Through the Years
History of the Department of Pediatrics
The Peoria School of Medicine was officially established in 1970, with the appointment of Nicholas Cotsonas, MD, as Dean. Dr. Cotsonas organized the faculty into “Disciplines”. All faculty members were non-salaried volunteers in the beginning. The Discipline of Pediatrics had ten members, all in private practice, with the exception of Dr. William Albers. Dr. Albers, a Pediatric Cardiologist, was employed by SFMC as Chairman of Pediatrics and Director of the Pediatric Residency Program, and was appointed “coordinator of educational programs” in pediatrics in 1971. Coordinators were responsible for developing clinical rotations for students. Our first students began in Sept, 1972 with a class of 18 juniors and 3 seniors. In the first class of juniors was Dr. Joyce Wise, who continues to be an active member of the Department.
The coordinators developed curriculum for clinical rotations in each major discipline and supervised the students on each rotation. During 1972, the curriculum for the M2 year was developed, and the first M2’s started in 1973 and graduated in 1975. A few active practitioners in each discipline were paid a small amount for their teaching efforts, but the faculty continued to be almost 100% volunteer. Dr. Cotsonas recruited an Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Dr. Jerry Newman, in 1971. Recruiting soon began for a few full time basic scientists. The first full-time clinical faculty member in any department was Leon Librik, Pediatric Endocrinologist, recruited in 1975. Dr. Tim Miller was hired by the hospital as a neonatologist in 1972, and Dr. Bill Hayden became the 2nd Neonatologist 2 years later. Dr. J.J. Shah joined Dr. Albers in Cardiology in 1976 and another Neonatologist came in 1976. All of the faculty was hospital employed, with the school reimbursing the hospital for some the time devoted to teaching. Dr. Miller and Dr. Shah are still active physicians in the Department.
By 1975 it was apparent that the school needed more full time people, and that traditional departments should be formed. Searches were undertaken for full time chairpersons in Pediatrics, Medicine, Surgery, OB, Family Practice, and Psychiatry. Most of these searches resulted in the appointment of outside candidates. Dr. Sachchida Sinha was appointed Chairman of Pediatrics in 1977. Dr. Albers continued as Residency Program Director (residencies were accredited to the hospital in those days.) and as Clinical Clerkship Coordinator, as well as chairman of the St. Francis Department of Pediatrics. The pediatricians all agreed that new pediatric sub specialists should be recruited to and salaried by the school. Dr. Sinha recruited several pediatric sub specialists and began the process of integrating the hospital department and the University department into one. St. Francis heavily subsidized the future growth of the Department. Dr. Joyce Wise returned to Peoria after her fellowship training, and joined Dr. Librik as 2nd Endocrinologist. Dr. Sinha, a Cardiologist, worked with Dr. Shah and Dr. Albers in Cardiology. Dr. Sinha recruited Dr. Andy Morgan, a specialist in Child Development, who arrived in 1980, and continues as an active member of the Department. Several other physicians were recruited, and stayed in the Department a few years before moving on. He persuaded Dr. Robert Easton, General Pediatrician, to move his practice into the medical school, and Dr. Easton spent the next ten years or so working for the University and having a student in his office all the time. After Dr. Easton retired, Dr. Umesh Chatrath took over that practice and added his own private patients. Dr. Sinha left in 1982, and Dr. Albers became acting Chair. After a formal search, he was appointed permanent Chair in early 1984. Drs. Wise and Morgan continue to be active faculty, and Dr. Chatrath, while retired, continues to teach and see patients on a part-time basis.
Dr. Librik died suddenly in 1983. Dr. Albers was able to recruit Dr. Sue Sauder, another Pediatric Endocrinologist who had completed her Residency training in Peoria. Dr. Steve Bash, a Pediatric Cardiologist, arrived in 1986. Dr. Kay Saving, a Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist, joined the faculty in 1987. All of these pediatricians continue to be active faculty members of the Department.
In 1996, Dr. Albers retired as Chair of the Department of Pediatrics, and Dr. John DiLiberti, a Pediatric Geneticist, was appointed Chair in 1997. Dr. Rodney Lorenz, a Pediatric Endocrinologist, became the Interim Chair in 1999, and was appointed as permanent Chair in 2001. In 2005, Dr. Lorenz was appointed as the Interim Dean of the College of Medicine at Peoria. Dr. Barry Gray assumed the position of Interim Chair until the appointment of the current permanent Chair in February of 2007, Dr. Pedro A. de Alarcon, a Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist.
Through capable leadership, the Department has continued to grow through the years, to its current size of over 100 paid and non-paid dedicated faculty
|