SIU Medicine Campuses

The Alton Campus focuses on family and community medicine training at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, serving as a key site for residency programs and student rotations. Affiliated with OSF Saint Anthony's Health Center, it emphasizes primary care in a suburban-rural interface, with coursework designed to develop expertise in holistic patient management, preventive care, and population health. The curriculum integrates clinical practice with community health initiatives to address local challenges like chronic diseases and health equity.

• Family Medicine Core: Full-scope primary care, including prenatal care, newborn exams, adult wellness, and end-of-life planning.
• Community and Preventive Medicine: Epidemiology, health promotion, and screening programs for diseases like obesity and cardiovascular conditions.
• Behavioral Medicine: Integration of mental health services, counseling techniques, and management of psychiatric comorbidities.
• Musculoskeletal and Sports Medicine: Injury assessment, rehabilitation, and performance enhancement for athletes and workers.
• Women's and Children's Health: Ambulatory gynecology, pediatric development, and adolescent medicine.
• Geriatrics: Age-specific care, polypharmacy management, and dementia support in outpatient clinics.
• Procedural Skills: Office-based procedures like biopsies, joint injections, and minor surgeries.
• Research and Quality Improvement: Projects on practice-based evidence, patient safety, and healthcare delivery models.

Residents and students engage in continuity clinics, hospital rounds, and home visits, fostering long-term patient relationships. Faculty mentorship guides scholarly activities, with opportunities in medical education and policy. The campus's location facilitates exposure to diverse demographics, including manufacturing communities and river valley populations. Simulation and interprofessional exercises enhance teamwork and communication. This training equips learners for board certification in family medicine, emphasizing resilience, advocacy, and sustainable practice in varied settings.

The Carbondale Campus is the center for basic medical sciences education at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, located on the Southern Illinois University Carbondale grounds. It primarily serves first- and second-year medical students through an integrated curriculum that blends foundational sciences with clinical correlations. The focus is on building a strong scientific knowledge base using problem-based learning, lectures, and laboratory experiences. State-of-the-art facilities support dissection, microscopy, and molecular research, preparing students for clinical phases.

• Gross Anatomy: Comprehensive human cadaver dissection, radiographic imaging, and 3D modeling to understand musculoskeletal and neurovascular systems.
• Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: Cellular metabolism, genetics, protein structure, and enzyme kinetics, with applications to disease states like diabetes and cancer.
• Physiology: Organ system functions, including cardiovascular, renal, and endocrine physiology, explored through physiological simulations and experiments.
• Microbiology and Immunology: Pathogenic microbes, host defenses, vaccines, and immune disorders, incorporating case studies on infections and autoimmunity.
• Pathology: Disease processes, histopathology, and autopsy correlations, emphasizing neoplasia, inflammation, and organ-specific pathologies.
• Pharmacology: Drug mechanisms, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and toxicology, with emphasis on therapeutic uses and adverse effects.
• Neuroscience: Brain anatomy, neurophysiology, and behavioral sciences, covering sensory-motor systems and neurological disorders.
• Medical Ethics and Biostatistics: Principles of bioethics, research design, data analysis, and evidence-based practice.

PhD and MS programs in pharmacology, physiology, and molecular biology are housed here, with research in cardiovascular disease, neuroscience, and cancer biology. Students engage in hypothesis-driven projects using advanced labs equipped for genomics, proteomics, and animal models. The campus promotes interdisciplinary collaboration with SIU's engineering and sciences departments. Community involvement includes health fairs and science outreach to K-12 students. This rigorous scientific foundation ensures students can apply concepts to patient care, fostering critical thinking and lifelong learning in medicine.

The Decatur Regional Campus provides clinical training for third- and fourth-year medical students at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, emphasizing community-based medicine in a mid-sized urban setting. Affiliated with Decatur Memorial Hospital and local clinics, the program focuses on core clerkships with exposure to diverse patient populations, including industrial workers and underserved communities. The curriculum stresses practical skills, continuity of care, and preparation for primary care practices in similar environments.

