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2021 Foundation Highlights Southern Illinois University School of Medicine

A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN

Dear Friends,

Forward Together. The 2021 Day of Giving theme effectively reflects our accomplishments this past fiscal year. Together we discovered, excelled, collaborated, strove for equity and created a compassionate environment. Together we continue to fulfill our mission.

Most will remember this past year in the shadow of the pandemic. However, the SIU School of Medicine community will also remember it as a time when we were surrounded by generosity, growth and innovation. We have developed new and creative ways to educate learners, serve patients and help our communities. Actions taken prior to 2020 that upscaled virtual care and training and moved health workers into locations where they were most needed seemed prescient in retrospect.

And, despite the hardships you – our friends, alumni, employees and community partners – have faced, your generosity is humbling.

While this document serves as a record of our accomplishments, we have excelled far beyond the work summarized on these pages.

A few of the highlights:

  • The Association for Medical Education in Europe (AMEE) presented its inaugural ASPIRE Stellar Award to SIU School of Medicine in recognition of our commitment to excellence in a range of educational areas. SIU is one of only two medical schools in the world to have received as many as five ASPIRE to Excellence Awards from AMEE. When we tell prospective students that they will receive a world-class education here, it is not hyperbole.
  • A multi-million dollar gift supporting Alzheimer’s disease research and care will transform the health care for people throughout Illinois and beyond.
  • John and Jayne Simmons were honored as SIU School of Medicine’s 2021 Distinguished Donors.
  • Meanwhile, remarkable and inspiring fundraising efforts continued for Simmons Cancer Institute, despite the challenges of in-person events during a pandemic.
  • During uncertain financial times, our employees, alumni and friends showed their commitment to our mission on Day of Giving. Donations to the medical school exceeded $387,000.

And there is so much more.

We are also grateful for the leadership and advocacy of many at SIU Medicine who teach us to amplify marginalized voices. Our commitment to make SIU School of Medicine accessible to a diverse population of learners and educators remains strong. One way we are able to do this is through learner scholarships. I’m pleased to report that once again, we increased scholarship distribution to support the development of the next generation of medical providers.

Our leaders at SIU School of Medicine and our collective years of experience have afforded us opportunities to continue to safely serve those who needed us at this time and well into the future. For your contributions toward these and all of our success, I sincerely thank you.

I wish you all good health as we go Forward Together.

Jerry Kruse, MD, MSPH

Dean & Provost, SIU School of Medicine

SCHOOL OF MEDICINE RECEIVES TOP INTERNATIONAL AWARD

The Association for Medical Education in Europe (AMEE) selected SIU School of Medicine to receive one of its inaugural ASPIRE Stellar Awards for institutional excellence in a range of educational areas.

During the past decade, the School of Medicine has received five of AMEE’s ASPIRE to Excellence awards for various facets of its educational program: for student assessment, student engagement, social accountability, medical simulation and curriculum delivery and innovation.

“This is a tremendous honor. For our medical school, it’s like getting an early career lifetime achievement award. It is not an exaggeration to say our students receive a world-class education in Springfield and Carbondale.” - Dr. Jerry Kruse

SIU is one of only two medical schools in the world to hold as many as five ASPIRE Awards. AMEE promotes international excellence in education in the health care professions across the continuum of undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing education. It has members in more than 90 countries and across five continents.

FOUNDATION CAMPAIGN UPDATE

SIU DAY OF GIVING

FINANCIALS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021

JULY 1, 2020 TO JUNE 30, 2021

DONATION ENDOWS DERMATOLOGY LECTURESHIP

Lisa and Stephen Stone, MD, have been regular givers to SIU School of Medicine since 1999. Their passion for education, the community and SIU School of Medicine runs deep.

“There is an old saying common to many traditions ... that struck Lisa and me many years ago. The Talmudic version tells of an old man being mocked for planting a tree that could not possibly bear fruit in his lifetime. He replied, ‘as my fathers planted for me, so am I planting for the next generation.’ As others have supported the schools that taught me, so am I obliged to provide for future students.”

To put this philanthropic belief into action, the couple created the Stephen P. Stone, MD, Lectureship in Dermatology Endowment to provide further educational opportunities in the field of dermatology. Learners will benefit from internationally recognized experts in the field at the annual event.

