The employee of the month for January 2020 is Rhonda Loyd , Office Manager, in the Department of Surgery. Her nominator said: “Rhonda consistently demonstrates the behavior standards. She helps to train and orient new staff. She has an extensive knowledge base developed over many years of experience in her role and she shares this knowledge. She explains processes thoroughly and models excellence. There have been many changes within our department and the School, and she embraces those changes and is willing to learn and continuously grow. We are very fortunate to have Rhonda on our team.”

The employee of the month for January 2020 is Rhonda Loyd , Office Manager, in the Department of Surgery. Her nominator said: “Rhonda consistently demonstrates the behavior standards. She helps to train and orient new staff. She has an extensive knowledge base developed over many years of experience in her role and she shares this knowledge. She explains processes thoroughly and models excellence. There have been many changes within our department and the School, and she embraces those changes and is willing to learn and continuously grow. We are very fortunate to have Rhonda on our team.”

SIU Medicine’s December 2019 patient experience highlight recognizes Sandra Ettema, MD, Department of Otolaryngology. Informing patients and their families of a terminal illness is not something that most of us would think about daily. For our providers, that is a different story. Dr. Ettema received a card in the mail last month from a patient’s family. In the card was a letter describing the meaning of this patient to the family but most impressively, the gratitude and appreciation shown to Dr. Ettema for her kindness in the delivery of the news and explanation of the diagnosis of cancer

The Center for Human and Organizational Potential hosted a contest to establish Little Free Libraries (LFL) around the SOM campus during November 2019. Department teams planned and created impressive original designs. Here are the winners. Longest Standing LFL (10+ years) & Best Variety (books + DVDs): Quincy Family Medicine Most Creative: Department of Pharmacology’s Pharm Barn Best Presentation: Department of Population Science and Policy, 201 E. Madison Atrium Gathering Space Table/Lending Library Most Comfy and Cozy: Department of Psychiatry, Centrum Building

Erin Hascup, PhD , has been named as the new director of the SIU Center for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders (CADRD) beginning January 1, 2020. Tom Ala, MD, was serving as the interim director and will become CADRD's medical director. Dr. Hascup has been with SIU School of Medicine since 2012, initially as a research associate within CADRD. She joined the faculty of the SIU SOM Department of Neurology in 2013 as Assistant Professor (Research) and was promoted to Associate Professor in the Tenure Track in 2018. Her research is centered on neurodegeneration and in particular, Alzheimer

Erin Hascup, PhD , has been named as the new director of the SIU Center for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders (CADRD) beginning January 1, 2020. Tom Ala, MD, was serving as the interim director and will become CADRD's medical director. Dr. Hascup has been with SIU School of Medicine since 2012, initially as a research associate within CADRD. She joined the faculty of the SIU SOM Department of Neurology in 2013 as Assistant Professor (Research) and was promoted to Associate Professor in the Tenure Track in 2018. Her research is centered on neurodegeneration and in particular, Alzheimer

Erin Hascup, PhD , has been named as the new director of the SIU Center for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders (CADRD) beginning January 1, 2020. Tom Ala, MD, was serving as the interim director and will become CADRD's medical director. Dr. Hascup has been with SIU School of Medicine since 2012, initially as a research associate within CADRD. She joined the faculty of the SIU SOM Department of Neurology in 2013 as Assistant Professor (Research) and was promoted to Associate Professor in the Tenure Track in 2018. Her research is centered on neurodegeneration and in particular, Alzheimer

Erin Hascup, PhD , has been named as the new director of the SIU Center for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders (CADRD) beginning January 1, 2020. Tom Ala, MD, was serving as the interim director and will become CADRD's medical director. Dr. Hascup has been with SIU School of Medicine since 2012, initially as a research associate within CADRD. She joined the faculty of the SIU SOM Department of Neurology in 2013 as Assistant Professor (Research) and was promoted to Associate Professor in the Tenure Track in 2018. Her research is centered on neurodegeneration and in particular, Alzheimer

SIU Medicine has been named an Exemplary Practice by Great Lakes Practice Transformation Network and was awarded the network's Exemplary Practice certificate Dec. 11. The certificate recognizes SIU Medicine's "exceptional progress in practice transformation." SIU Medicine's general internal medicine clinic was presented the award established by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as part of the Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative in an effort to support thousands of clinician practices in quality improvement strategies for large-scale health transformation, resulting in

On Nov. 21, SIU School of Medicine hosted the 2019 Leadership Springfield class for a morning of education and leadership in health care. Thirty-two guests from business, government, nonprofit organizations and the community toured the campus, gaining a deeper understanding of the medical district’s economic impact and specifically, the school’s mission to train physicians and enhance regional health. Presenters included: • Dr. John Mellinger , Vice Chair of Surgery, SIU School of Medicine • Ed Curtis, President and CEO, Memorial Health System • E.J. Kuiper, President and CEO, HSHS St. John’s