Dr. AbdelSalam is an assistant professor of neurology at SIU School of Medicine, specializing in pediatric neurology. He joined the SIU faculty in 2007. Dr. AbdelSalam completed a three-year fellowship in child neurology at Cleveland Clinic Foundation (2006) and a pediatric residency at Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center in Brooklyn (2003). He earned his medical degree at Cairo University Pediatric Hospital (1995). Dr. AbdelSalam is board certified in pediatrics and in the subspecialty of pediatric neurology..

Dr. Abrams is an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at SIU School of Medicine. He joined the SIU faculty in 2007, specializing in maternal-fetal medicine. Dr. Abrams completed a three-year fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine at Loyola University Medical Center (2007) and his obstetrics and gynecology residency at the University of Illinois Chicago Medical Center (2002). Previously, he was in private practice in Chicago for two years. He earned his medical degree from Rush Medical College in Chicago (1997) and his bachelor’s from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (1993). His special practice interests are preeclampsia and prenatal ultrasound. Dr. Abrams is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology and eligible for certification in the subspecialty of maternal-fetal medicine.

Dr. Alexander is a community physician affiliated with the Asthma-Allergy Center in Springfield and also a clinical professor of pediatrics on the volunteer faculty for SIU School of Medicine. She completed a one-year fellowship in allergy and immunology at Children’s Memorial Hospital and Northwestern University Medical School (1995). She completed her residency in pediatrics and earned her medical degree at SIU (1983, 1979). She earned her master’s and bachelor’s degrees at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (1976, 1970). She is board certified in allergy and immunology and in pediatrics.

Dr. Ammar is an assistant professor of pediatrics at SIU School of Medicine, specializing in pediatric gastroenterology. He serves as director of nutrition support at St. John’s Children’s Hospital. Dr. Ammar joined the SIU faculty in 2006 after three years on the faculty at DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids. He completed a three-year fellowship in pediatric gastroenterology at Riley Hospital for Children (2002). He completed his pediatric residency at Louisiana State University Medical Center (1999) and received his medical degree from Damascus University School of Medicine (1991). Dr. Ammar’s special practice interests are eosinophilic esophagitis and inflammatory bowel disease. He is board certified in pediatrics and in the subspecialty of pediatric gastroenterology.

Dr. Bowers is a Springfield community physician at Koke Mill Medical Associates.  He is also a clinical professor of pediatrics on the volunteer faculty for SIU School of Medicine.  Dr. Bowers completed a combined residency in internal medicine and pediatrics at SIU (1989) where he served one year as chief of residents in internal medicine.  He earned his medical degree from the University of Illinois Health Science Center (1985) and bachelor’s degrees from St. Louis University (1980).  Dr. Bowers’ special practice interest is the treatment of adolescents.  He is board certified in pediatrics and internal medicine and in the subspecialty of adolescent medicine.

Dr. Duong is an assistant professor of pediatric emergency medicine at SIU School of Medicine.  She joined the SIU faculty in 2008.  Dr. Duong completed a pediatric emergency medicine fellowship at St. Louis University School of Medicine (2008) and a pediatric residency at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (2005).  She earned her medical degree from the University of Dublin, Trinity College (2002).  Her special practice interest is pediatric skin abscess infection and management.   Dr. Duong is board certified in pediatrics.

Dr. Ettema is an assistant professor in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at SIU School of Medicine, specializing in treating disorders of the larynx and voice.  She completed a fellowship in laryngology at SIU (2008) and her residency in otolaryngology at the Medical College of Wisconsin (2007).  Dr. Ettema earned her medical degree through the Medical Scholars Program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) as well as a doctorate and master’s in speech and hearing science (2002, 1999, 1993).  She received her bachelor’s in speech and hearing science from the University of Illinois (1991).  Before completing her medical training, Dr. Ettema had extensive experience as a speech-language pathologist.  Her special practice interests include treating pediatric patients with head and neck issues while her research interests include disorders of the voice and swallowing, disorders of sleep and cleft palate speech and swallowing.  Dr. Ettema is board certified in otolaryngology.

