July 18, 2006

SIU Med School Recognizes Area Physician as “Mentor of the Year”

Dr. Osama Aaflaq is being recognized as the for his work as a volunteer mentor to first-year medical students.

"Dr. Aaflaq is one of our highly valued mentors and has been nominated for this award the last two years. We greatly appreciate his contribution along with the 56 other volunteer mentors," said Dr. William Hamilton, professor of pediatrics, in announcing the award. Hamilton is director of the doctoring committee for year one of the medical school’s curriculum.

The medical students nominating Aaflaq said in their nominations -- "He is an excellent teacher and has provided me with the confidence to move forward in my medical education. He is a family man who understands the stressors of being a physician and wasn't hesitant to share his mechanism for not only being the best doctor he can be, but how to stay true to your family and yourself." and "He treated all of his patients with a great amount of respect. Dr. Aaflaq was professional with not only his patients but also with his co-workers. As a mentor, he always made sure to explain clearly what he we doing and why he made the decisions that he did." Aaflaq was one of 17 area physicians nominated for recognition.

An emergency room physician, Aaflaq practices at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale. He is board certified in internal medicine. He completed his internal medicine residency at St. Francis Hospital in Evanston. Aaflaq and his wife have three children and live in Carbondale.

The SIU School of Medicine is based in Carbondale and Springfield and is specifically oriented to educating new physicians prepared to practice in Illinois communities. Since 1975, 2,043 physicians have earned SIU medical degrees.

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