Historical Overview of SIU School of Medicine
Note: Bulleted points indicate update information. Other facts and figures are available in Quick Facts.
In 1968, the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) included a recommendation in a long-range planning document, Education in the Health Fields for State of Illinois, that Southern Illinois University create a medical school in downstate Illinois capable of graduating its first class of new physicians by 1978.
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The University responded and determined that it could make maximum use of existing facilities and expertise by basing the clinical education programs of the new school in Springfield, which had large sophisticated hospitals and a strong core of physicians in the various specialties, and the basic science programs in Carbondale, making use of the educational resources already available on the campus. Richard H. Moy, M.D., was hired in 1970 as the new school’s founding dean. He and newly recruited department chairs and clinical, basic science and medical education faculty began creating the School’s innovative, competency-based curriculum which was designed to train new doctors over a three-year period. The basic sciences were concentrated on the Carbondale campus and the remaining years of the medical school curriculum and most residency programs would be delivered on the Springfield campus. The mission of the Southern Illinois University 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.
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 Dr. Carl Getto |
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 Dr. J. Kevin Dorsey, Ph.D. |
Medical Education
The School’s medical education curriculum received provisional accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) in 1972, allowing the members of the charter class to begin their studies in Carbondale in June 1973. Full accreditation came in 1975, followed that same year by the first commencement of 24 advanced-standing students and in 1976 by the graduation of 43 students in the charter class. In 1980, the IBHE approved converting the School’s three-year curriculum to a four-year program.
- In 2007 the School was granted full LCME accreditation for eight years with no citations.
In May 1972, the family medicine residency program in Springfield received preliminary accreditation and SIU’s first graduate medical education training program began in July. Also in 1972, the School’s Medical Dental Education Preparatory Program (MEDPREP) was established. The goal of the pre-med program was “To increase the number of medical minority group physicians practicing in central and southern Illinois.” The first MEDPREP students began their studies in 1973. SIU School of Medicine quickly became a leader, recognized for its innovative teaching and testing methods. An early milestone was the publication of Curricular Objectives 1976, the first time a medical school had published a complete set of goals and objectives for the medical degree. In 1984, the School jointly sponsored with the Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation an invitational conference for medical educators, “How to Begin Reforming the Medical Curriculum.” Eventually, most U.S. medical schools studied SIU’s medical education program as they began reforming and updating their curriculums. |
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In 1985, the School established a requirement that all students satisfactorily complete a final comprehensive performance-based assessment procedure (using standardized patients) as a condition of graduation with the M.D. degree. In 1987, U.S. News and World Report described SIU as the medical school most frequently cited as having an innovative program.
In 1988, the School approved adding a unique six-year dual-degree M.D.-J.D. program to accommodate the increasing number of individuals seeking interdisciplinary education. In 2000, after an extended period of study and evaluation, the School of Medicine implemented a newly re-organized curriculum that emphasized principles of problem-based learning. These included self-directed small-group learning activities centered around actual patient problems, and integration of basic sciences and clinical sciences managed by interdisciplinary teams of faculty.
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In addition to the undergraduate medical curriculum, SIU expanded its residency training programs. By the end of 1972, four more residency programs had been approved, with internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics and surgery joining family medicine. A psychiatry residency was added in 1973. Training programs in anesthesiology and radiology were added in 1974. |
- Today (FY11) there are more than 290 residency positions in 16 different medical specialty and subspecialty disciplines, and18 fellowship programs that offer post-residency training opportunities.
- As of FY11, more than 1,980 residents and fellows have completed training.
Graduate programs leading to master’s and doctoral degrees on the Springfield campus were approved by the IBHE in 1987. Programs currently are available in molecular biology, microbiology and biochemistry; pharmacology; and physiology.
- As of FY11, more than 270 master’s degrees and nearly 170 doctoral degrees have been awarded.
Continuing Medical Education (CME) offers a full range of educational experiences that enhance health care professionals’ knowledge base, provide updates and review, and expand professional skills. The first CME program was offered in Carbondale in 1972. The CME program was first accredited by the Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association in 1975. It was last re-accredited in 2008.
