Mark L. Francis, MD  

Mark L. Francis, MD
Division of Rheumatology
Associate Professor of Medicine
Chief, Division of Rheumatology

Office Location: 751 N. Rutledge, Room 1100
Springfield, Illinois 62702
Appointments: 217-545-3880 -or-
217-545-3878



Degree Year Institution Area
BA 1977 University of Colorado Chemistry, Biology and English
MA 1979 University of Illinois English
MD 1983 St. Louis University  
Internship 1984 William Beaumont Army Medical Center Internal Medicine
Residency 1986 William Beaumont Army Medical Center Internal Medicine
Fellowship 1990 Walter Reed Army Medical Center Rheumatology
MS 2008 Harvard University, School of Public Health Epidemiology
 
Board Certifications
Internal Medicine
Rheumatology
 
Academic Interests
Dr. Francis has previously done work in immunology, and this is outlined in the attached publications. His research focus, however, has changed to epidemiology. While he works on rheumatologic topics, his interests lie well beyond rheumatology.

He has a special interest in rural compared to urban health care. With the key help of his research staff, he is using a 2005 Medicare database to determine whether or not there is a difference in the utilization of various surgical procedures between rural and urban people. His research staff have also just finished a study on health care literacy in rural compared to urban populations. They have begun another study that will exam rural and urban differences in the interactions among social capital, access to health care, perceived health care, and willingness to undergo surgery.

 
Clinical Interests
All areas of adult rheumatology, quality improvement, and clinical research.
 
Representative Publications
  1. Francis ML, Moss J, Fitz TA, Mond JJ. (1990) cAMP-independent effects of cholera toxin on B cell activation. I. A possible role for cell surface ganglioside GMI in B cell activation. J Immunol. 145: 3162-3169.
  2. Francis ML, Ryan J, Jobling MG, Holmes RK, Moss J, Mond JJ. (1992) Cyclic AMP-independent effects of cholera toxin on B cell activation. II. The binding of ganglioside GMI induces B cell activation. J Immunol. 148: 1999-2005.
  3. Francis ML, Meltzer MS. (1993) Induction of IFN-α by HIV-1 in monocyte-enriched PBMC requires gp120-CD4 interaction but not virus replication. J Immunol. 151: 2208-2216.
  4. Francis ML, Okazaki I, Moss J, Kurosky A, Pecanha LMT, Mond JJ. (1995) cAMP-independent effects of cholera toxin on B cell activation. III. Cholera toxin A subunit-mediated ADP-ribosylation acts synergistically with ionomycin or I1-4 to induce B cell proliferation. J Immunol. 154: 4956-4964.
  5. Francis ML, Fan XS, Meltzer MS. (1996) Loss of ability to produce IFN-α in response to HIV-1 as monocytes differentiate into macrophages: Induction via a mechanism independent of double-stranded RNA. J Immunol. 156: 2481-2487.

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