SIU HealthCare welcomes Dr. Jeffrey Cozzens as chair of SIU Neurosurgery, specializing in brain tumor surgery, functional neurosurgery (neurosurgery for Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders, neurosurgery for epilepsy, neurosurgery for treatment resistant depression) and microsurgery of the spine. He brings 25 years of experience to his practice. Prior to joining SIU, he was on faculty at the Department of Neurosurgery at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He is board certified in Neurological Surgery.

SIU School of Medicine welcomes Dr. Alex Gorbonos, director of robotic surgery within the Division of Urology at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. He is the first fellowship trained robotic surgeon in the region, having performed over 300 cases in his fellowship and trained under the pioneers of robotic surgery, He specializes in minimally invasive (robotic and laparoscopic) urologic surgery, urologic oncology, endourology (stone surgery) and general urology.

SIU HealthCare welcomes Dr. John Mellinger as a general surgeon, specializing in gastrointestinal and laparoscopic surgery. He has over 20 years of post training experience in these areas, and serves in leadership roles nationally in surgical endoscopy and endoscopic training. Prior to joining SIU, Dr. Mellinger was professor of surgery, chief of gastrointestinal surgery, and general surgery residency program director at the Medical College of Georgia. He is certified by the American Board of Surgery.

SIU School of Medicine welcomes Dr. Saadiq El-Amin, latest member of SIU Sports, a comprehensive sports medicine team including a fellowship trained primary care sports medicine physician, a physician assistant/athletic trainer with professional team experience and a fellowship trained orthopaedic surgeon who was assistant team physician for the New York Knicks under the direction of Drs. Answorth Allen & Lisa Callahan.

SIU HealthCare is proud of its new sports medicine team, offering expertise at both a team and individual level. This group tackles all aspects of sports medicine, providing patient care to athletes of all ages, abilities and fitness levels.

SIU Healthcare welcomes Dr. Ra’Kerry K. Rahman, offering comprehensive spine care for both adults and children. He recently completed a spine surgery fellowship at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. His special interests include adult and pediatric spinal reconstructive surgery including scoliosis, tumors, and late effects of fractures. He also specializes in complex cervical spine and revision lumbar surgery.

SIU HealthCare welcomes Dr. Nada Berry, a new plastic surgeon with special training in hand surgery to the Division of Plastic Surgery. She recently completed a yearlong fellowship in hand surgery at the Mayo Clinic. Her specialty is hand microsurgery and reconstructive surgery. Her research interests include nerve regeneration and clinical outcomes research.