New students begin medical training at Southern Illinois University
A White Coat ceremony at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine celebrated the new students in the Class of 2027 who have begun pursuing medical degrees to care for the people of central and southern Illinois and beyond.
During the August 11 event in Carbondale’s Shryock Auditorium, students received their white coats to begin their journeys to become physicians. The learners spend the first year of training on the Carbondale campus and years 2-4 in Springfield. (Eight students in the Lincoln Scholars program spend all four years downstate.)
SIU Medicine Associate Dean for Student Affairs Haneme Idrizi, MD; SIU System President Daniel Mahony, PhD; and Wendi El-Amin, MD, associate dean for equity, diversity and inclusion, delivered remarks to the group. Amanda Mulch, MD, Class of 2003 and assistant dean of student affairs, announced the students' names, while Drs. Idrizi and El-Amin presented them with white coats on behalf of the Alumni Society.
Debra Klamen, MD, MHPE, senior associate dean for education and curriculum and chair of the Department of Medical Education at SIU Medicine, led the students in reading the Physician’s Pledge. The keynote speaker was Doug Carlson, MD, Class of 1984 and the chair of pediatrics at the school of medicine.
The White Coat Ceremony is designed to establish a commitment to professionalism and empathy in medicine and takes place at most U.S. medical schools each fall. In her welcome to the class, Dr. Idrizi said the coat “is a symbol of our commitment to serve humanity and always to remember to offer compassionate, respectful and collaborative care to our patients. Essentially, what we will help teach these future clinicians is that doctors should care as well as cure.”
Established in 1970, SIU School of Medicine is based in Springfield and Carbondale and focused on the health care needs of downstate Illinois. It educates physicians to practice in Illinois communities and has graduated more than 3,232 physicians since the first class in 1975.
Photos of the students are available upon request.
Class of 2027 students, hometowns & parents/spouse, grouped by regions
CENTRAL ILLINOIS
Josianne Becker Morton Robert and Evelyn Becker
Anthony Brown Chatham V. Scott Brown and Lilia Brown+ spouse Samantha Brown
Jack Carnduff Springfield Brad and Joan Carnduff
Collin Fricke Peoria Lyle Fricke and Mary Fricke + spouse Abby Fricke
Lydia Fulton Staunton Robert and Lucinda Fulton
Evan Gustafson New Berlin Joel and Amy Gustafson
Amy Lee Peoria Eric and Catherine Lee
Morgan Lenz Jacksonville Tom and Kim Lenz
Josie Long Springfield Scott and Rae Long + spouse Jackson Blough
Sophia MacLean Morton John and Janet MacLean + spouse Karsten Mohn
Caitlyn McCracken Marquette Heights Paul and Christy McCracken
Cade Meiss Eureka Trent and Lucille Meiss
Tyler Meng Springfield Phil Meng and Julie Meng
Anjali Patel Springfield Samir and Reshma Patel
Seth Redpath Williamsville Earl and Carol Redpath
Divinity Rhodes Springfield Amy Rhodes
Sid Saxena Peoria Samir and Nibha Saxena
Faris Shaikh Springfield Riaz and Shaista Shaikh
Tayli Shekleton Springfield Daniel and Tiffani Shekleton
Malik Siddique Springfield Sohail Siddique and Mona Ahsan
Kodi Smith Taylorville Dennis and Diana Smith
Sophia Suchomski Bunker Hill Francis and Rebecca Suchomski
