veterans’ issues. Associate Dean for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Wendi Wills El-Amin, MD, leads the office.

KEGG NAMED TO ILLINOIS EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES POST Dr. Jason Kegg, assistant profess or surgery, specializing in emergency medicine, has been named medical director of the Illinois Emergency Medical Services Program at the Illinois Department of Public Health.

When he’s not treating emergencies, Dr. Kegg will provide consultation expertise for emergency services, trauma care, stroke care and emergency transportation and promote highway safety.

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CAMPUS NEWS

In Memory

Courtesy The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh

SANFEY AWARDED FELLOWSHIP AD HOMINEM Hilary Sanfey, PhD, Vice Chair for Surgical Education, was awarded a Fellowship ad hominem by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.

Dr. Sanfey has been a leader in surgical education for the past 30 years. Her research explores resident learning styles and the impact of resident teachers on medical student learning and leadership development.

She graduated from Trinity College Dublin in 1976. Among many firsts, she was the first woman in Ireland to complete Higher Surgical Training in General Surgery, the first to be appointed as a Consultant General Surgeon in Scotland and the first to be promoted to the rank

of tenured professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Virginia.

In 1992, Dr. Sanfey was a member of the team that performed the first liver transplant in Scotland.

She continued her practice as a transplant surgeon at the University of Virginia, and also served as the Associate Program Director and Clerkship Co-Director until she left for Southern Illinois University in 2008.

Dr. Sanfey is also an ardent spokesperson for women in surgery, and is the recipient of the 2014 Nina Starr Braunwald award for outstanding contributions to women in surgery.

ZIEBLER TO DIRECT EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT The School of Medicine is expanding its efforts for professional and leadership development of our learners, faculty and staff, with the announcement of a new Office of Organization and Employee Development. David Ziebler has accepted the role of director and will be responsible for assisting in the design, implementation and administration of professional and leadership development and continuous learning programs. He will also work with leaders to create opportunities for improved workplace culture and satisfaction.

Ziebler has been with the school for five years, previously working in human resources. In that role, he developed many of the educational programs that exist today and expanded the School’s new employee orientation program and has provided professional and leadership development coaching throughout the SOM.

DR. TONY JER-FU LEE, long-time faculty member of Department of the Pharmacology, died in Taiwan on Feb. 14, 2018. Tony was born in 1942 in Taiwan where he obtained a BS in pharmacy from Taipei Medical College in 1967. In 1973 Dr. Lee earned a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from West Virginia University. He did postdoctoral work at UCLA. Arriving at SIUSM in 1975, Dr. Lee was a charter member of the Department of Pharmacology, reaching full professor in 1987. He retired in 2002 but served as adjunct professor. At SIUSM he was an active teacher and researcher, obtaining grants from the National Institutes of Health and other agencies for his research.

Dr. Lee published over 150 peer-reviewed scientific papers and book chapters. At SIUSM he was a leading scientist, investigating the factors that control blood vessels, suggesting the novel possibility that a key relaxing substance was a gas, which was confirmed by Dr. Robert Furchott winner of the Nobel Prize for identifying that this factor was nitric oxide gas.

Dr. Lee returned to Taiwan in 2002, continuing his career as Professor and Dean in Tzu Chi University until 2013 and then as Distinguished Research Fellow at Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital. Tony continued his research funded by research grants in Taiwan. He trained numerous graduate and post-doctoral students at SIUSM and in Taiwan. Dr. Lee was an editor of scientific Journals and served in numerous scientific organizations. He was invited as a speaker at many national and international symposia. Dr. Lee was an avid tennis player and a martial arts instructor at the YMCA in Springfield. He leaves two children, Jonathon Lee and Cheryl Lee, of whom he was very proud, as well as numerous scientific children who cherish his teaching and mentorship. He will be missed by his friends and colleagues in Springfield.

Written by Dr. Carl Faingold, professor and chair, Department of Pharmacology

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MATCH DAY 2018 Sixty-eight SIU seniors in the graduating Class of 2018 received results from the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) on Friday, March 16, at the same time other U.S. medical students learned their matches to postgraduate training programs.

Thirteen students (19%) will specialize in family medicine, and thirteen (19%) will specialize in emergency medicine. Seven students (10%) will begin residencies in internal medicine, six (9%) will go on to general surgery residencies, and six (9%) will specialize in pediatrics. Anesthesiology and radiology each attracted 4 students, and dermatology, obstetrics-gynecology and psychiatry each attracted 2 students. Three students (4%) will specialize in ENT/otolaryngology.

Child neurology, medicine-psychiatry, orthopedic surgery, plastic surgery, transitional medicine and urology each attracted one student.

Fifteen (22%) of the 68 senior medical students will begin their residency training in SIU-affiliated programs.

“I’m so proud of every one of our medical students as they enter the next phase of their career, post-graduate training in residency and fellowship programs,” said Jerry Kruse, MD, MSPH, SIU Medicine dean and provost.

