The SIU Springfield Family Medicine Residency Program has twelve physician faculty who are committed to providing the educational model to teach our Family Medicine Residents to meet the challenges of their medical career.  The Program also offers the benefit of exposing residents to other Health Professionals, incorporating them both as educators, and to provide a diverse model for practicing medicine.  As teachers of Family Medicine, the Faculty not only provide training and guidance to the residents here at the Program, but also serve as role models to ensure we are delivering quality health care to the people in this community and in the greater central Illinois area.  In order to familiarize you with the Faculty, a bio-sketch about each of them follows:

Dr. Albers received her undergraduate degree in biology and German in 1982 from Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois, graduating Magna Cum Laude. She received her medical degree in 1987 from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield, Illinois. Her family medicine residency was completed at Mayo Graduate School in Rochester, Minnesota. Dr. Albers is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society and a Fulbright Scholar. Before joining the SIU Family Practice Residency, she was affiliated with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota and in Scottsdale, Arizona. Dr. Albers is married and is the mother of three children.
 

A native of Olney, Illinois, Dr. Tracy Aldridge completed her undergraduate education at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois, obtaining a bachelor's degree in Zoology. Following undergrad, she entered medical school at Southern Illinois University. Upon completion of medical school, Dr. Aldridge joined SIU Springfield, for residency and then became a fellow in faculty development, also at SIU Springfield. Having completed the fellowship, Dr. Aldridge became a faculty member with SIU Springfield with interests in women's health/obstetrics and medical education.

Dr. Amber Barnhart grew up on a farm outside of Philo, Illinois. She completed her Bachelor of Science Degree in Physiologic Psychology from the University of Illinois and her medical degree from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. She completed her residency in family practice at SIU before joining the faculty in 1984. Dr. Barnhart's primary interest is medical education. She has been active in developing and directing the introduction to clinical medicine, the family practice third year clerkship and various fourth year electives. Currently, Dr. Barnhart serves on a task force of the National Board of Medical Examiners and the Education Commission on Foreign Medical Graduates to develop clinical simulated patient testing formats. Dr. Barnhart was previously selected as "Teacher of the Year" by the Illinois Academy of Family Practice. Additionally, she sits on the board of the SIU Alumni Association. Dr. Barnhart and her husband are the parents of five children.
 

Dr. Careyana Brenham received her Bachelor of Sciences degree in Biology from the University of Illinois Champaign/Urbana in January 1996, and completed her medical school at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in May 2000. Dr. Brenham completed her residency in May 2003 and a faculty development program fellowship in May 2004 and is now a full time faculty member at the Springfield program. Careyanna is now the assistant residency director and has a special interest in child abuse medical care. Dr. Brenham also volunteers her time through international missions. Careyanna and her husband have three daughters.
 

Dr. Ewart completed his undergraduate studies in mathematics at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario and studied anthropology at the University of Toronto. Dr. Ewart studied medicine at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, graduating in 1974. He completed his residency in family medicine at the Ottawa Civic Hospital. Dr. Ewart practiced medicine in Canada for several years before moving to the United States in the early 1980's, Dr. Ewart previously practiced at an HMO in Nebraska. In 1992, he returned to school at McMasters University to do advanced study in clinical epidemiology and biostatistics. Dr. Ewart joined the faculty at SIU School of Medicine in March 1996. The Research and Scholarly Activity portion of the longitudinal curriculum is directed by Dr. Ewart.
 

A native of Carlinville, Illinois, Dr. Gleason completed his undergraduate education at the University of Illinois in Urbana with a bachelor's degree in chemistry. While attending the University of Illinois, Dr. Gleason achieved the Bronze Tablet, Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society and the Arthur W. Sloan Chemistry Award. Dr. Gleason completed his medical degree at the University of Illinois in Chicago and his family practice residency at MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn, Illinois. After the completion of his residency, Dr. Gleason also attained a fellowship in faculty development. Dr. Gleason's prior academic experience includes Acting Associate Director, Family Medicine Clerkship and Pre-Doctoral Education Director at the MacNeal Family Practice Residency. He presently serves as Assistant Program Director and is in charge of Recruitment and Curriculum at the Springfield Family Practice Center. Dr. Gleason is married and is the father of two sons. In his leisure time, he enjoys hunting, gardening, fishing, jogging and farm management.
 