Elahson Swanson Pekin Eric and Elisha Swanson
Dylan Thompson Springfield James Thompson and Rebecca Hill
Jessica Tilton Washington Robert and Teresa Tilton
Emma Trapp Springfield William Trapp and Ann Robert
Alexander Vorreyer Springfield Joseph Vorreyer and Jennifer Vorreyer
EASTERN ILLINOIS
Matthew Carroll Bourbonnais Patrick and Kelly Carroll
Charlotte Jordan Mahomet Paul Jordan and Jodi Albert
Najah Khan Forsyth Muhammad and Deeba Khan
Angel Lopez Gilman Kathy Martinez
Claire Robinson Galesburg Mark Robinson and Jody Breuer
Jessica Sheelam Bloomington Kanakaraj and Maria Sheelam
Jake Walters Champaign Robert and Paula Walters
NORTHERN ILLINOIS
Samia Abdul-Qadir Naperville Abdul and Sabina Abdul-Qadir+ spouse Imadh Khan
Adetolani Adeyefa Lynwood Adegoke and Oluwayemisi Adeyefa
Mark Arroyo Minooka Carlito and Cynthia Arroyo
Duilio Cervantes-Medina Chicago Serafin and Maria Guadalupe Cervantes
Jonathan Chan Oswego Fung and Louisa Chan
Kymberly Harrington New Lenox Marcus and Kymberly Harrington
Kamia Jones Chicago Michael and Tyra Jones
Madelynn Marunde Belvidere Emil and Sandra Marunde
Khadijah Olowu Chicago Charles Chester and Rashidat Olowu
Manuel Partida Chicago Elena Manzo
Tatum Pyszka Peru Mark and Kris Pyszka
Guadalupe Ruiz Waukegan Jose and Maria Guadalupe Ruiz
David Salami Chicago Olalekan and Ebunoluwa Salami + spouse Tishauna Salami
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
Kenan Abed Mahmoud Carbondale Issa Abed and Mona Shehada
Parker Allen Edwardsville James Allen and Victoria Rehkop
Rebecca Corzine O'Fallon Susan Jenner
Nolan Denton Belleville Terry Denton and Julie Denton
Austin Farmer Shiloh Bob and Christina Farmer
Hannah Feldt Shiloh Jason and Autumn Caraway + spouse Ryan Feldt
Kassidy Funke Godfrey Kelly and Tracy Funke
Hannah Gahagan Murphysboro Michael and Nikki Gahagan
Natalyn Gorazd O’Fallon Rich Gorazd and Mary Gorazd
Julia Hardiek Teutopolis Karla Hardiek and the late Jack Hardiek
Alanna Kaminsky Edwardsville Loren Kaminsky and Dr. Joanna Janas-Kaminsky
Katelyn Kohlberg Smithton Ken and Sara Kohlberg
Alex Kowalski Effingham David Kowalski and Lisa Kowalski + spouse Katelyn Hale
Ruth Kvistad New Baden Eric and Shari Kvistad
Tierney Lanter Belleville Jeffrey and Marcy Lanter
Carson Lewis Edwardsville Ryan and Rachel Lewis
Bailey Meyer Smithton Eric and Christina Meyer
Parth Patel Collinsville Pragnesh and Mina Patel
Zachary Patterson Belleville Dana and Andrea Patterson+ spouse Kaitlin Wieberg
Lana Sawar Carbondale Amar and Rahaf Sallouha
Taylor Shoraga West Frankfort Dan and Leslie Shoraga + spouse Andrew Kent
Hannah Wickham Edwardsville Rick Wickham and Belinda Carstens-Wickham
Ananya Yaganti O’Fallon Srinivasarao and Anita Yaganti
WESTERN ILLINOIS
Emily Baalman Hardin Matthew and Michelle Baalman
Sydney Ohrtmann Macomb Timothy and Alice Ohrtmann
Jared Salrin Quincy Steve and Julie Salrin
Benjamin Whittaker Quincy Kenneth and Julia Whittaker + spouse Rileigh Cann
OUT OF STATE
Jessica Griffin Wichita, KS Junius Griffin and Patricia Griffin
Alsten Jones Columbia, SC Cynthia Jones
Raheel Makhani Carrollton, TX Rafiq and Shahina Makhani
Sydney Marshall Loma Linda, CA Edward and Melissa Marshall
Tafanie Roye New Britain, CT Jannett Forbes
Evelyn Veliz Brooklyn, NY Pedro and Dolores Veliz
Destiny Walker Sedalia, MO Marcellus Walker and Alicia Jackson
