News

Health Career Opportunities group tours School of Medicine

Published Date:

SIU School of Medicine was founded in 1970 to fill the need for more physicians and to improve the health of the people of central and southern Illinois. For recruitment, the school casts its nets wide across the state, with an emphasis on home-grown learners within its 66-county service region. “We have a great deal of talent in our rural communities,” says Dr. Jerry Kruse, dean and provost of SIUSOM. “We want to be sure to encourage that talent to flourish in every way possible.”

SIU’s Office of Regional Programs coordinates a Health Career Opportunities program that includes presentations from health care providers and visits to regional health centers in the area. On May 3, more than 50 high school and community college students visited SIU School of Medicine and the Memorial Center for Learning and Innovation for a day of education and horizon broadening.

The students represented Spoon River College and high schools in Jacksonville, Canton, Havana and Mason City (Illini Central). Campus tours and talks included discussion of pediatrics, medical research, problem-based learning, dermatology and more. The guests were also able to ask questions of current medical students during a morning panel. The presenters emphasized that the medical field is rich with career opportunities, and SIU offers stellar support for the students' many aspirations.   

More from SIU News

Jeffery Parilla-Carrero, PhD

Jeffery Parrilla-Carrero: Understanding addiction, one switch at a time

Jeffery Parrilla-Carrero , PhD knows the face of addiction. As a boy in Puerto Rico, he watched his father battle alcohol use disorder, cycling through attempts to quit that ended in disappointment
Cox and Tobon in Cox lab

Seed funding, strong roots: Two SIU researchers explore early clues to chronic conditions

2025 Spring Research Seed Grants launch projects on rheumatoid arthritis and balance disorders. Two early-stage research projects at SIU School of Medicine are taking on complex, chronic diseases that

Dr. Ruchika Goel to be named Endowed Chair in Hematologic Disorders August 26

Dr. Ruchika Goel will be the inaugural recipient of the O.H. Wesly Endowed Chair of Excellence in Hematologic Disorders at SIU School of Medicine. The investiture ceremony will be held at 5 p.m. August 26, in the South Auditorium, 801 N. Rutledge St.