SIU School of Medicine

Dr. Ian Martin is system chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine and interim senior associate dean for faculty affairs and leadership development at the Medical College of Wisconsin.

Karen Stallman of SIU School of Medicine's Farm Family Resource Initiative shares how rural farm families are dealing with accelerating changes in rural life and provides a lifeline at 833-FARM-SOS.

Dr. Wendi El-Amin Associate Dean for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at SIU School of Medicine explores how inclusive healthcare practices are vital to improving community health outcomes.

Dr. John Flack shares information about hypertension.

Rikeesha Phelon talks about her career evolution, the role of strategic communication in institutions like SIU, and how she balances innovation with clarity in health messaging.

Faculty, students and staff from both universities have worked together to build a publicly accessible digital archive of COVID-era experiences. That archive serves as the foundation for the art, photography and performances included in “COVID Stories.”

The Pelvic Wellness Center opened in October 2024 to support both women and men's pelvic health. The center offers specialized treatment for pelvic pain, urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and sexual dysfunction. Mary Hitt, Director of the Pelvic Wellness Center at SIU Medicine, and Kaylie Caswell, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner and Sexuality Counselor at SIU Medicine, spoke with Community Voices about common reasons people visit the center, as well as topics related to pelvic health and sexual health counseling and education. They emphasized the importance of normalizing conversations around sexual health and discussed how social media has influenced public perceptions of traditionally "taboo" topics. For more information about the Pelvic Wellness Center, click here.Listener discretion is advised.

Dr. Christopher McDowell is the Executive Associate Dean of SIU School of Medicine. He spoke to Community Voices about how he balances his practice in emergency medicine and his administrative duties. He also shared how SIU School of Medicine is working to make health care more accessible and why patients should come to the emergency room if they have a concern.

Dr. Stacy Sattovia is a Professor of Internal Medicine and Director of Culinary Medicine at SIU School of Medicine. She spoke to Community Voices about the field of culinary medicine, cultural shifts leading to changes in nutrition and the importance of nutritious and tasty food. She also addressed managing a balanced diet amid rising food cost and how 4th year medical students are learning how to apply culinary medicine in the test kitchen.

The Standardized Patient Program, which is replicated at medical schools across the country, originated at SIU School of Medicine. Dr. Amelia Frank spoke to Community Voices about the program. She explained how this program uses trained individuals to simulate real patient scenarios, helping future doctors develop their clinical skills. Dr. Frank also explained the process of becoming a standardized patient, the importance of continued learning for doctors and the various methods they employ to stay current in their field.For more information on the Standardized Patient Program visit: https://www.siumed.edu/oec/sp/become-standardized-patient