Dr. Stone joined SIU School of Medicine as a full-time faculty member in 2000. From 1974-2000, he had a successful, private dermatology practice in Springfield. During this time, he embraced his passion for teaching medical students and served as volunteer faculty for the school and was chief of dermatology (1988-1992).

Plans are underway for the first lectureship. Dr. Jean Bolognia of Yale University has been invited to be the inaugural lecturer. Dr. Stone has attended her lectures and has “found her to be one of the best teachers I have ever encountered.”

Multi-million dollar donation supports Alzheimer's research, treatment, programs

The Dale & Deborah Smith Center for Alzheimer's Research & Treatment

The recently renamed Dale and Deborah Smith Center for Alzheimer’s Research & Treatment, formerly the Center for Alzheimer’s Disease & Related Disorders, provides clinical care, research and community programs throughout Illinois. A substantial gift from the Smiths will expand research, enhance programming and improve care for people with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia and assist their caregivers.

“As longtime Springfield residents, we’re proud of the impact the School of Medicine has had on the community,” Dale Smith said. “The efforts of the Alzheimer’s center inspired us to give and hopefully create a consciousness within the community around the breadth of research and patient care we have here. Alzheimer’s is a terrible disease, and we hope our gift can help researchers at SIU Medicine produce better clinical outcomes that improve our community, one family at a time.”

"This gift from Dale and Deborah Smith will continue to propel research at SIU that may translate into novel treatments and interventions for patients in the future. It will also provide much needed clinical, educational and community support for those with Alzheimer’s and their families." - Dr. Jerry Kruse, MD, MSPH

Diagnosing, treating, educating, studying since 1986

The Smith Center’s Memory & Aging Network has served more than 4,000 patients and their families in the past year.

Despite decades of pharmaceutical development and drug testing, Alzheimer’s disease continues to be incurable, and prevention may hold the greatest hope for combating this disease. Our scientists are focused on discovering ways to stop the progression.

The National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health has awarded more than $7.2 million in research grants to the center in the past three years. SIU School of Medicine researchers aim to improve disease outcomes through early diagnosis and novel treatment strategies to enhance overall health and delay or prevent cognitive decline.

Because external grant funding is not always guaranteed, we must find other sources of support so that our scientists do not have to suspend their projects. Research for Alzheimer’s requires significant financial support for supplies and equipment. In addition, the promise for future medical advances relies on the training of the next generations of biomedical researchers.

KING'S DAUGHTERS AWARDS SMITH CENTER PROGRAMS

For the fourth year in a row, the King's Daughter's Organization gave a grant to the Smith Center for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders. The $7,724 grant will support the Minds in Motion and Opening Minds Through Art (OMA) Beyond the Medical Center programs.

Minds in Motion was designed to improve or maintain the mental, physical and emotional well-being of those with memory loss or dementia, through brain games, creative activities, group interaction and socialization. Minds in Motion has helped thousands of participants and caregivers since its inception in 2017.

OMA was developed by the Scripps Gerontology Center as an evidence-based, intergenerational, art-making program for persons with memory loss. Its failure-free approach provides opportunities for creativity and self-expression. The Smith Center added the program in 2017.

Women’s Power Night Against Cancer brings special guest speaker

Dr. Sandra Lee, aka Dr. Pimple Popper™, returned to her prairie roots for the 2021 Women’s Power Night Against Cancer, on Wednesday, April 14, at the Route 66 Drive-In Theater to help raise cancer awareness and research support for Simmons Cancer Institute.

Dr. Lee stars in TLC's medical reality series "Dr. Pimple Popper" and has a successful practice in California. She completed her dermatology residency at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield in 2003.

The lively physician entertained guests with stories of her formative years as a young doctor new to the Midwest and the discovery in 2014 that a blackhead extraction on Instagram was a way to share her medical experiences with “my people.” She now has more than 7 million YouTube followers, TV programs on The Learning Channel and Discovery+, a cosmetic line and is author of the book "Put Your Best Face Forward."

DENIM & DIAMONDS PROVIDES IMPORTANT INTERNSHIP

Simmons Cancer Institute’s (SCI) Denim & Diamonds raises money for cancer research and patient amenities, but one hidden gem resulting from this premier gala is SCI’s internship program.

