The inner ear is lined with two types of hair cells that help us to hear and balance. The cells respond to sound waves for hearing and head and body movement for balance. As we age, the cells are injured or die off, and our hearing and balance suffer as a result. Studies have shown that the hair cells in fish, frogs and birds can regenerate naturally. New research by scientists at the University of Washington and Southern Illinois University School of Medicine indicates that the hair cells involved with balance—called vestibular cells—may also be replenished in mammals. This could have

HSHS St. John’s Hospital broke ground June 27 on a new outpatient center. The 85,000-square-foot outpatient center set to open in 2018 will house providers from SIU Medicine and HSHS Medical Group and provide comprehensive services for women and children.“Providing access, convenience and the best possible care for our patients has been at the forefront of our minds in this planning process,” said Charles L. Lucore, president and CEO of HSHS St. John’s Hospital. This $48.4 million project includes a four-story medical facility, parking garage and a sky bridge across Ninth Street that will

HSHS St. John’s Hospital broke ground June 27 on a new outpatient center. The 85,000-square-foot outpatient center set to open in 2018 will house providers from SIU Medicine and HSHS Medical Group and provide comprehensive services for women and children.“Providing access, convenience and the best possible care for our patients has been at the forefront of our minds in this planning process,” said Charles L. Lucore, president and CEO of HSHS St. John’s Hospital. This $48.4 million project includes a four-story medical facility, parking garage and a sky bridge across Ninth Street that will

Whether you’re visiting the local waterpark, playing sports outdoors, working in your garden or resting in a car on a warm summer day, hot temperatures could spell a heat-related illness like heat exhaustion or heat stroke. While heat stroke and heat exhaustion both exist on a spectrum, the illnesses manifest themselves quite differently, and one could be fatal. Do you know the differences? We talked to Wendi El-Amin, MD, specialist in Family Medicine, to find out. Heat exhaustion The body is able to cool itself by sweating, but if sweating is unable to dissipate the heat generated within the

The Office of Population Science and Policy (OPSP) is recruiting for a research assistant professor/cancer health outcomes researcher. The primary purpose of this research position is to provide cancer epidemiologist insight and innovation to advance the mission and goals of the Office of Population Science and Policy (OPSP), and the Simmons Cancer Institute (SCI) at SIU. The candidate will be expected to develop and pursue a vigorous portfolio of externally funded research in rural cancer disparities and other designated high priority areas of OPSP and SCI. Read the Position Description Apply

Dr. Bradley Schwartz specializes in minimally invasive surgery, laparoscopy, da Vinci robotic surgery, and stone disease. Dr. Ranjiv Mathews, a pediatric urologist, treats children with congenital and acquired urological conditions. Follow SIU School of Medicine Urology for glimpses into residency life and laparoscopic skills training. Learn what SIU Medicine has to offer in this 2:19 minute introductory video.

What is Opening Minds through Art? Opening Minds through Art (OMA) is an award-winning, evidence-based, intergenerational art-making program for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of neurocognitive disorders. Its failure-free program provides opportunities for creative self-expression and social engagement for people with dementia. OMA also provides volunteers with opportunities to improve their attitudes toward aging through the weekly interaction with OMA program participants. Learn more at https://www.scrippsoma.org/. Our goal is to help create a society that values older

A program designed to equip family members and others for the caregiving role. Join us for an educational series of what to expect when caring for those with dementia or memory loss. The series is eight weeks long — feel free to register for one session, or all eight. Each week explores different topics helpful in developing skills to caring for those with dementia, including effective communication strategies, addressing Alzheimer's behaviors, family dynamics, meaningful activities, planning for the future, and much more. This program is designed to equip family caregivers of individuals

With warm weather comes a host of exciting outdoor activities: swimming, boating, biking, road trips, fireworks and camping to name a few. But, when precautions aren’t taken, many of these activities can also end in injury. One group at SIU School of Medicine makes it their mission to prevent that.