Rare Lung Surgery Gives Some People a Second Chance at Life

SIU School of Medicine and AFSCME Local 370 have finalized and ratified a new collective bargaining agreement, effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028. The union represents more than 800 school employees across its campuses.

When a child is born with a cleft lip or palate, SIU Medicine surrounds families with a team devoted to expert care and compassion, from a baby’s first breath to a teen’s final surgery. Our specialists walk alongside families, providing clarity, confidence and lifelong support every step of the way.

A first-generation physician from a rural community in southern Illinois, Dr. Jennifer Cook says she has often reflected throughout her career on the opportunities her medical degree created and on the patients and colleagues who shaped her path. That sense of gratitude inspired her to give back.