Dr. Niebrugge is an assistant professor of pediatrics at SIU School of Medicine. He joined SIU in 2004 after working in private practice and on staff at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital in Tacoma, Wash. Dr. Niebrugge completed a two-year fellowship in pediatric hematology and oncology at Children’s Hospital and Health Center in Seattle (1982) and his pediatric residency at the University of Missouri Medical Center (1980). He earned his medical degree from SIU (1977) and bachelor’s from the University of Illinois (1973). Dr. Niebrugge’s special practice interests are children, adolescents and young adults with hematology/oncology issues including leukemia, brain tumors, Hodgkin’s disease, bleeding and clotting disorders and pediatric palliative care. He is board certified in pediatrics and pediatric hematology and oncology.

Dr. Nimavat is an assistant professor of pediatrics at SIU School of Medicine. He came to SIU in 2005 from Stony Brook University Hospital, where he completed a three-year fellowship in neonatal and perinatal medicine (2005). Dr. Nimavat completed his pediatric residency at Brookdale University Medical Center in Brooklyn (2002). He completed postgraduate training in pediatrics at B. J. Medical College (BJMC) and earned his medical degree from BJMC Gujarat University (1996, 1992). Dr. Nimavat’s special practice interest is neonatology. He is board certified in pediatrics.

Dr. Onal is an assistant professor of pediatrics at SIU School of Medicine. He joined SIU’s faculty in 2007 after completing a three-year fellowship in pediatric cardiology at the University of Florida Health Sciences Center. Dr. Onal completed his pediatrics residency at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (2004). He earned his medical degree from Marmara University School of Medicine in Istanbul (1997). Dr. Onal’s special practice interest is pulmonary hypertension and cardiac MRI. He is board eligible for certification in pediatrics.

Dr. Peterson joined the Emergency Department at St. John’s Hospital in 2002 and serves as liaison to SIU’s Department of Pediatrics. He completed his residency in internal medicine and pediatrics at SIU School of Medicine (2002) and received his medical degree from SIU (1998). His clinical interests include asthma care and measurement of clinical quality. He is board certified in pediatrics and internal medicine.

Dr. Pranzatelli is a professor of neurology and pediatrics at SIU School of Medicine and is chief of its child and adolescent neurology division and director of the National Pediatric Myoclonus Center. He came to SIU in 1999 after seven years on the faculty at George Washington University. He previously was a research fellow at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. Dr. Pranzatelli completed a residency in pediatric neurology at the University of Colorado (1982) and in pediatrics at Case Western Reserve University (1979). He earned his medical degree from Pennsylvania State University (1976) and bachelor’s from Duquesne University (1972). Dr. Pranzatelli’s special practice interests are childhood movement disorders, neuroimmunologic disorders, opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome and central nervous system drug trials. He is board certified in pediatrics as well as in psychiatry and neurology, with special qualifications in pediatric neurology.

Dr. Puczynski is a professor of pediatrics at SIU School of Medicine and chair of SIU’s Department of Pediatrics. He also is medical director of St. John’s Children’s Hospital. He joined the SIU faculty in 2005, after serving as chair of the pediatric department at both the Medical College of Ohio and Mercy Children’s Hospital in Toledo. Dr. Puczynski completed a one-year ambulatory care and child development fellowship at Harvard University School of Medicine Boston Children’s Hospital (1979) and his pediatric residency at Loyola University (1978). He earned his medical degree from Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine (1975) and bachelor’s from the University of Illinois (1972). He is board certified in pediatrics.

Dr. Schneider is an assistant professor of pediatrics at SIU School of Medicine, specializing in pediatric genetics. He came to SIU in 1999 after six years on the faculty of Harvard Medical School. Dr. Schneider completed his pediatric residency at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (1989) and earned his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (1985). He earned his bachelor’s from Georgetown University (1981). Dr. Schneider’s special practice interests are the role of DNASE genes in autoimmune disease, elucidation of genes responsible for inherited conditions and molecular biology. He is board certified in medical genetics.

Dr. Shafi is an assistant professor pediatrics at SIU School of Medicine, specializing in pediatric pulmonology. He joined the SIU faculty in 2008. Previously, Dr. Shafi was on the faculty at Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation in Karachi, Pakistan (2005-07). He completed a three-year fellowship in pediatric pulmonary medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York (2002) and his pediatric residency at the Lincoln Medicinal and Mental Health Centre in Bronx (1999). He earned his medical degree at Sindh Medical College/University of Karachi in Pakistan (1989). Dr. Shafi is board certified in pediatrics and in the subspecialty of pediatric pulmonology.