- In 2009, CME offered 72 programs with more than 3,500 registrants.
The School’s Telehealth Network and Programs began in 2002. Our telehealth professionals help provide access to high quality specialized health care, connecting experts with colleagues in rural communities, delivering educational opportunities in a timely and cost efficient manner, and conducting academic research.
- In FY10, SIU Telehealth offered 58 educational programs at 109 sites in 55 Illinois communities and 14 clinical programs at 26 sites in 20 Illinois communities.
Patient Care
Rather than owning and operating its own teaching hospital, the SIU School of Medicine partners with local hospitals to provide necessary clinical experiences for our students. In 1970, the year of our founding, we signed affiliation agreements with St. John’s Hospital and Springfield Memorial Hospital (now Memorial Medical Center). Subsequent agreements have also been signed with the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Marion, Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, St. Mary’s Hospital and Decatur Memorial Hospital in Decatur, and Blessing Hospital in Quincy.
| In 1973, the School’s medical practice plan, Medical Service and Research Plan (MSRP), was established to provide a basic business structure for the physician practice. The MSRP was reincorporated in 1997 as SIU Physicians & Surgeons, a multi-specialty group practice. In 2009 the practice plan was renamed SIU HealthCare. As a medical practice associated with SIU School of Medicine, the new name was intended to capture the full array of health care services provided and strengthen SIU’s commitment to provide the highest quality medical care available in the region. |  |
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Medical Research
At SIU School of Medicine, research includes biologically oriented studies as well as studies related to the cultural and behavioral aspects of medicine, methods for the delivery of health care, and the medical education process. Our early research efforts focused primarily on medical school curriculum design, delivery and evaluation. Subsequent areas of clinical research strength included neuropsychopharmacology, including Alzheimer’s disease, auditory research and reproductive biology.
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Our current research efforts cover a wide range of basic and clinical sciences with special emphases on cancer, hearing and aging. The expansions of the Springfield Combined Laboratory Facility and the Simmons Cancer Institute at SIU have enabled us to broaden research that benefits the region. About two-thirds of the School’s research is funded by federal agencies such as the National Institutes of Health. Other support comes from health associations, pharmaceutical companies and private foundations. |
- As of FY10, the School’s funded research portfolio has grown to $31.7 million.
- As of FY10, more than 250 research projects funded by outside resources are underway in 100-plus laboratories.
The Simmons Cancer Institute at SIU was first approved by the SIU Board of Trustees in 2000. Groundbreaking for its own building was held in July 2005 and the dedication in July 2008. The cancer institute is focusing its efforts on established and cutting-edge cancer research and treatment as well as physician training and public education for citizens of central and southern Illinois. Researchers are emphasizing the study of basic mechanisms of cancer, cancer epidemiology in rural areas and translational research bringing new treatments to the bedside.
- Our current active cancer grants total more than $4.5 million (FY11).
Service to the Community
SIU School of Medicine has always taken seriously its role as a part of the communities where we are located, especially Carbondale and Springfield. We include service to the community as a major part of our mission statement. Not only do we have partnerships with the local hospitals, but we have also reached out to communities in our service areas in downstate Illinois through continuing education programs, clinical services, the rural health initiative and telehealth programs.
In 1980, the Emmet F. Pearson, M.D. teaching museum in the 801 N. Rutledge Building was dedicated. The museum includes a restored doctor’s office; the Lewis Drugstore, with antique soda fountain and original prescription counter; special exhibits and many medical artifacts. It is named in honor of Dr. Pearson, a Springfield physician and student of medical history, whose generous contributions played a major role in building the core of the museum’s collection.
SIU School of Medicine has been part of the Springfield Public School District #186 Partners in Education, or Adopt-a-School program, since 1986. Medical students and some employees provide a mentoring/tutoring program to students at Enos Elementary School. Medical students organize an annual “Shoes That Fit” drive for Enos students, and various other programs and support activities take place throughout the year.
-- Prepared by Office of Public Affairs, July 2011