• Family and Community Medicine: Longitudinal primary care, including well visits, vaccinations, and management of common chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes.
• Internal Medicine: Hospital-based care for adults, covering subspecialties such as endocrinology, rheumatology, and infectious diseases.
• General Surgery: Perioperative management, wound care, and assisting in procedures like appendectomies and cholecystectomies.
• Pediatrics: Outpatient and inpatient care for children, focusing on growth, infectious diseases, and behavioral issues.
• Psychiatry and Behavioral Health: Assessment and treatment of mood disorders, substance abuse, and crisis intervention in clinic and ER settings.
• Obstetrics: Antenatal care, labor support, and postpartum management at the women's health center.
• Emergency Medicine: Triage, stabilization, and minor interventions for urgent cases.
• Electives: Options in geriatrics, palliative care, and rural health, with community rotations.

Students participate in quality improvement projects and interprofessional teams with nurses and pharmacists. Research opportunities explore health disparities and preventive strategies. The campus's smaller size allows for personalized mentorship and increased patient interaction, building confidence in independent practice. Community partnerships enhance training in public health, occupational medicine, and social determinants of health, aligning with SIU SOM's mission to serve downstate Illinois.

The Quincy Regional Campus of Southern Illinois University School of Medicine offers immersive clinical education for medical students in a riverfront community setting, integrated with Blessing Hospital. This campus specializes in clerkships that highlight comprehensive patient care, with a focus on family-oriented and rural medicine. Students experience a full spectrum of healthcare delivery, from acute interventions to chronic management, in a supportive, high-volume teaching environment that mirrors real-world practice.

• Family Medicine: Core rotations in primary care, emphasizing preventive health, pediatrics, and adult medicine across the lifespan.
• Internal Medicine: Inpatient and outpatient management of complex cases, including cardiology, pulmonology, and oncology.
• Surgery: Exposure to general, orthopedic, and ENT procedures, with pre- and post-operative care.
• Pediatrics: Hospital and clinic-based training in neonatal care, immunizations, and adolescent health.
• Obstetrics and Gynecology: High-risk pregnancies, gynecologic exams, and family planning services.
• Psychiatry: Collaborative care for anxiety, depression, and addiction in integrated behavioral health programs.
• Emergency Department Rotations: Handling trauma, medical emergencies, and urgent care in a level II facility.
• Selective and Elective Courses: Advanced topics like dermatology, ophthalmology, and community medicine projects.

The program incorporates simulation training, grand rounds, and journal clubs to deepen clinical reasoning. Research in vascular medicine and geriatrics is available, leveraging hospital resources. Emphasis on teamwork with residents and faculty builds professional skills. Community engagement includes health screenings and education for local populations, addressing needs like access to specialty care. This campus prepares students for residencies in primary care and specialties, promoting compassionate, culturally sensitive practice in underserved areas.

The Springfield Campus serves as the primary administrative and clinical education hub for Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. It hosts the majority of third- and fourth-year medical students for clerkships and electives, focusing on advanced clinical training in hospital and ambulatory settings. Affiliated with Memorial Medical Center and HSHS St. John's Hospital, the curriculum integrates patient care, diagnostics, and treatment across specialties. Emphasis is placed on evidence-based medicine, ethical practice, and interprofessional collaboration to prepare students for residency.

• Internal Medicine Clerkship: In-depth study of adult diseases, including cardiology, pulmonology, and gastroenterology, with hands-on ward rounds and consultations.
• Surgery: Rotations in general surgery, trauma, vascular, and minimally invasive procedures, including operating room experience.
• Pediatrics: Child and adolescent health, covering well-child visits, acute illnesses, and developmental assessments at pediatric clinics.
• Obstetrics and Gynecology: Women's reproductive health, labor and delivery, prenatal care, and gynecologic surgeries.
• Psychiatry: Mental health disorders, psychotherapy techniques, and psychopharmacology in inpatient and outpatient environments.
• Family Medicine: Comprehensive primary care, preventive services, and chronic disease management in community settings.
• Emergency Medicine: Acute care, triage, resuscitation, and minor procedures in high-volume ERs.
• Electives and Sub-Internships: Specialized options like neurology, oncology, radiology, and research blocks for career exploration.

Graduate programs in molecular biology, pharmacology, and physiology are also offered, alongside robust research opportunities in clinical trials, bioinformatics, and health outcomes. Simulation labs and standardized patient programs enhance skills in communication and procedural competencies. Community outreach initiatives address local health disparities, including rural medicine and public health education. The campus fosters a supportive learning environment with mentorship from faculty physicians and residents, ensuring graduates are well-equipped for diverse medical careers. This integrated approach combines didactic sessions, case-based learning, and real-world application to build competent, compassionate physicians.