University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria

On this Veterans Day, we recognize and honor the sacrifices made by those who have served our country and protected our freedom. Today, we pay tribute to our veterans for their dedicated service. #VeteransDay #HonoringOurHeroes

The Public Health Interest Group recently received the American Public Health Association Student Champions for Climate Justice Award. The award supported their efforts to host a Climate Change Clinical Case Series event last month. The event featured a collaborative competition where teams tackled clinical cases related to climate change-related health issues. Dr. Leslie McKnight, the director of community health planning and policy for Peoria County, spearheaded a discussion on local climate initiatives and their impact on community health in Peoria.

Congratulations to the recipients of the 2024 UICOMP Community Health Awards presented during the Celebration of Excellence last week. Wayne Cannon, manager of the Peoria Area Food Bank, was the individual winner, and George Washington Carver Center won in the “organization” category. Presenting the awards was Daryl Carlson with the Alzheimer’s Association who represented the Community Health Awards selection committee.

Kimberly Norteman (Class of 2026) presented “Stayin’ Alive: A Retrospective Review of Patients Presenting for Medical Attention at Large-Scale Music Festivals” at the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) Annual Scientific Assembly on October 1 in Las Vegas.

Bhavanna Muppavarapu (Class of 2025) presented a poster at the Midwest Society for Pediatric Research in Madison, Wisconsin, September 18 – 20. The title of her poster was “Evaluating the Necessity of ABO Compatibility for Platelet Transfusions in Blood Type A Pediatric Oncology Patients.”

Earlier this month, UICOMP Medical Student Manors hosted its 3rd annual Manor Olympics! Students, faculty, and staff participated in a series of minute-to-win-it style games, including Patient Presenting Telephone, Medical Trivia, Ring Around Slim Shady, Mask Slingshot, Catch the Baby, Medicinal Music, and a PPE Relay. The evening was filled with camaraderie, laughter, and some fierce competition.

In support of the UICOMP Strategic Plan and the priority placed on recruitment and retention of faculty, staff and learners for the Peoria campus, leaders representing a variety of departments gathered in October for a fall leadership retreat.

The department of Neurology recently celebrated its 25th anniversary and the start of its residency program from October 10 to 12. The event featured scientific presentations from former graduates and current faculty, along with the inaugural Larry and Pauline Wallden Multiple Sclerosis Lecture by Stanley Cohan, M.D., Ph.D. The Department is forever grateful to Tiffani Franada, D.O., Jennifer Simmons, Tammi Miller, Sondra Fox, Cheri Mahony and Kathy Maple for their dedication to making this celebration a successful event.

Read about the journey to medicine for Charlie Perez-Suarez, including his heart for service and his interest in specializing in cardiology. Charlie is a National Hispanic Latino Cardiovascular Collaborative scholar through the American Heart Association and has provided leadership for the UICOMP/Bradley University early assurance program. Congratulations, Charlie! https://loom.ly/NGKtfE0

University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria invites you to our annual Pediatric Diabetes Resource Center Halloween Party on Saturday, October 26, from 1-3 pm, hosted on campus at 1 Illini Drive, Peoria, IL. Kids of all ages are invited! Please RSVP via the following link: https://loom.ly/-amldBQ. This annual event plans to provide food and fun, focusing on children with diabetes. For any questions, please contact ibhatt3@uic.edu. We are excited to see you at the party! *Please note that all children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian