SIU School of Medicine grants degrees to Class of 2022

New physicians and research scientists at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine received their diplomas Saturday, May 21, at the school’s 48th annual commencement. The ceremony was held at the Performing Arts Center at the University of Illinois Springfield.

Commencement speaker Regina Rabinovich, MD, MPH, encouraged the new doctors in the Class of 2022 to take advantage of their opportunities at a unique moment in history, and become advocates as well as healers. Rabinovich is the ExxonMobil Malaria Scholar in Residence at Harvard University, and director of the Malaria Elimination Initiative at ISGLOBAL at the University of Barcelona. She is also an SIU School of Medicine alumna (Class of ’82).

“Use your voice. Like the adage posted in airports, if you see something, say something. In the future you will likely have a leadership role in your community if you choose … so be informed on the best science and practices and speak up.”

As new physicians, they should expect pushback but be fearless nonetheless, Rabinovich says.

“We now realize that epidemics and global pandemics are a real threat. You are better prepared at how to lead the way to sustain COVID learnings than the 20 generations who came before you because you have been through the wars.”  

SIU School of Medicine Dean and Provost Jerry Kruse, MD, MSPH, awarded diplomas to the medical students, and Sheila Caldwell, EdD, vice-president for antiracism, diversity, equity and inclusion and chief diversity officer at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, conferred the degrees.
 
Alumni, faculty members and a graduating student received awards during the ceremony.

Mikaela Thurber, an instructor in anatomy in Carbondale, received the Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching. She was also honored as the class's favorite first-year teacher. Jody Lack, MD, an associate professor in pediatrics, and Class of 2022 graduate Braidy Megeff, MD, received the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Awards, presented by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation.

Three alumni were honored: Traves Crabtree, MD (’95), 2022 Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award; Stephen Goetter, MD (’76), 2022 Distinguished Alumni Service Award; and Elizabeth Stewart, MD, (’07); Early Career Achievement Award.

The new SIU physicians will begin residency training in their chosen specialties in July.

SIU Medicine’s mission is to optimize the health of the people of central and southern Illinois through education, patient care, research and service to the community. Established in 1970, the medical school is based dually in Carbondale and Springfield and is specifically oriented to educating new physicians prepared to practice in Illinois communities. Since 1975, 3,163 physicians have earned SIU medical degrees.

Watch the commencement ceremony on YouTube. View graduate portraits, video and photos from the event at Zenfolio.

Here’s a list of the graduates BY REGION and their post-graduation plans.

CENTRAL ILLINOIS
STUDENT & HOMETOWN              FAMILY        SPECIALTY @ RESIDENCY LOCATION

•     Dominic Aiello of Springfield / Joseph and Mary Aiello of Springfield / Emergency Medicine @ U Louisville SOM-KY
•     Adam Doedtman of Rochester / Jim and Missy Doedtman of Rochester / Medicine-Preliminary & Interventional Radiology @ U Louisville SOM-KY/Indiana University SOM
•     Carlos Garcia of Beardstown / Juan Garcia and Silvia Ayala of Pleasant Plains & spouse of Kaitlyn Garcia / Orthopaedic Surgery @ SIU SOM & Affil Hosps-IL
•     Logan Grubb of Springfield / David and Bonnie Grubb of Panama City Beach, FL / Family Medicine @ SIU SOM & Affil Hosps-IL
•     Matt Hazelrigg of Springfield / Steven and Sharon Hazelrigg of Springfield / Surgery-Preliminary @ U Illinois COM-Chicago
•     Rachel Karras of Sherman / Peter and Victoria Karras of Sherman / Otolaryngology @ SIU SOM & Affil Hosps-IL
•     Emilie Lohman Irwin of Springfield / Michael and Deanna Lohman of Springfield & spouse of Owen Irwin / Emergency Medicine @ SIU SOM & Affil Hosps-IL
•     Manish Mandava of Bloomington / Venkateswara Mandava and Manasi Krishna of Seattle, WA / Internal Medicine @ SIU SOM & Affil Hosps-IL
•     Matthew Mannion of Springfield / Michael and Michele Mannion of Springfield / Emergency Medicine @ Akron Gen Med Ctr/NEOMED-OH
•     Sophia Matos of Springfield / Gabor and Judit Matos of Springfield / Otolaryngology of SIU SOM & Affil Hosps-IL
•     Stephanie Menezes of Rochester / Brad and Jill Menezes of Rochester / Neurological Surgery @ U Illinois COM-Peoria OSF
•     John Rego of Metamora / Francisco Rego of Key West, FL, and Jana Heins of Lexington, SC / Transitional @ Eisenhower Army Medical Center
•     Khloe Sandercock of Springfield / David and Kelle Sandercock of Springfield / Pediatrics @ U Tennessee Health Sci Ctr-Memphis
•     Anthony Sleiman of Peoria / George and Mireille Sleiman of Peoria                                        
•     Ben Stephens of Springfield / Harvey and Mary Beth Stephens of Springfield / Obstetrics-Gynecology @ U Iowa Hosps and Clinics
•     Elek Wellman of Sherman / Dan and Kris Wellman of Sherman / Dermatology @ SIU SOM & Affil Hosps-IL

MASTER’S DEGREE GRADUATE:

•     Chase Gibbs of Springfield / Carol and Marc Gibbs of Springfield / QC Microbiologist Technician @ BioMerieux in St. Louis

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
STUDENT & HOMETOWN              FAMILY        SPECIALTY @ RESIDENCY LOCATION

•     Samantha Bibee of Belleville / Gayle Bibee of Belleville / Fam Med/Columbia-St Marys @ Med Coll Wisconsin Affil Hosps
•     Amanda Brown of Fairfield / Malcolm Brown of Springfield and Heidi Hoffee of Fairfield / Plastic Surgery @ St Louis Univ SOM-MO
•     Paul Cacioppo of Collinsville / Christopher and Hong Cacioppo of Collinsville / Anesthesiology @ Mayo Clinic School of Grad Med Educ-MN
•     Blake Cain of Marion / Thomas and Rebecca Cain of Pittsburg & spouse of Heather Cain / Family Medicine @ SIU SOM & Affil Hosps-IL
•     Komal Chaudhry of Carbondale / Anup and Mukesh Chaudhry of Vernon Hills / Anesthesiology @ U Tennessee Grad SOM-Knoxville
•     David Edelstein of Edwardsville / Mark and Amy Edelstein of Colorado Springs, CO / Transitional & Anesthesiology @ U Illinois COM-Peoria OSF/Northwestern McGaw/NMH/VA-IL
•     Nicholas Fiore of Belleville / Peter Fiore and Madelyn Lamb of Belleville / Surgery-Preliminary / Medical University of SC
•     Jacob Franke of Maeystown / Jeffrey and Kimberly Franke of Maeystown & spouse of Katlyn (Woolford) Franke / Plastic Surgery @ Spectrum Health/Michigan State Univ
•     Madison (Frerker) Plater of Nashville / Chris and Amber Frerker of Nashville & spouse of Mason Plater / Family Medicine @ Deaconess Hospital-IN
•     Rebecca Griffon of Godfrey / David and Myra Griffon of Godfrey / Family Medicine/Alton @ SIU SOM & Affil Hosps-IL
•     Jordyn Huston of Newton / Michael and Lisa Huston of Newton / Pediatrics @ St. Louis Univ SOM-MO
•     Paige Kannall of Highland / Robert Kannall and Bryan and Hilary Chasteen, all of Highland / Pathology @ Duke Univ Med Ctr-NC
•     Samuel Keck-Flory of Edwardsville / Donald Flory and Pamela Keck of Edwardsville & spouse of Brittany Keck-Flory / Psychiatry/Child Psych @ SIU SOM & Affil Hosps-IL
•     Sasha Mozelewski-Hill of Du Quoin / Gary Mozelewski of Nashville and Keith and Ruth Sims of Du Quoin & spouse of A.J. Hill / Emergency Medicine @ Barnes-Jewish Hosp-MO
•     Aaron Peach of Granite City / Terry and Diane Peach of Granite City / Transitional & Dermatology @ Ascension St. Vincent Hosp-IN/Indiana University SOM
•     Nic Revelt of Edwardsville / John and Sonia Revelt of Edwardsville / Orthopedic Surgery @ SIU SOM & Affil Hosps-IL
•     Jacob Trammel of Murphysboro / Jason Trammel of Carbondale and Holly Wright of DeSoto / Emergency Medicine @ SIU SOM & Affil Hosps-IL
•     Matt Turner of Troy / Willard and Denise Turner of Troy / Medicine-Preliminary & Dermatology @ SIU SOM & Affil Hosps-IL/U Kansas SOM-Kansas City
•     Frank Verdu of Edwardsville / Frank and Patricia Verdu of Edwardsville / Emergency Medicine @ SIU SOM & Affil Hosps-IL
•     Kyle Whittington of Elkville / Greg and Jill Whittington of Elkville / Pediatrics @ St. Louis Children’s Hosp-MO
•     Jordan Wills of Benton / Tim and Kelly Wills of Benton / Family Medicine @ Mercy Hospital St. Louis-MO
•     Katlyn (Woolford) Franke of Salem / Alan and Donna Ford of Salem & spouse of Jacob Franke / Family Medicine @ Spectrum Health/Michigan State Univ

EASTERN ILLINOIS
STUDENT & HOMETOWN              FAMILY        SPECIALTY @ RESIDENCY LOCATION

•     Erica Forbes of Bourbonnais / Scott and Jodi Forbes of Bourbonnais / Emergency Medicine @ Med Coll Wisconsin Affil Hosps
•     Jared Hendren of Le Roy / Rusty and Lynnette Hendren of Le Roy / General Surgery @ Cleveland Clinic Fdn-OH
•     Sierra Higginson of Oreana / Greg Higginson of Weldon Spring, MO, and Terry and Debbie Grider of Oreana / Surgery-Preliminary @ New Hanover Reg Med Ctr-NC
•     Greg Lukach of Clinton / Donald and Michelle Lukach of Clinton / Neurology @ U Iowa Hosps and Clinics
•     Alaa Mansour of Danville / Eltigani Mansour and Hawa Ahmed of Danville & spouse of Nasredin Ibrahim / Surgery-Preliminary @ Howard Univ Hosp-DC
•     Braidy Megeff of Champaign / Randall and Johnna Megeff of Champaign       / Pediatrics @ Johns Hopkins All Childrens Hosp-FL
•     Navoda Mirihagalle of Savoy / Lalith Mirihagalle and Devika Bowathura of Savoy      / Anesthesiology @ U Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics
•     Vamsikrishna Naidu of Champaign / G.A. and Aparna Naidu of Champaign / Internal Medicine @ UIH U Illinois COM-Chicago
•     Haley Plattner of Champaign / Darren and Sue Plattner of Champaign / Emergency Medicine @ Rush University Med Ctr-IL
•     Cole Pliura of Le Roy / Tom and Pam Pliura of Le Roy / Emergency Medicine @ SIU SOM & Affil Hosps-IL

WESTERN ILLINOIS
STUDENT & HOMETOWN              FAMILY        SPECIALTY @ RESIDENCY LOCATION

•     Jasmine Davila of Moline / Jose and Eva Davila of Moline / Family Medicine @ Utah Valley Reg Med Ctr
•     Ryan Dembosky of East Moline / Stephen Dembosky of East Moline / Radiology-Diagnostic @ SIU SOM & Affil Hosps-IL
•     William Giesing of Quincy / Michael and Kelley Giesing of Quincy / Internal Medicine @ Methodist Health System Dallas-TX
•     Mason Plater of Rushville / Robert and Michele Plater of Havana & spouse of Madison (Frerker) Plater / Family Medicine @ Deaconess Hospital-IN
•     Alyssa Ray of Moline / Steve and Stephanie Ray of Moline / Internal Medicine @ U Iowa Hosps and Clinics
•     Elizabeth Wieland of Rock Island / Steven Wieland and Katherine Montford, both of Rock Island / Medicine-Prelim & Dermatology @ SIU SOM & Affil Hosps-IL/U Iowa Hosps and Clinics

NORTHERN ILLINOIS
STUDENT & HOMETOWN              FAMILY        SPECIALTY @ RESIDENCY LOCATION

•     Zachary Andersen of Princeton / Curt Andersen and Angie DiCiro of Pembroke, GA, and Chris and Mary Kieffer of Princeton / Orthopedic Surgery @ San Antonio Military Medical Center
•     Maryam Bakare of Sauk Village / Fatai Bakare of Chicago and Linda Carre of Sauk Village / Emergency Medicine/ACMC @ Advocate Health Care-IL
•     Lauren Hall of LaSalle / George and Patti Hall of LaSalle / Family Medicine @ U Iowa Hosps and Clinics
•     John Kaschke of Streator / Michael and Kimberly Kaschke of Streator / Family Medicine @ Univ of Missouri-KC Programs
•     Tyler Maggio of Rockford / Tom and Dana Maggio of Rockford / Internal Medicine @ U Iowa Hosps and Clinics
•     Jasmine Matory of Chicago / Jo Ann Matory of Carmel, IN                                      
•     Luis Rubio of West Chicago / Ventura and Amparo Rubio of West Chicago / Otolaryngology @ Loyola Univ Med Ctr-IL
•     Marna Rudd of Richton Park / Michael Rudd of Richten Park and the late Marcia Rudd / Psychiatry @ Community Health Network-IN
•     Joshua Shaw of Crystal Lake / Tony and Adrianne Shaw of Crystal Lake / Pediatrics @ St. Louis Children’s Hosp-MO
•     Bukky Tabiti of Chicago / Katerine Tabiti of Chicago / Internal Medicine @ Northwestern McGaw/NMH/VA-IL

MASTER'S DEGREE

•     Max Benstine of Oswego / Mark and Jennifer Benstine of Oswego / IL Dept of Public Health

OUT OF STATE
STUDENT & HOMETOWN        FAMILY            SPECIALTY @ RESIDENCY LOCATION

• Juanita Gyamera of Bronx, NY / Clifford and Gladys Gyamera of Bronx, NY / Internal Medicine @ George Washington Univ-DC
• Ihuoma Igbokwe of Brockton, MA / John and Lucky Igbokwe of Brockton, MA / Obstetrics-Gynecology @ Med Coll Wisconsin Affil Hosps
• Barra Madden of Rochester, NY    Barry Madden of Leighton, AL, and Pamela Brown of Rochester, NY / Psychiatry @ Duke Univ Med Ctr-NC
• Felicia Olawuni of Tacoma Park, MD / Timothy and Florence Olawuni of Tacoma Park, MD

MASTER'S DEGREE

• Maria Gonzalez of Colombia, South America / Oscar Espinosa and Liliana Gonzalez from Colombia, South America & spouse of Ross Hoover