News

SIU PA Program National Medical Challenge Bowl Champions

Published Date:

After winning its third consecutive Illinois Academy of Physician Assistants State Medical Challenge Bowl in April, on May 17, the SIU Physician Assistant Program Medical Challenge Bowl team won the national championship held at the American Academy of Physician Assistants conference in Las Vegas. The SIU team competed against 82 other universities in the tournament.

The SIU team is coached by Don Diemer,  DHSc, PA-C, PA program director. Teammates include Erin Browne, Morgan Rakers, and Joeli Diemer, as well as alternate Alexandra Spillman. Joe Mork also attended as a backup Challenge Bowl team member.  

“We are so proud of our students, who consistently score higher on national tests, and who, obviously, know their stuff when the pressure is on,” said Laurie Dunn-Ryznyk, associate director for the program. 

More from SIU News

Moy Clinic Building in winter

AFSCME, SIU School of Medicine ink 3-year agreement

SIU School of Medicine and AFSCME Local 370 have finalized and ratified a new collective bargaining agreement, effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028. The union represents more than 800 school employees across its campuses.
Dr. Johnson with cleft patient

The doctors behind the smiles

When a child is born with a cleft lip or palate, SIU Medicine surrounds families with a team devoted to expert care and compassion, from a baby’s first breath to a teen’s final surgery. Our specialists walk alongside families, providing clarity, confidence and lifelong support every step of the way.
Cook Alumni Donor

Alumni Donor Spotlight: A Gift of Gratitude

A first-generation physician from a rural community in southern Illinois, Dr. Jennifer Cook says she has often reflected throughout her career on the opportunities her medical degree created and on the patients and colleagues who shaped her path. That sense of gratitude inspired her to give back.