Dr. Soltys is a professor of psychiatry at SIU School of Medicine and chair of SIU’s Department of Psychiatry. He joined the SIU faculty in 2002 after 10 years on the faculty at the University of Missouri School of Medicine (UM) and five years at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. Dr. Soltys completed a two-year fellowship in child psychiatry at UM (1987). He completed his psychiatry residency and earned his medical degree at SIU (1984, 1980). He earned his master’s of public administration from UM (1995) and bachelor’s at the University of Illinois (1976). Dr. Soltys’ special practice interests are child psychiatric disorders and program development consultation. He is board certified in psychiatry and in child and adolescent psychiatry.

Dr. Sunder is a professor of pediatrics at SIU School of Medicine, specializing in neurology and psychiatry. He came to SIU in 1995 after nine years on the faculty of East Carolina University School of Medicine where he was chief of child neurology. Dr. Sunder completed a two-year fellowship in pediatric neurology as well as a residency in neurology at Duke University Medical Center (1977, 1975) and a pediatric residency at the Children’s Hospital National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. (1974). He earned his medical degree from Thomas Jefferson University Medical College (1972) and bachelor’s from Washington and Jefferson College (1968). Dr. Sunder’s special practice interests are epilepsy in developmental disabilities and intellectual and developmental disabilities. He is board certified in pediatrics and neurology, with special qualifications in child neurology.

Dr. Sutyak is an associate professor of general surgery at SIU School of Medicine and serves as medical director for the Southern Illinois Trauma Center (SITC) in Springfield. [A Level I trauma center, SITC is a partnership of Memorial Medical Center, St. John’s Hospital and SIU School of Medicine, serving west central and southern Illinois.] He joined the SIU faculty in 2001. Dr. Sutyak completed a fellowship in immunology at Harvard Medical School at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston (1988) and his general surgery residency at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center (1990). He earned a combined bachelor’s and medical degree at Pennsylvania State University (1981) and Jefferson Medical College (1983). Dr. Sutyak’s special practice interests are trauma/surgical critical care, bariatric surgery and medical education. He is board certified in general surgery and in surgical critical care.

Dr. Takahashi is an assistant professor of psychiatry at SIU School of Medicine and director of its child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship program. She joined the SIU faculty in 2006. She completed her child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at the New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornel Medical Center (1998) and later was training director for the child and adolescent training program. Dr. Takahashi completed her psychiatry residency at Northwestern Memorial Hospital-McGaw Medical Center (1996). She earned her medical degree at the University of Kansas School of Medicine (1992) and her bachelor’s at Cornell University (1984). Dr. Takahashi’s special practice interests are anxiety and mood disorders, and psychoanalysis. She is board certified in psychiatry and in child and adolescent psychiatry.

Dr. Thompson is an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at SIU School of Medicine.  She joined the SIU faculty in 2008.  She completed a three-year maternal fetal medicine fellowship at the University of Chicago (2008) and her obstetrics and gynecology residency at Loyola University Medical Center (2005).  She earned her medical degree at Ponce School of Medicine in Puerto Rico (2001) and her bachelor’s degree at the University of Puerto Rico (1997).  Dr. Thompson is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology.

Dr Wall is an assistant professor of surgery at SIU School of Medicine.  He joined the SIU faculty in 2008.  Dr. Wall completed his surgery residency at Mayo (2007).  He received his medical degree at the University of Dublin, Trinity College (2002).  He earned a doctorate and bachelor’s from the University of Queensland in Australia (1997, 1993).  Dr. Wall is board certified in general surgery.

Dr. Wohltmann is an assistant professor of general surgery at SIU School of Medicine and associate director of the Southern Illinois Trauma Center (SITC) in Springfield. [A Level I trauma center, SITC is a partnership of Memorial Medical Center, St. John’s Hospital and SIU School of Medicine, serving west central and southern Illinois.] Dr. Wohltmann joined the SIU faculty in 2003. He completed a fellowship in trauma surgery and surgical critical care at the University of Louisville (1999) and his surgery residency at Robert Packer Hospital (1997). He earned his medical degree at St. Louis University School of Medicine (1992) and bachelor’s from the University of Notre Dame (1987). Dr. Wohltmann’s special practice interests are general surgery, trauma surgery and surgical critical care.

