SAVE THE DATE. Please mark your calendars for a day of learning, networking, and advocacy at the Illinois Dermatology Trainee Advocacy Day virtual conference! Join us over Zoom for a day of conversation with leaders in the field, focused on inspiring and connecting trainees at all levels to become advocates for health equity in dermatology and beyond. Please follow our Twitter page to receive up to date information

As the Chair of SIU Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, I am honored to be part of a Department so deeply committed to furthering our mission to provide equitable care for the patients of our region while developing an inclusive and welcoming culture. The Department is comprised of world-class surgeons, APPs, audiologists, and speech therapists who are committed to providing the highest level of patient care. All of our surgeons are fellowship-trained in specific areas within the field of Otolaryngology, providing enhanced expertise and improved patient outcomes. I am constantly impressed by

The SIU PA Program values diversity. We intend to be proactive in demonstrating cultural humility and ensuring an inclusive and welcoming environment for all persons regardless of race, age, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, religious beliefs, educational background, military experiences, geographic location, language, and work experience. To fulfill our mission, we give preference to applicants from rural and medically underserved areas in Illinois. Students who complete the Pre-Physician Assistant Program requirements through the SIU MEDPREP

Vidhya Prakash, MD, has been appointed to the dual position of chief medical officer and associate dean of clinical affairs and population health at SIU Medicine. Prakash will begin her duties on March 1. She joined SIU School of Medicine in 2014 as an assistant professor of internal medicine. She was subsequently promoted to a full professor position. Most recently, she was the Department of Internal Medicine’s vice chair of clinical affairs and chair of the Clinical Competency Committee. Prakash has served the organization in many other positions, including president of the Faculty Council

From caregivers to physicians, researchers to patients and everyone in between, there is an entire community dedicated to helping those with Alzheimer's and related disorders, committed to find ways to slow and stop the progression of the disease. Through Mind Matters, the quarterly newsletter of the Dale and Deborah Smith Center for Alzheimer's Research and Treatment at SIU Medicine, we want to highlight the impactful stories and transformative work being done. We hope you find this newsletter enjoyable and informative. Thank you for reading and for your support!

Dr. William Robinson, Professor and Division Chief of Vascular Surgery at SIU Medicine, has been appointed as the Chair for the Committee for Post Graduate Education of the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS). The Post Graduate Education Committee solicits proposed content from SVS members to provide relevant education to advance the practice, curricula, and scope of practice in vascular surgery. Dr. Robinson will lead the Committee in identifying and developing post-graduate educational content for the SVS Annual Meeting in June. The mission of the Society for Vascular Surgery “seeks to

The Dr. Kenniebrew Equity Award is an acknowledgment bestowed upon an individual or organization actively promoting inclusive excellence.

The Dr. Kenniebrew Equity Award is an acknowledgment bestowed upon an individual or organization actively promoting inclusive excellence.

A pharmacology and neuroscience student at SIU School of Medicine, Jesse Britz, along with Shelley Tischkau, PhD, and the Smith Alzheimer's Center Hascup Labs , recently researched the link between Alzheimer's and circadian rhythm (the body's 24-hour internal clock). Britz, who is from Divernon, earned his PhD this past December. Tell us about your recent research. The whole focus of the project started because sleep/wake cycles are heavily disrupted in Alzheimer’s. For a long time it’s been looked at as a symptom – sundowning is a term that is normally used. People in late-stage Alzheimer’s