Jan Rakinic, MD

Dr. Jan Rakinic, is a colorectal surgeon in the Division of General Surgery at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. She serves as Professor in the Department of Surgery and has research interests in colorectal cancer, sigmoid diverticular disease, the association of cancers of the colorectum, breast, and female genital tract and prevention and early detection of colorectal cancer.

Dr. Rakinic earned a bachelor's degree with high distinction from Wayne State University in Detroit. She received her medical degree from Tulane University Medical School in New Orleans and completed an internship and residency in the combined program in General Surgery at University of Illinois/Cook County Hospital in Chicago. Following her General Surgery residency, Dr. Rakinic completed a fellowship in Colon and Rectal Surgery at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia.

Prior to joining SIU, Dr. Rakinic was a faculty member at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. She served as Program Director of the colorectal surgery residency program at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and on several committees of the hospital and medical school, including Continuing Medical Education and Risk Management.

Dr. Rakinic remains actively involved in resident and fellow education. She is a Senior Board Examiner for the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery and is a past President of the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery. She is the Program Director of the SIU-Springfield Clinic Residency in Colorectal Surgery.

Dr. Rakinic is Board Certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery. She is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. She is a member of several national medical societies, including the Association for Surgical Education, the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, the Association of Women Surgeons and the American Medical Association.

Watch colorectal cancer survivor Kris Castleman talk about her experience with Dr. Jan Rakinic and the Simmons Cancer Institute at SIU School of Medicine.