Dr. Singh is an assistant professor of pediatric orthopaedic surgery at SIU School of Medicine. Prior to joining SIU in 2006, she was on the faculty for three years at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Dr. Singh completed a fellowship in pediatric orthopaedic surgery at Baylor College of Medicine (2002) and her orthopaedic surgery residency at Louisiana State University (LSU) Medical Center (2001). She earned both her medical and bachelor’s degrees from LSU (1996, 1992). Dr. Singh’s special practice interests are pediatric orthopaedic trauma and osteogenesis imperfection. She is board certified in orthopaedic surgery.

Dr. Bueno is an assistant professor of plastic surgery at SIU School of Medicine. He joined the SIU faculty in 2006. He completed two one-year fellowships — in pediatric plastic surgery at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto (2005) and in hand and upper extremity surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City (2004). Dr. Bueno completed his residency in plastic surgery at SIU (2003). He earned his medical degree from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (1997) and his bachelor’s from Yale University (1990). Dr. Bueno’s special practice interests include reconstructive plastic surgery, cleft lip and palate surgery, pediatric hand trauma, congenital hand anomalies, brachial plexus reconstruction and facial re-animation surgery. He is board certified in plastic surgery.

Dr. Gabriel is an associate professor of pediatric orthopaedic surgery at SIU School of Medicine. He joined SIU’s faculty in 2002 after three years on the faculty at the University of Minnesota and the staff at Shriners Hospital for Children in Minneapolis. Dr. Gabriel completed a one-year fellowship in pediatric orthopaedics at Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati (1987) and his orthopaedic surgery residency at the Naval Hospital in Oakland (1984). He earned his medical degree from Rush Medical School (1977) and bachelor’s from the University of Illinois (1974). Dr. Gabriel’s special practice interests are scoliosis and pediatric spinal deformity. He is board certified in orthopaedic surgery.

Dr. Mayforth is an assistant professor of surgery at SIU School of Medicine. She came to SIU in 2001. Dr. Mayforth completed a two-year fellowship in pediatric surgery at St. Louis Children’s Hospital/ Washington University School of Medicine (2001) and a general surgery residency at Barnes-Jewish Hospital/Washington University (1999). She earned her medical degree and doctorate from the University of Chicago (1994, 1991) and her bachelor’s from Wheaton College (1985). Dr. Mayforth specializes in pediatric general surgery, including neck, thoracic, abdominal, soft tissue, oncologic and neonatal surgery. She is board certified in general surgery.

Dr. McKenna is a professor of surgery at SIU School of Medicine and chair of its urology division. He came to SIU in 2001 after six years on the faculty at the University of Connecticut and directing the urodynamics program at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. Dr. McKenna completed a two-year fellowship in pediatric urology at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto (1991) and his urology residency at the Naval Regional Medical Center in Portsmouth, Va. (1987). He earned medical and bachelor’s degrees from George Washington University (1982, 1978). Dr. McKenna’s special practice interests are pediatric urologic problems, antenatally detected urologic problems (urologic conditions identified in the fetus before birth), hypospadias surgery and other complex pediatric reconstructive problems, minimally invasive diagnostic and treatment techniques for children with vesicoureteral reflux, recurrent urinary tract infections, incontinence, undescended testes and hydrocele. He is board certified in urology.

Dr. Rogers is a professor of surgery and pediatrics at SIU School of Medicine and specializes in pediatric general surgery. He came to SIU in 2000 after six years on the faculty at the Medical College of Georgia (MCG). He completed a two-year pediatric surgery residency at the University of Tennessee (1994) and a one-year pediatric surgical oncology fellowship at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (1992). Dr. Rogers completed his surgery residency at MCG (1990) and earned his medical and bachelor’s degrees from the University of South Florida (1984, 1980). Dr. Rogers’ special practice interests include the full range of pediatric surgical conditions including hernias and gastrointestinal diseases as well as congenital anomalies. He is board certified in surgery, with special qualifications in pediatric surgery.

Dr. Woodson is a professor of otolaryngology at SIU School of Medicine and chair of its otolaryngology - head and neck surgery division. She joined SIU’s faculty in 2003. Dr. Woodson completed a fellowship in laryngology at the Institute of Laryngology & Otology in London (1982). She completed her otolaryngology residency at Baylor University College of Medicine (1981) and her general surgery residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital (1978). She earned her medical degree from Baylor (1975) and her bachelor’s from Rice University (1972). Dr. Woodson’s special practice interests are laryngology (voice, swallowing and airway disorders) and pediatric otolaryngology. She is board certified in otolaryngology.