“Today’s Match Day ceremony for the Class of 2018, their teachers, colleagues, family and friends, was brimming with vigor and optimism. Our students matched into many excellent training programs across the United States.

We’re looking forward to following their careers as clinicians, teachers, researchers and leaders.”

The Class of 2018 at SIU School of Medicine will graduate on Saturday, May 19. New physicians begin their residency training in July.

Match results also were announced Friday for SIU’s residency programs in Springfield, based at the school’s two affiliated hospitals – Memorial Medical

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Center and HSHS St. John’s Hospital.

Seventy-seven starting positions in Springfield were filled. The first-year residents will join more than 200 senior residents and fellows already in training at SIU programs in Springfield.

Thirty-six first-year positions were filled in general internal medicine (14), family medicine (10), general pediatrics (7) and obstetrics/gynecology (5).

Twenty-three positions were filled in the eight surgical programs – emergency medicine (8), general surgery (4), neurological surgery (1), orthopaedic surgery (3), otolaryngology (2), plastic surgery (2), urology (2) and vascular surgery (1). Eighteen total positions were filled in other specialties – preliminary medicine (2), psychiatry (6), radiology (3), dermatology (2), medicine-psychiatry combined (2) and neurology (3).

“Annually SIU School of Medicine and our partner hospitals in central and southern Illinois continue to match with a robust, accomplished and eclectic group of residents,” said Karen Broquet, MD, associate dean for graduate medical education. “SIU resi-

dents are an intrinsic element in the clinical learning environment and interdisciplinary health care teams that provide quality and patient-centered care to patients.”

SIU also has affiliated family medicine residency programs in Carbondale, Decatur and Quincy, each three years in length. Seventeen first-year positions have been filled for next year through the NRMP match and a similar program held last month for osteopathic physicians. These residents will join 35 senior family medicine residents and fellows at SIU’s affiliated hospitals – Memorial Hospital in Carbondale, Decatur Memorial Hospital in Decatur and Blessing Hospital in Quincy.

See more photos at zenfolio. siumed.zenfolio.com/p558009396

MATCH DAY

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FEATURE

MEASURING MEDPREP’S EFFECTIVENESS

By Steve Sandstrom After nearly 50 years of operation, how successful is the MEDPREP program in its mission to prepare students for medical professions?

In 2016, Anneke Metz, PhD, interim director of MEDPREP, undertook a study of MEDPREP alumni to measure the program’s effectiveness. Her comprehensive survey tracked the post-graduate careers of 525 disadvantaged or underrepresented MEDPREP students over 15 years.

It was published in the medical education journal TEACHING AND LEARNING IN MEDICINE VOL. 29, NO 3. in

2017. What she discovered Anneke Metz, PhD, leads a class of MEDPREP students. was both encouraging and instructive.

Because some come from socioMore than 250 MEDPREP graduates economically disadvantaged backhave received their medical education grounds, MEDPREP students are more through SIUSOM in the 45-year history likely to have seen the impact of health of the program. The program’s alumni disparities firsthand in their own cominclude Dr. Wesley Robinson-McNeese munities or in their own families. The (‘86), SIU School of Medicine and now vast majority (95%) are from races and SIU System director for diversity initiaethnicities underrepresented in meditives, and Decatur City Council member cine, and many express a strong interest Dana Ray, MD (’03). MEDPREP classmates in returning to their home communities Pierre Johnson, MD, and Maxime Madto practice. here, MD, recently published the book Often, their desire to serve is born Pulse of Perseverance: Three Black Docof powerful stories of family members tors on Their Journey to Success. Johnson who lacked access to medicine due to did his OB-GYN residency at SIU. Another geographic location or medical indistandout is Saint Louis University grad gence, who faced language or cultural Dr. Deidra Crews (’99), an associate probarriers, or who were distrustful of the fessor of nephrology at Johns Hopkins medical establishment. “Our students University (see page 9). may be particularly motivated to work Of the 450 students who entered in underserved areas where they see the either MD or DO medical schools, 430 greatest need,” Dr. Metz says. “They may (96%) were tracked longitudinally. Of also be drawn to primary care specialthose, 383 (89%) had completed medical school (370) or were on track to do ties that provide more opportunities to so (13). An additional 47 (11%) did not directly impact the overall health of their complete medical school, either for communities.” academic or personal reasons. Twelve MEDPREP student Felicia Harmon of the 370 medical school graduates did is one example. Harmon was raised not enter residency. by a single mother who had chronic 8

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health issues and suffered from mental health problems. Two brothers got lead poisoning due to poor housing, while other family members suffered from preventable chronic illnesses — diabetes, hypertension and obesity.

“I feel a fire was lit under me once I recognized how people normalized chronic illnesses in underserved populations,” says Harmon. “I also saw the strong connection between poverty and illness, and I want to pursue a career in medicine, so I can help others understand the importance of living a healthy and prosperous life; not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually.”

Dr. Metz believes it is likely that the high number of MEDPREP alumni who enter primary care specialties and work in underserved communities is a result of the program enabling service-minded students to enter the profession, rather than the program cultivating interests in primary care or service in medically underserved areas.

“MEDPREP students have hard work to do to achieve medical school admis-

In the 15-year period covered in Metz’s research:

81%

79%

of students completing MEDPREP became practicing physicians

of all MEDPREP students who entered the program and 92% of those who completed the program entered either allopathic (MD) or osteopathic (DO) school.

58%

attended public medical schools and 62% attended medical schools in the Midwest

Nearly half

of MP alumni remained in Illinois or in a contiguous state for their medical education.

8-10%

of SIU School of Medicine students are MEDPREP graduates. SIU SOM admits approximately 15, and matriculates an average of six to seven students from MEDPREP annually.

53%

of program alumni chose primary care specialties, compared to 34% of U.S. physicians.

sion,” says Metz. “Their extraordinary academic leaps within the program and subsequent success as post-graduates indicate that students like these represent an untapped pool of talent worth cultivating.”

The study indicates pipeline programs like MEDPREP can significantly impact the ability of the profession as a whole to meet the medical needs of a diverse population.

“Programs like MEDPREP develop individuals from underserved communities who wouldn’t otherwise become physicians,” she says. “They should be recognized as a critical component of medical education for their ability to contribute to the AAMC-stated goals of a more diverse physician populace.”

Learn more about MEDPREP: www.siumed.edu/medprep Read the study: https://bit.ly/2J3lgjw

Serving the Underserved

MEDPREP alumni were 2.7 times more likely to work in medically underserved areas than physicians nationally.

MEDPREP ALUMNA HONORED One MEDPREP alumna is a national leader in her field of nephrology. Deidra Crews, MD, is an associate professor of medicine in the Division of Nephrology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD. She spent a year in the Carbondale program (’99) before gaining admission to Saint Louis University School of Medicine.

Dr. Crews’ current research into the study of chronic kidney disease has garnered national attention, as she has examined the contribution of social determinants of health, including poverty and access to healthful foods, to disparities in kidney disease. Her work in end-stage renal disease includes studies of the optimal timing and setting of dialysis initiation among vulnerable groups.

In January, Johns Hopkins Medicine officials presented Dr. Crews with a $250,000 President’s Frontier Award to put toward her research efforts. She was “tremendously honored and surprised” by the award, which is given to faculty members who are poised to break new ground and be leaders in their field.

In the afterglow of the award, she gives some credit to MEDPREP. “I want the students to know what’s possible for them, because I am not sure I knew ‘this’ would be possible for me when I was spending long nights studying in Wheeler Hall,” she says.

Dr. Crews’ path to MEDPREP was somewhat atypical. She had been a pre-med science major as an undergrad, already taken the MCAT and applied to medical school. When she

was not accepted, she went to work for three years at the United Network for Organ Sharing. She then sought admission into MEDPREP to refine her studying skills and improve her academic record.

“My MCAT scores were OK, so I didn’t need some of those preparatory courses. I was able to take some of the advanced science and biology courses that the second-years take. But I realized once I was in MEDPREP that I had never really been taught how to study,” she says. “To me that was the most beneficial part of the program; it trained me how to process volumes of information. It gave my GPA a boost.”

Dr. Crews says she felt very supported by both the faculty and her fellow students at MEDPREP. “It was a great group, very close-knit.” She laughingly recalled hosting a “post-MCAT party” at her Carbondale apartment on an April evening when her classmates had all taken their tests. “I keep in touch with several of my friends from MEDPREP. One is a very close friend,” she says.

“We went on to medical school at SLU together, and we actually vacationed together last summer.”

MEDPREP’s formula has helped guide students into medical school admission and professions since the ‘70s. Though its effectiveness can be measured in the two-year spans of a class rotation, longer-term success stories like Dr. Crews’ show the power of the foundational work being done by a small group of focused friends and faculty in Carbondale.

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RESEARCH

SOCIAL ROBOTS MAY HELP CHILDREN WITH AUTISM COMMUNICATE

DeymosHR / Shutterstock

by Lauren Crocks

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As the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) appears to be on the rise, researchers like Diana Sarko, PhD, are dedicating their time to finding better therapies. She’s looking at how children with autism can use interactive robots, or social robots, to improve their communication skills and decrease anxiety.

Social robots are a special type “Children respond very of robot that combine humanpositively to the robots, like characteristics which immediately with the control, attract their attention predictability and simplicity of a robot. and eye contact, and The controlled they’ll often initiate robotic interactions more social interactions often generate less with a person if the robot frustration among individuals with ASD. is also in the room.”

“Individuals with -Diana Sarko, PhD ASD also see the world as especially unpredictable and chaotic, which is something we can attempt to address in part by using robots,” says Sarko, an assistant professor of anatomy at SIU Medicine in Carbondale.

Sarko initially teamed up with Joshua Diehl, PhD, a clinical psychologist and assistant professor at the University of Notre Dame, to investigate the novel therapy. Diehl found that adolescents with autism experienced decreased social anxiety, increased attention, increased communication and more social interactions after interacting with Nao, a particular model of social robot.

With a background in systems neuroscience, sensory perception and sensory integration, Sarko set out to understand why these 41-2 SPRING 2018 | ASPECTS

social robots worked so well. She partnered with Felippe Sartaro and Leon Przybylowski, medical students from Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine. Together, they looked at whether children with ASD are better at integrating audiovisual cues from robots compared to people during social interactions, and whether this might be a key reason why social robots are therapeutically effective.

“This research is important because treatment options for individuals with ASD unfortunately remain very limited,” explains Sarko. “Children respond very positively to the robots, which immediately attract their attention and eye contact, and they’ll often initiate more social interactions with a person if the robot is also in the room.”

While the innovative therapy is promising, the cost and accessibility of social robots remain a barrier for health care providers and families. Until then, Sarko’s lab hopes to develop audiovisual training apps that could enhance audiovisual integration for individuals with ASD. “The goal of these ‘games’ would be to create a controlled and rewarding experience in an environment that would limit social anxiety and gradually increase the range and complexity of social interactions to the levels of typical interpersonal communication.”

Learn more about Sarko’s research in the Journal of Psychiatric Research.

ASPECTS OF A LEARNER Ehitare Emuse, MEDPREP, Class of 2019

Physician Pipeline Preparatory Program (P4) Class of 2013 I really like the environment and structure of MEDPREP. It is very conducive for learning and improving. The program is designed to identify your weak areas and bridge any learning curves you may have.

Outside of school I spend my free time catching up on sleep, watching Netflix, cooking, reading, listening to music or playing the piano—I’ve been playing for about 10 years now. And when the weather is nice, playing tennis!

In the Physician Preparatory Pipeline Program I learned so much about the different specialties in medicine and the lifestyle of a medical student and physician. From the white coats we were given to the mock patient exams we were privileged to perform, P4 definitely lived up to its billing.

I heard a good quote from my pastor: “The sky is too wide for two birds to collide.” I think it applies well to the competitive environment and expansiveness of medicine.

I was born in Lagos, Nigeria and came to the states when I was 5. I moved around quite a bit but ultimately ended up in Springfield at the age of 10.

Our family of 7 is very close, and I love it. We are very supportive of one another, and they are especially supportive of me and my pursuit to becoming a physician.

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PROFILE

AN OLYMPIC FEAT Written by David Jeong, MD Photos courtesy Dr. Jeong

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In February 2018, SIU Medicine had a representative at the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea. Dae Hyoun (David) Jeong, MD, director of sports medicine and geriatric musculoskeletal medicine at SIU Center for Family and Community Medicine in Springfield, achieved a monumental personal goal: He served as an Olympic physician.

which were hosted in his home country. Dr. Jeong’s qualifications led to him being entrusted with an even greater responsibility: serving as Venue Medical Officer at the Olympic Sliding Center, home of the luge, skeleton and bobsled events. He would direct the venue’s medical team and provide world-class care for Olympians from around the globe.

Like the athletes, Dr. Jeong had put in years of preparation and training to participate in the Olympic Games,

Here in his own words is the story of his path to—and through—the Olympics.

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PROFILE

I was born and received my medical degree in South Korea. From a young age, I dreamed of becoming a sports medicine doctor to help take care of athletes. I took Taekwondo as a boy and heard about sports medicine in middle school.

At that time, sports medicine was not a very well-known field in my home country. Western countries have a greater focus on sports medicine, and I was always excited by something new and the chance to study abroad. I was very interested in family medicine as well, so it became my goal to come to the US to be trained in family medicine and sports medicine.

After I graduated from Chonnam National University Medical College in 2009, I practiced in geriatrics for a year, then traveled around the United States for several months to gain clinical experience in family medicine and prepare for residency interviews, trying to get a good program to support my dream. In September 2010, during my clinical observership at SIU Family and Community Medicine in Springfield, Dr. Janet Albers, chair of family medicine, offered me an interview. She convinced me that SIU would be a good fit, introducing me to Dr. James “JD” Daniels, the sports medicine fellowship director at SIU FCM Quincy.

I believe coming to SIU was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, because I was able to get the full support and great mentoring experience from Drs. Albers and Daniels. With JD’s guidance, I was soon working as a collegiate team physician, at the Chicago Marathon and Triathlon, in sports medicine and orthopedic outpatient clinics, and gaining Division 1 level experience at the University of Missouri Columbia.

