May 1, 2006

Sharon K. Hull

Dr. Sharon K. Hull, associate professor in medical humanities, has been named interim chair of the medical humanities department, effective May 1. She succeeds Theodore R. LeBlang, J.D., who continues on the faculty as an emeritus professor of law and medicine.

LeBlang became chair of medical humanities chair in 1993 after serving as legal counsel for the medical school for 18 years. He also helped organize and direct SlU's M.D./J.D. dual degree program, offered in conjunction with the School of Law in Carbondale.

Hull returned to the medical school's faculty last fall after completing a two-year primary care research fellowship at the University of North Carolina, a competitive program funded by the National Institutes of Health. At the same time, she completed a residency in preventive medicine and a master of public health degree.

Since returning to Illinois, she has been appointed by Chancellor Walter Wendler to represent SIUC on the Health Care Advisory Task Force for the Delta Regional Authority. She also serves as a senior health policy analyst to the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute on health care access issues, particularly relating to school-based health centers.

Previously, Hull was on the medical school's family and community medicine faculty as well as assistant dean of student affairs in Carbondale (1996-2003). She also served on the medical staff of the SIUC student health program clinic where she was chief of the women's health clinic (1993-96). She previously had a private practice in Marion (1990-92).

A 1987 graduate of SIU's medical school, Hull also has been on the School's volunteer faculty in family and community medicine. She completed her family medicine residency at Union Hospital Family Practice Center in Terre Haute, Ind., (1990) and earned her bachelor's degree at the University of Evansville, Ind., (1983).

She is board certified in both family medicine and preventive medicine and is a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. She is a member of Academy Health, American Public Health Association, American College of Preventive Medicine and Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society.

A native of Harrisburg, Ill., Hull is the daughter of William and Delores Hull of Carrier Mills.

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