SCI’s internship program offers paid positions in the labs on Springfield and Carbondale campuses to undergraduate students who have completed at least their freshman year of college. The goals of the SCI internship program are to provide college undergraduate students immersive hands-on experiences in cancer-related research and to foster high-level critical thinking skills, according to Don Torry, PhD, associate dean for research and director of basic and translational research at SCI. The interns work with faculty mentors and alongside graduate students, medical students, postdoctoral fellows, residents and research technicians.

“The long-term value of this program can’t be understated,” Dr. Torry said. “Those of us currently in research contribute pieces to the puzzle to defeat cancer every day, but all of us know that sustaining and augmenting these advances will come tomorrow from those we mentor today. We have high expectations for our 2021 interns.”

The internship positions are awarded on a competitive basis. This year, five interns were chosen from a remarkably talented pool of 30 applicants, according to Dr. Torry. The interns presented a celebration of accomplishments to summarize their research findings to researchers, their peers, families and SCI supporters.

In the past 13 years of the program, 50 students have participated. “Our alumni list of interns is impressive with nearly every one pursuing professional careers in graduate school, medical, dental, veterinary school and/or research technician positions,” said Dr. Torry.

PARTNERS IN HOPE SUPPORT SIMMONS CANCER INSTITUTE DESPITE IN-PERSON EVENT DIFFICULTIES

Butterfly Release $16,860
Denim & Diamonds $150,000
Women's Power Night $46,385

LOCAL BUSINESS RAISES FUNDS FOR CANCER CARE, RESEARCH

Each October Springfield Plastics, Inc. has pledged to match donations up to $30,000 to benefit cancer research and programs at Simmons Cancer Institute through their Drain for the Cure fundraiser. Cancer has personally affected everyone in the company, and so they ask friends, family and business partners to join them in the fight against cancer. Since 2014, Springfield Plastics has donated more than $325,000.

ESSENTIAL & IMPACTFUL

2021 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI

Each year at commencement, the SIU School of Medicine Alumni Society Board of Governors recognizes alumni who have made outstanding contributions to medicine and distinguished service to mankind.

Ronald Romanelli, '83

Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award

Ron Romanelli, MD, earned three degrees from SIU and was president of the Orthopedic Center of Illinois (OCI) in Springfield for more than 20 years. His impact is seen in orthopedic practices around Illinois and the U.S., filled with confident physicians who benefited from his expertise. Nationally recognized for his surgical skills, Romanelli has been described as an “icon” of the orthopedic division, which recently established a trauma lectureship in his honor.

He held leadership roles and served on numerous committees at Springfield Memorial Hospital and HSHS St. John’s Hospital. Most importantly, his career has been filled with mentoring scores of young learners, contributing in countless ways to the knowledge of SIU students and resident physicians.

“SIU School of Medicine gave me the opportunity to practice medicine and develop my love of orthopedics, which is my passion,” says Dr. Ron Romanelli, who established the Orthopedic Alumni Endowment for Dr. E. Shannon Stauffer, the first chair of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation at SIU School of Medicine.

“Dr. Stauffer was my mentor, like a father figure,” Dr. Romanelli says. “He shared his love of orthopedics and his values about how to take care of patients. He really attracted me to the field. I couldn’t have done it without him. [The endowment is] a tribute to my mentor and friend."

“A lot of us trained at SIU School of Medicine,” Dr. Romanelli says of his OCI colleagues. “We have received a lot as physicians. I see it as my duty and desire to give back, and I also think it’s the responsibility of other SIU alumni and colleagues to reflect on all the blessings they’ve received and the school that got them to their dream of practicing medicine.” In fact, the entire group gives proudly and consistently.

His advice to the new physicians in the Class of 2021 would be to recognize their own work habits and strive for balance. “It’s difficult but achievable. Put family first, then your patients.”

Andrew Miller, MD, ’05

Early Career Achievement Award

Dr. Andrew Miller, inaugural recipient of the Early Career Achievement Award, which recognizes an alumnus/alumna who has made significant contributions through clinical service, research, education, public or professional service and/or administrative leadership within 15 years of graduation.

