May 29, 2007

SIU Med School Announces New Members to Honor Society

Nine new members have been inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Medical Society by the Eta Chapter at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield. All seven were inducted at AOA's spring banquet in Springfield.

Newly elected members from the Class of 2008 are Gwen Redwood, daughter of David and Sue Griffen of Springfield; Patrick Rhoades, son of Marty and Nancy Rhoades of White Hall; James Rybak, son of Dr. Leonard and Constance Rybak of Springfield; and Christine Waller, daughter of Robert and Teresa Lane of Sullivan and the late Jane Wiley.

Resident physicians from SIU residency programs selected were Dr. Michael Martin, an internal medicine resident, son of Kevin and Patricia Martin from Darien; Dr. Jason French, a pediatric resident, son of Ron and Irene French of Roselle; and Dr. Minh-Doan Nguyen, a plastic surgery resident, daughter of Dr. Nhung Thi Tran and Dr. De Nguyen of Orlando, Fla.

Dr. Randy Kienstra, professor of pediatrics, was elected an honorary faculty member. Dr. James Gildner, a Springfield community physician and 1983 graduate of SIU, was elected an alumni member of the society.

Election to AOA is based on integrity, leadership, compassion and fairness and scholastic excellence.The only national honor medical society in the world, AOA recognizes and works to perpetuate excellence in the medical professions. Among its aims are to promote scholarship and research and recognize high attainment in medical science, practice and related fields.

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