New physicians and research scientists at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine received their diplomas Saturday, May 21, at the school’s 48th annual commencement. The ceremony was held at the Performing Arts Center at the University of Illinois Springfield. Commencement speaker Regina Rabinovich, MD, MPH, encouraged the new doctors in the Class of 2022 to take advantage of their opportunities at a unique moment in history, and become advocates as well as healers. Rabinovich is the ExxonMobil Malaria Scholar in Residence at Harvard University, and director of the Malaria Elimination

Medical student Barra Madden had dreams of becoming a professional dancer until personal and familial health challenges forever changed her life – and career path.

Medical student Barra Madden had dreams of becoming a professional dancer until personal and familial health challenges forever changed her life – and career path.

Medical student Barra Madden had dreams of becoming a professional dancer until personal and familial health challenges forever changed her life – and career path.

“Derm is so competitive, most of us were nervous that we could even get into the field. I’d ranked into my dream specialty, and I really wanted to come to SIU.”

“Derm is so competitive, most of us were nervous that we could even get into the field. I’d ranked into my dream specialty, and I really wanted to come to SIU.”

Within an operating room, surgeons sometimes notice little things that they wish they could do better. A change that could improve the medical outcome or the patient’s post-op convalescence is not to be ignored.

Within an operating room, surgeons sometimes notice little things that they wish they could do better. A change that could improve the medical outcome or the patient’s post-op convalescence is not to be ignored.

Within an operating room, surgeons sometimes notice little things that they wish they could do better. A change that could improve the medical outcome or the patient’s post-op convalescence is not to be ignored.