Becky Hanna is a certified Physician Assistant (PAC). She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Dietetics from Iowa State University in 1995 and became a Registered Dietitian. In June 1999 she attended the Physician Assistant Program at Des Moines University - Osteopathic Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa and graduated June 2001. 

Dr. Hoffman received her undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana.  She went on to graduate with a Doctor of Medicine from the SIU School of Medicine in Springfield.  She completed her family medicine residency training at the Quincy Family Medicine program in 2004 and served as Chief Resident her last year.  After residency, Dr. Hoffman completed an academic family medicine fellowship at the University of Missouri - Columbia School of Medicine, where she received a Master of Science in Public Health in June 2006.  She then joined the faculty at the SIU-Springfield Family Medicine Residency Program and has a cross-appointment in the Department of Medical Education.  In addition to general primary care, she practice obstetrics and does a number of procedures.  She is active in the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine and the North American Primary Care Research Group.  Dr. Hoffman plays the cello, French horn, piano and guitar and enjoys playing volleyball.

Dr. Lausen is a Springfield native who received his bachelor's and master's degrees in biology from the University of Illinois at Springfield.  He received his medical degree from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine where he also completed a predoctoral fellowship in Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment.  During medical school, he was a member of the Sigma Sigma Phi honor society and named Student D.O. of the year.  Dr. Lausen completed his residency at the SIU Center for Family Medicine in Springfield.  Since then, he has completed the Leadership in Osteopathic Medical Education fellowship through the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and the Predoctoral Directors Development Institute through the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine.  Dr. Lausen has received the Pfizer Teacher Development Award from the AAFP Foundation and the Wyeth Emerging Leader Award from the American Osteopathic Foundation.  He has a special interest in medical education and currently serves as the Family Medicine Clerkship Director, Osteopathic Residency Program Director, and Institutional Director of Osteopathic Medical Education.  Dr. Lausen and his wife Jackie are the proud parents of one daughter.
 

Dr. Lopp received her undergraduate degree in Exercise Science with a minor in Spanish in May of 1997 from the University of Iowa - College of Liberal Arts.  She went on to receive her Doctor of Medicine in May of 2002 from the University of Iowa - College of Medicine in Iowa City.  She also received her residency training in family medicine at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in June of 2005.  She was employed by the Family Medicine Clinic from August of 2005 through July of 2006.  Dr. Lopp joined the faculty at the SIU-Springfield Residency Program in August of 2006.  Dr. Lopp is married, her husband is employed by Memorial Medical Center as an Anesthesiologist and they have one daughter. 
 

Dr. Nichole Mirocha graduated from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Missouri in June, 2004.  She received her Bachelor Degree in Molecular and Integrative Physiology from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, as well as her Masters of Health Science in Addiction Studies from Governors State University in University Park, Illinois.
In her free time, Nichole enjoys cooking and playing the piano.

Dr. Olson was born in Preceville, Saskatchewan, Canada. He received a double major in Molecular biology and chemistry from the University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and received the Gold Medalist Award for his achievement in molecular biology. He received his medical degree from the University of Manitoba and completed his family practice residency at St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Dr. Olson is double-boarded in family practice through the Canadian College of Family Practice and the American Academy of Family PRactice. Dr. Olson has been very active in numerous medical committee activities and has acted as chairperson during hi tenure at the Springfield Clinic. He currently serves as Chairman of the Family Practice Department at Memorial Medical Canter. Dr. Olson had been in private practice, in Sherman, Illinois, for ten years before joining SIU Family Practice in October, 1996. Dr. Olson is a dedicated family man whose wife, Gail, is an RN at St. John's Hospital. They are the parents of three children. Dr. Olson remains active in sporting activities such as cycling, skiing and competitive tennis.

Dr. Thomas received her undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois at Champaign and her medical degree from SIU School of Medicine in Springfield in 1991.  She completed her residency at the Springfield Family Medicine Residency Program in 1994.  Dr. Thomas is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians.  Community activities include serving as Minister of Worship at Mt. Zion Apolostic Church in Springfield and she has been awarded the Edwin A. Lee Award for Community Service.  Her special interests include Pediatrics, Geriatrics and Community Medicine. Dr. Thomas completed a fellowship program in Community Medicine and was the 2006 recipient of the Humanism in Medicine Award. Dr. Thomas is married and the mother of three children.