
Keeping Communities Safe
The ThinkFirst chapter at SIU School of Medicine was awarded the ThinkFirst Chapter of the Year Award at the Annual National ThinkFirst Conference this summer.

Community Care programs strengthening clients, making homes safer
“Many of our clients are young mothers who don’t have all the resources they need, so we’re able to help.” Nurse Lisa Homeier makes herself available 24/7, so “we can talk like we’re sisters.”

Cleaning, bonding, role modeling: Students serving in the community
For more than 10 years, SIU medical students have organized and volunteered for a spring cleaning day in the Enos Park and Pillsbury Mills neighborhoods.

Advocating for Amber
Community health worker Nicol Moore met Amber Hinkle, 41, during a 2021 neighborhood celebration in Comer Cox Park. Amber had chronic leg pain and had become discouraged with her physician. “I’d bring
New program puts community health workers at ground level
Establishing rootsCommunity health worker Kaye Barnes sports a purple SIU Medicine T-shirt to complement her green thumb as she works in Springfield’s community gardens. A native of the city’s north

Durbin releases plan to address health care workforce shortages in rural Illinois
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin held a news conference with Illinois health care leaders Monday, May 22, to release his “Roadmap to Grow Illinois’ Rural Health Workforce.” The partnership with hospitals, community health centers, medical and nursing schools, community colleges, dentists, physicians, and nurses will organize efforts and provide new funding to address health care workforce shortages and staffing crises in rural Illinois.

Nominations sought for new community engagement award
AWIMS is seeking nominations for its first-ever Colors of Health Community Engagement Award. The recipient will be honored during the fashion show June 2 in Springfield.

Nurses available to first-time parents in Sangamon County
SIU Medicine is offering personal nurses to qualifying families through the Nurse-Family Partnership of Sangamon County.

New parents-to-be can receive at-home nurse visits
SIU Medicine is offering care to qualifying families through Nurse-Family Partnership of Sangamon County.