After completing my sports medicine fellowship, I decided to pursue a geriatric fellowship to broaden my knowledge in geriatric musculoskeletal medicine. At that time, I also discovered that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Medical Commission was offering a very competitive two-year program in sports medicine post-graduate diploma via distance-learning. I was accepted into the program before I finished my sports medicine fellowship and learned Olympic sports medicine through the online courses as well as an intense workshop program at University of Calgary Sports Injury Prevention Research Centre (one of the IOC research centers) directed by Dr. Willem Meeuwisse, medical director of the National Hockey League.

In 2015, I heard that the Korean Olympic Committee was recruiting physicians for the 2018 Winter Olympics. I tracked down contact information for one of the leading orthopedic surgeons in Korea who was an executive member of the Korean Olympic Committee. After a brief interview and review of my CV, he arranged for me to meet the coordination director and the

Photo by Jason Johnson Dr. Jeong poses in his Olympic gear outside the Center for for Family Medicine in Springfield.

chief medical officer for the Olympics.

The expectations for an Olympic physician are very high. One needs experience in international sporting events and competency in primary care, sports medicine and emergency care. The Olympic physician also needs to be familiar with the IOC and International Federation’s medical rules, show good communication, coordination and leadership skills to ensure seamless operation of the medical service and have a coping plan for any unexpected or emergency situations.

I felt fairly confident. First, there are very few Korean doctors who have had formal sports medicine fellowship training in the US, with sufficient experience in sporting events and the solid knowledge basis and skill sets required. Second, I can communicate clearly with the officials, athletes and the team associates in both written and spoken English as well as my native Korean. In addition, I was the first Korean sports medicine doctor enrolled in the IOC diploma in sports medicine program. Plus, I was trained and certified in musculoskeletal ultrasound during my fellowship and was accepted to the emergency ultrasound sabbatical fellowship program at UC Irvine, which is usually offered to emergency medicine doctors only. The interviewers were

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13

PROFILE

Center covers 44 acres and ranges in altitude from 940 meters above sea level at the top of the track down to 800 meters at the finish line. I passed through a security checkpoint, then climbed five more minutes to the entry area where a spectator medical room, the main rescue office and a souvenir shop are located. Climbing 15 more minutes, I reached the finish house and entered the athlete medical room. I participated in a medical rehearsal and practice with the venue team right away.

Then I walked for 20 more minutes to reach the start house where athletes begin their runs atop the mountain.

very impressed with my CV and told me I was ideal for the Olympics. I was accepted.

In the lead-up to the Olympic Games, I had opportunities to help raise my leadership and management skills to the IOC standard, working at a pair of international events: the 2017 U18 & Women’s World Ice Hockey Championships (an Olympic test event) and the 2017 World Taekwondo Championships.

Finally, in the early morning hours of February 5, I flew in to the Seoul/Incheon International Airport and arrived at the venue at 9 a.m. I was carrying two large, fully packed suitcases, a shoulder bag and a backpack. Moving from plane to train to bus, I had to load and unload repeatedly. At the uniform center I received more gear: my winter-wear uniform components.

From there I had a 300 ft. walk to the check-in center. The walk took 15 minutes because the rough, frozen surface of the pedestrian walkway made my luggage wheels useless. I had to literally kick my suitcases forward with each step.

After checking my luggage at the sliding center, I climbed a long, winding course up the mountainside. The Alpensia Sliding

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I walked more than 20,000 steps that first day and would average 16,000 steps each day of the games. A 14-hour workday was typical, and it took almost four hours to commute from Wonju, where I stayed, to the Olympic venue. The athletes were housed near the sliding center while operational staff were scattered in lodging around the county.

The Olympic Sliding Center hosted the events with the highest risk—the bobsled, skeleton and luge. (At the 2010 Calgary Olympics, an athlete from Georgia was killed during a training run before the games began.) The unexpected can happen at any time, so we did our best to prepare our medical teams and familiarize them to all the safety protocols during a week-long practice period.

Three days before the Olympic Games, we got a call to expect an inspection visit from the IOC medical commissioner, Dr. David Zideman, an anesthesiology trauma specialist from the UK. I heard from Dr. Schneider (Germany) and Dr. Bryne (USA), the co-medical chairs of the International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation, that Dr. Zideman can be a very particular official if there is anything out of order at his venues.

The next day, our medical team welcomed the inspection team to the Olympic Sliding Center. Dr. Zideman thoroughly checked everything and appeared satisfied. Near the conclusion of the inspection, I told him that I had read his textbook, The IOC Manual of Emergency Sports Medicine, in the month

PROFILE

“The unexpected can happen at any time, so we did our best to prepare our medical teams.”

prior to the Olympics, and I showed him the Kindle edition on my phone. He asked who would be doing the concussion evaluation on athletes when a crash occurs. I told him that I am a primary care sports medicine doctor in the US as well as an IOC Sports Physician with diploma, so I would be taking care of any athletes with concussions. He seemed reassured.