Miller is the medical director for the Department of Emergency Medicine at Alton Memorial Hospital. He is also the editor-in-chief at the "International Journal of Critical Illness and Injury Science." He is a well-known and respected researcher in emergency medicine, internal medicine, pulmonary, critical care and medical ethics. His work has been incorporated into resuscitation guidelines published by both the American Heart Association and the European Resuscitation Council. Moreover, his work during the pandemic has been highly accessed and referenced.

His advice to the graduates: “As you are starting out, make a list of the three or four things that are most important to you in life... Don’t get distracted and stay focused on what is important to you. If it’s important to you, pursue it. And let your family and friends be a part of the equation.”

Constance Shabazz, ‘86

Distinguished Alumni Service Award

Dr. Constance Shabazz has devoted her professional life to health care and social justice, working in and with underserved communities. She has partnered with a number of organizations serving those living with HIV and AIDS and has been involved in innovative treatments of substance use disorders.

Shabazz has exemplified SIU’s mantra of lifelong learning by obtaining two master’s degrees and a Master of Public Administration. She established her own consulting firm through which she has provided program development to the federal government’s Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) for more than 17 years, working with 300+ health centers across the U.S. and Virgin Islands.

Speaking at commencement, Shabazz emphasized the parallels between health care and social justice advocacy. “The knowledge a physician brings to the patient experience is important, but it’s more critical to connect with patients at the human level. When you approach the patient’s problems with compassion, you’re forging trust with them, and you’ll get higher compliance for their care plan. Without your health, everything else you need to fight for to improve equity is out the window.”

HONOR ROLL

With grateful appreciation for their generosity, we acknowledge the following individual, corporate and foundation donors for their contributions of $1,000 or more to Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, between July 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021. This generosity has supported the fulfillment of our academic, research and clinical missions. Thank you!

2021 DISTINGUISHED DONORS OF THE YEAR

John & Jayne Simmons

Ten years ago, Simmons Cancer Institute (SCI) opened its doors to residents in central and southern Illinois, expanding access to world-class, comprehensive cancer treatment and providing a one-stop shop for cancer care close to home. SCI has developed the most comprehensive cancer program in downstate Illinois, using a proactive team approach that differentiates the institute from other health care facilities.

SCI’s other distinguishing feature belongs to the family who made it possible for those doors to open and continue to support the school today.

Founder of Simmons Hanly Conroy Law Firm, a national law office, John Simmons is an SIU-Edwardsville alumnus, former and current SIU Board of Trustee member and expert litigator.

In November of 2005, John and his wife Jayne decided that their family foundation and his law firm would collaborate to donate money toward the new cancer center. They pledged a $10.2 million philanthropic gift to SIU School of Medicine to support research at its new cancer center. It is the single largest financial donation in the medical school’s history.

The Simmons family has a history of cancer and his legal practice had successfully represented thousands of individuals who had contracted mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer caused by asbestos exposure.

To John, the gift was a matter of equity. “It’s how we were raised. We were very fortunate to be in a position to do it. I want us to lead the charge and be a beacon for how things can be done,” he says. "From here in southern Illinois, we can show the nation how health care can work for the good of the population.”

2021 HARBINGER SOCIETY EVENT

Each year the Foundation hosts its annual Harbinger Society Event to honor our generous donors who have provided significant contributions to SIU School of Medicine. Their support enables the school to remain a leader in medical education, patient care and research. Last April, Foundation staff, medical students and Harbinger Society members celebrated in drive-thru style culminating with a virtual event. In honor of the annual event, our loyal Harbinger members also donated more than $6,000 toward various efforts, including the Family Medicine Food Pharmacy, scholarships, cancer research and child/adolescent psychiatry. Our community and workplace are stronger because of their generosity.

The Harbinger Society is open to all those who make a significant financial commitment to SIU Medicine in support of its goals.

Donors may qualify as members by meeting one of the following criteria:

  • Making a cumulative or one-time gift of $25,000 ($50,000 for a business or organization) in cash, securities, equipment, materials, supplies or other gifts-in-kind.
  • Pledging $25,000 payable over a 5-year period, not less than $5,000 annually.
  • Bequeathing a whole-life insurance policy valued at $50,000 or more.
  • Donating a trust (instrument) valued at $50,000 or more.

HARBINGER SOCIETY HONOR ROLL