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The National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC) has granted accredited status to the SIU School of Medicine Breast Center in Springfield . To achieve voluntary NAPBC accreditation, a breast center demonstrates compliance with the NAPBC standards that address a center’s leadership, clinical services, research, community outreach, professional education and quality improvement for patients. As an NAPBC-accredited center, the School of Medicine Breast Center is committed to maintaining levels of excellence in the delivery of comprehensive, patient-centered, multidisciplinary care

SIU Medicine joins other organizations and families around the country in celebrating National Breast Cancer Awareness Month during October. We're doing our part to spread awareness about this leading type of cancer, including its signs and symptoms, how it's diagnosed and treated, and how you can prevent it. An often overlooked aspect of breast cancer awareness is life after breast cancer surgery. Though a mastectomy can save a woman's life, it can also leave her reeling with unexpected emotions and challenges. For this reason, SIU Medicine encourages our communities to honor another

Dr. Careyana Brenham has been selected as the new associate dean for graduate medical education (GME) at SIU School of Medicine.

The inner ear is lined with two types of hair cells that help us to hear and balance. The cells respond to sound waves for hearing and head and body movement for balance. As we age, the cells are injured or die off, and our hearing and balance suffer as a result. Studies have shown that the hair cells in fish, frogs and birds can regenerate naturally. New research by scientists at the University of Washington and Southern Illinois University School of Medicine indicates that the hair cells involved with balance—called vestibular cells—may also be replenished in mammals. This could have

Loneliness, isolation are worsening mental health in seniors Creating community and providing education can help deliver the solution. For more than a decade, Karen Lee has fostered connections through stained glass, modeling clay, markers and more. Lee leads Art Express , a program within the Smith Alzheimer’s Center at SIU Medicine that gives those with dementia a chance to express themselves without having to verbalize their feelings. On its face, it’s a valuable program as it gives those with dementia a better quality of life. It allows caregivers to breathe. But from the beginning, a

Creating a community that better understands Alzheimer's and dementia fosters a better environment for all. One where shop owners understand unusual behavior, where waiters can provide more patience with a confused customer, and one where caregivers have allies and neighbors who better comprehend their situation. The Dementia Friends initiative is about turning your new understanding of dementia into practical actions, helping others in your community. An estimated 250,000+ people are living with dementia in Illinois. Every action counts. Led by Debbie Kuhns, program director at the Smith

Dr. Don Torry’s career reads like a classic academic success story: a small-town kid from Washington, Ill., rises through the ranks to become a leading researcher in reproductive immunology. But behind each achievement lies a more complex narrative familiar to scientists: dealing with the unexpected.

Fifteen years ago, Randy Burnside, PhD, was in New Orleans with his wife, her family and a new 2-month-old son when Hurricane Katrina struck, pushing 8 feet of water into their home. He had just been hired to teach at SIU and was preparing to move to southern Illinois. This year, Burnside began a new job as director of MEDPREP just as the coronavirus was making inroads into the United States. He had traversed the Carbondale campus to get there, as an associate professor teaching public administration courses in SIU’s Department of Political Science. His research was focused on behavior

Dr. Randy Burnside received the 2025 Dr. Wesley G. Robinson-McNeese ADEI Lifetime Achievement Award for his dedication to advancing antiracism, diversity, equity and inclusion across SIU campuses.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and SIU Medicine's Farm Family Resource Initiative invites members of the farming community to help us bring awareness to this important topic. We need to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness. Let's start by debunking four common myths surrounding mental health. How many of these have you heard? Myth #1: You can tell someone has a mental health problem. An estimated 1 in 5 Americans has some form of mental illness, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. This means that you probably know several people who are dealing with mental