In all the excitement of the Games, there were some small problems. The transportation system was pretty bad around the Olympic venue and, as might be expected in early February, it was very cold and windy. There was a lot of standing around, waiting for trams and buses. Some nights I slept on a cot at the venue to save time and catch up on my rest.

We had many athletes, team associates, staff and spectators with minor injuries and illnesses. Team doctors id not have a Korean medical license brought their athletes to the venue medical room if they needed more than simple first aid. We were well-prepared for any types of injuries and made Olympians and team doctors very happy. Fortunately, there were no serious or tragic injuries during the games, so we did not need to call a helicopter for emergent air transportation during the Olympics.

Midway through the games I got an infection under my left eye and had to see an eye doctor at the Olympic athletes’ Village Polyclinic. Initially, I was refused treatment; they said clinic care was just for the athletes and team associates, not for volunteers. I called the Polyclinic manager and explained that our entire medical team wouldn’t function as well without me

if my condition worsened. The manager discussed it with his colleagues and decided to let me in. An ambulance brought me to the clinic, an ophthalmologist examined me and I received five different kinds of medicine, which eventually helped.

I heard there was a lot of fun at the Olympic Plaza but my schedule was usually full. On a rare night off I had a topquality Korean barbecue dinner with our medical teams and we watched the female curling semi-final together to support Team Korea.

At the end of the Olympics I was able to spend a half-day with my family in Seoul, which is equidistant between my hometown and the Olympic venue in PyeongChang. I also attended a post-Games cocktail party hosted by the IOC medical commission at the Olympic Club House in Olympic Park, where I met members of the IOC medical commission, executive medical officers and the other venues’ medical officers. Many people told me that I’d worked at the toughest venue but we had done very well.

Reflecting on this once-in-a-lifetime experience, I would like to express my thanks and gratitude to all my family, friends and the people at SIU Medicine who have supported me, allowing me to become a part of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics and help make my dream come true.

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CLASS NOTES

1978

FRANK FARA writes, “Two years ago, I was on the cusp of an unwelcome retirement, then pulled back into a happy relationship with old colleagues. Still plugging away, and happy about it. Still doing OB. Looking forward to seeing all at the reunion in June.”

1980

FRANK AGUIRRE was elected Illinois Governor for the American College of Cardiology. Frank is a cardiologist at Prairie Heart in Springfield.

2005

1983

KAREN DANENHAUER writes that in 2015 the family moved to Taranaki on New Zealand’s North Island, where Karen works in an urban and a rural hospital in emergency medicine. Her husband is Mark Danenhauer and her children are Aster and Bodhi Danenhauer.

STEPHEN HAZELRIGG received the Favorite Son award from the SIMA (Southern IL Medical Association) at its annual meeting in November.

Photos: http://myplace.frontier. com/~soillmedassc/sons.htm

1984

NIVA LUBIN-JOHNSON was named president-wlect of the National Medical Association on August 2, 2017 in Philadelphia. She will be installed as the 119th president in Orlando, Fla., in August.

1985

Thank you to our HOSTS for Helping Our Students To Succeed!

Thanks to the alumni who hosted fourth-year students in their communities this year.

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DOUGLAS KABBES joined the medical staff at Family Medical Center in Mattoon in January, after working in emergency medicine for more than 30 years.

1987

KEITH THOMAS is the Chief of Staff and Trauma and EMS Medical Director at Blue Mountain Hospital, General Surgery, John Day, Oregon.

He is the newly elected president of the Oregon Chapter of the American College of Surgeons.

1988

ALISON KIRBY is enjoying retirement. She traveled to Portugal and Iceland and has been volunteering with Master Gardeners in Walla Walla, Wash.

Alison Kirby

The Danenhauers

2008 Stephen Hazelrigg

1989

ANGELA HOLBROOK received the Alton Memorial Hospital’s Chairman’s Award. She has led the ED physicians at AMH since 2011. She is also a member of the Medical Executive Committee and the Transfusion Committee.

1993

KELLY FARROL her husband and three children live in Belleville.

She is the Medical Chief for Health Services at SIUE and has been there since 2011.

1999

SENAIT FISSEHA received the Bicentennial Alumni Award from the University of Michigan. She is director of International Programs for the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation.

REBECCA WAYMAN and her husband, Robert Beavers, welcomed their fourth child, Paige Beavers, in Nov. 2017. She joins siblings Caden, Corrine and Reid.

Rebecca is employed by Midwest Women’s Healthcare Specialists in Kansas City, Mo. She has been with her current practice since Oct. 2014.

2009

LAURA SMITH joined the faculty of the UICOMP Family Medicine Residency in July 2017.

CAMPUS ALUMNI NEWS

CONNECT WITH US

Alumni Society Elects New Board Members

Alumni Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ SIUSOMAlumni facebook.com/siumed.edu

Two new board members have been named to the SIU School of Medicine’s Alumni Society Board of Governors and will begin their three-year term, which begins in the spring of 2018. Lisa Wichterman, Class of 1981, recently retired from the practice of Radiology. She was a member of Clinical Radiologists for 30 years based at Memorial Medical Center. Breck Jones, Class of 2015, is currently a neurosurgery resident at SIU Medicine.

