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October 21, 2005

Minority Students Begin Studies at SIU School of Medicine

Seventeen minority students in the Class of 2009 started their training in August at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine.

"The students in the first year class represent the highest number of minorities we have ever had in a single class at this school. It’s historic and we’re proud of the steps we’ve taken to ensure a diverse student population," said Dr. Wesley G. McNeese, executive assistant to the dean for diversity at SIU and an SIU graduate from the Class of 1986.

McNeese attributes the increase in minority students to focused recruitment strategies, increased advocacy by the School’s diversity office and networking opportunities with local minority physicians.

All 75 students in the class began the year by participating in a "white coat ceremony," which welcomes students into the profession. The minority students in the class are –

• Mark Adams of Louisville, Ky., is the son of Bedford and Sharon Adams of Louisville, Ky., and is married to Michelle (Bryant) Adams from Atlanta, Ga.
• Sofya Asfaw of Chicago is the daughter of Dr. Ingida and Elizabeth Asfaw of Grosse Point Park, Mich.
• Junaia Carter of Houston, Texas, is the daughter of Angela Carter of Houston, Texas.
• Aishah Covington of Corpus Christi, Texas, is the daughter of Archie and Margaret Covington of Corpus Christi, Texas.
• Jennifer Creamer of Brimfield is the daughter of Gary Creamer and the late Diana Creamer of Brimfield.
• Melissa Dawson of Heyworth is the daughter of Daniel and Mary Dawson of Heyworth.
• Marco del Castillo of Crete is the son of Drusilla Driscole of Crete and Edgar del Castillo of Frankfort.
• Nicole Dunlap of Champaign is the daughter of Brenda Foster of Champaign.
• Omonigho Ekhomu of Chicago is the daughter of Ona Ekhomu of Chicago.
• Idelle M. Fraser of Carbondale is the daughter of Magdalene Fraser and the late Winston Fraser of San Jose, Calif.
• Eric Garcia of Brooklyn, N.Y., is the son of Julia Torres of Whitehall, Pa.
• Tiffany Morris of Chicago is the daughter of Johnny and Dedra Morris of Olympia Fields.
• Kanayo Okafor of St. Louis is the son of Dr. Nathaniel and Ifeyinwa Okafor of Nigeria.
• Arica Pittman of St. Louis is the daughter of Jerome and Angela Pittman of Florissant, Mo.
• Audrey L. Tanksley of Chicago is the daughter of Charles E. Roberson Jr. of Chicago and Wynonia Tanksley of Minneapolis, Minn.
• Elizabeth M. Cabrera Valencia of Richland, Wash., is the daughter of Michael and Socorro Cabrera of Richland, Wash., and is married to Luis Valencia from Escondido, Calif.
• Tabatha Wells of Chicago is the daughter of J. Robin Wells and Charlene Wells, both of Chicago.

During the ceremony in Carbondale, the students received their first white coats from Dr. Erik Constance, associate dean of student affairs and a 1988 graduate. The students also received a pin made up of the words “Compassion, Respect and Integrity” from the SIU Foundation. The students were welcomed by Dr. J. Kevin Dorsey, Ph.D., dean and provost and a 1978 graduate of the School. The event is designed to establish a "psychological contract of professionalism and empathy" in medicine.

The class of 2009 has 34 men and 41 women including 17 minority students. Currently a total of 39 minority students are enrolled in the medical school. "Minorities," as determined by the American Association of Medical Colleges, are the racial and ethnic populations that are underrepresented in the medical profession relative to their numbers in the general population.

The SIU School of Medicine is based in Carbondale and Springfield and is specifically oriented to educating new physicians prepared to practice in Illinois. Since 1975, 1,986 physicians including 156 minorities have earned SIU medical degrees.
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NOTE TO MEDIA: Individual photos of the students are available by calling us at 217-545-2155 or e-mail publicaffairs@siumed.edu.                                    

Photo #1    Front row, left to right:  Junaia Carter, Sofya Asfaw, Audrey Tanksley, Omonigho Ekhomu, Nicole Dunlap, Tabatha Wells, Mark Adams
Back row, left to right:  Tiffany Morris, Eric Garcia, Aishah Covington, Kanayo Okafor, Idelle Fraser

Photo #2    Front to back, left to right: Junaia Carter, Nicole Dunlap, Melissa Dawson
Tabatha Wells, Jennifer Creamer, Omonigho Ekhomu, Aishah Covington, Marco del Castillo
Idelle Fraser, Mark Adams
Eric Garcia, Kanayo Okafor