Re-elected to a second term were Robert Juranek, Class of 1979, Internal Medicine in Springfield; Jacqueline Harris, Class of 2008, family medicine in Tyrone, Ga; Nicole Pelly, Class of 1998, palliative care in Idaho ; Susan Reeder, Class of 1985, Retired from internal medicine in Park Ridge; Rashid Joseph Tamimie,

Class of 1979, occupational medicine in Metairie, La. The 20-member board represents the interests of the graduates of the School of Medicine and serves as the active body of the SIU School of Medicine Alumni Society to maintain personal and professional ties to the School. The board shall act in the best interest of the membership and communicate its activity as necessary.

@SIUSOM

SEND US YOUR NEWS Medical student, resident and fellowship alumni, we want to hear from all of you!

Send your news to: alumniaffairs@siumed.edu Fill out an update:

siumed.edu/alumniaffairs/ update-us.html

IN MEMORY JON GREGORY OAKLEY, class of ‘93, passed away on December 20, 2017, at his home from complications resulting from a long fought battle with cancer. Jon lived in Jackson, Tenn., and was from Pekin. He served for many years as medical director of emergency services at Pekin Hospital.

He is survived by his wife, Carol (Swadinsky) Johnson, his parents, his three children, one brother, one sister and a nephew and several nieces. View his obituary at: http://www.pekintimes.com/news/20171222/jonoakley-md Condolences may be sent to: 229 Oakmont Woods Circle, Jackson, TN 38305-2277.

JERRY ZANG, class of ‘86, passed away on Sunday, March 25, 2018, at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center in Cheyenne, Wy. Specializing in internal medicine and pediatrics, he was in private medical practice from 1992-2002. He joined the VA in Marion as a hospitalist in 2002, where he eventually became the Director of Primary Care. He also served in leadership roles. His avocations included hunting, fishing, motorcycling and spending time with his family.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Zang; daughters, Alison Holliman of Cheyenne, Tori (Josh) Steveson of Ft. Riley, Kan., and Ina (Dennis) Hollender of Copenhagen, Denmark; grandchildren, Lucas, Kiley, David, James, Ulrikka and Kajsa.

Condolences may be sent to: 8111 Yarina Way, Cheyenne, WY 820098752.

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ALUMNI CONNECTIONS

A big “thank you” to the Springfield alumni who hosted dinners for the medical students in March. At this annual event, students enjoy a warm meal and learn more about what it’s like after medical school and residency. One student commented, “I thought it was nice to hear their perspectives on what their education was like, and how it has changed since then. It was also nice to hear about what they do in their daily practice, how they made their decision to practice in their field, and how they’ve learned to balance everything.” Michael Pick, ‘76 said, “I much enjoyed talking and reminiscing with the medical students. SIU did a good job picking them to carry the caduceus for our school.”

We had 26 alumni host our students this year. Thank you to Michael Clanahan, ‘16, who suggested this idea four years ago.

-Julie Robbs, director, Alumni Affairs

See more photos: siumed.edu/alumniaffairs/photo-gallery.html

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ALUMNI CONNECTIONS

Student-alumni dInner with Virginia Dolan, MD, ‘86.

From left: Susan Oo, Rory Mills, Dr. Dolan, Sheela Gogula, Jenn Becker and Kelsey McKillip.

Ruthman and family

Alumni connect in Seattle - Area SOM alumni met at Buckley’s in Belltown on March 24.

Front row l to r: Rich Williams, Seema Afridi ‘07, Eliza Blanchette, MD ‘12, Young Yee, Mary Beth Welch, MD ‘07, Julie Robbs, Rebecca Budde; Back row l to r: Thomas Blanchette, MD ‘12, Brett Walker, MD ‘99, Lisa Walker, MD ‘99, Yuen San Yee, MD ‘83, Victoria Johnson, MD ‘10 and Patsy Wappel.

SIU SCHOOL OF MEDICINE 1978 1983 1988 1993 REUNION 2018 | JUNE 22-23 | SPRINGFIELD

REUNION CELEBRATE! CLASSES OF 1978 | 1983 | 1988 | 1993 | 1998 | 2003 | 2008

JUNE 22–23, 2018 1998 form.

2003 2008 visit siumed.edu/alumniaffairs for registration

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MED STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS DISTRIBUTION DOUBLES In an outstanding show of support from donors, 45 medical students received a scholarship this academic year, more than double last year’s number.

“A big thank you to all our donors who made these gifts possible,” said Necole Powell, director of development. “Our students graduate more than $200,000 in debt. Scholarships are a critical component to help them manage their debt.”

Five fourth-year students at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine were awarded the Alumni Scholarship established by the charter Class of 1976 as a gift in honor of its 25th reunion. The Class of 1977 followed the lead of its predecessor by supporting the fund with reunion gifts. Since then, alumni from all classes contribute to the scholarship annually, increasing the availability of funds. An additional 18 students have also received alumni scholarships, funded by the generosity of the Classes of 1975, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2002, 2004 and 2007.

Alumni Scholarship recipients: Jordan Markel Thomas Hu Andriana Stephens Allen Ghareeb Emily Palomak Brian Ginn Jace Camp Megan Goldstein Dakota Gilbert Dominic Antonacci Kyley Maxheimer Molly Etling Brian Cacioppo Jennifer Brown Rae Gumayan Nicholas Lukert Brandon Churchill Veronica Whittington Ian Ridge Laney Martin Christopher Trammell Tasha Sparks Grace Hile

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Twenty students were awarded various scholarships named after generous donors.

Saikrishna Balasubramanian received the Mayme Lawrence MD/JD Scholarship.

Kody Bolk received the J. Kevin Dorsey, MD, PhD Scholarship.

Jason Cullen received the Watson and O’Neil Scholarship.

Madelyn Fetter, Aliza Hasan, Ben Seadler and Jackson Graves, received the Kathryn Terry Scholarship.

Travis Fulk received the Gerald M. and Neva Woodall Scholarship.

Brian Ginn received the Cleverdon Palliative/Third World Scholarship.

Theodore Harper received the Harold Bardo Scholarship.

Jill Haxel received the Kathryn Patton Trust Scholarship.

Bailey Hester received the Dr. Eli and Claire Borkon Scholarship.

Caleb Lusk and Mollie Laramore received the Southern Illinois Medical Association (SIMA) Scholarship.

Shelby Markel received the Dr. Margaret Wilson Scholarship.

Andrew Partain received the God at the Speed of Light Scholarship.

Dominic Phemister received the Kate Burkhart Medical Scholarship Endowment.

Rachel Schmals received the J.S. Templeton, MD, Memorial Scholarship.

Audra Storm received the Landecker Scholarship.

Emily Wade received the Kurt Heisler, MD, Scholarship.

Two students received the SIU School of Medicine Scholarship. The School of Medicine Scholarship is given annually to third- or fourth-year medical students who have shown academic success and/or performed service to the School of Medicine.

SIU School of Medicine Scholarship recipients: Sian Best Hayden Warner For more details about these scholarships, or to learn how you can establish a scholarship, contact the SIU Foundation office at 217-545-2955 weekdays.

Gifts received by the Southern Illinois University Foundation support the growth of the School of Medicine. Give a gift online at www.siumed.edu/foundation.

Challenge Accepted:

SOM rocks second annual Day of Giving, unlocks additional $10K The SIU School of Medicine community came through in a big way on March 3 for the second annual Day of Giving. In total, the SOM raised more than $76,000.

One of the greatest accomplishments came in the form of a challenge issued

by John Benitez, MD, MPH, ‘81. Thanks to generous donors, we met his challenge: more than 10 donors gave at least $1,000 to SOM scholarships, unlocking Dr. Benitez’s gift of $10,000 to the global health program.

Pictured at left: Melinda, Pete and Morgan LaBarre stopped by the Development Office to give $1,000 to the scholarship match! SIU President Randy Dunn stopped by Lindegren Hall. MEDPREP and CRHSSD got in on the DoG fun.

Save the Date Camp COCO Golf Outing

6/8/18 Butterfly Release

6/16/18 Moy Endowed Chair Investiture

6/21/18 Denim & Diamonds

10/13/18

SCI Butterfly Release takes flight June 16 Simmons Cancer Institute at SIU invites you to celebrate in an expression of hope and peace by sponsoring a butterfly.

You can honor the living or celebrate the memory of a loved one. The emergence of a butterfly is a sign of renewal of life and its flight symbolizes freedom and happiness.

The ceremony will include the public reading of the names of those being honored and/or remembered, music, inspirational readings, and a release of butterflies.

Join us on Saturday, June 16, in the Simmons Cancer Institute at SIU’s Thomas Garden of Hope, at the corner of Rutledge and Miller Streets in Springfield, Illinois.

Your gift of $25 per butterfly/name, benefits Simmons Cancer Institute at SIU. Our mission is serving the people of central and southern Illinois by addressing their present and future cancer care needs through medical education, biomedical research, patient care and community service.

Pre-event registration is encouraged, however there will be a limited number of butterflies/ registrations available the day of the event for $35.

To sponsor a butterfly, call 217.545.2955 or visit siumed.edu/cancer.

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Office of Public Relations & Communications SIU School of Medicine P.O. Box 19621 Springfield, IL 62794-9621

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SIU School of Medicine maintains a toll-free service for physicians to make referrals or request consultations. The phone number for calls from outside Sangamon County is 1-800-DIAL-SIU (1-800-342-5748).

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