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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are pleased to congratulate Dr. Sharon Smaga
4for receiving the "2017 Rural Physician of Excellence Award"
5from the Illinois Rural Health Association; and
 
6    WHEREAS, One of the biggest healthcare challenges across
7our nation is the shortage of physicians who practice in rural
8settings; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Dr. Smaga graduated from the University of Chicago
10Medical School in 1982; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Dr. Smaga completed her residency in family
12practice through Southern Illinois University (SIU) at
13Memorial Hospital in Carbondale in 1985, where she became Chief
14Resident; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Dr. Smaga began her career in family practice in
16Cape Girardeau, Missouri; and
 
17    WHEREAS, In 1987, Dr. Smaga returned to Carbondale, where
18she has served tens of thousands of patients as a physician
19with the SIU Family Medicine Center; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Dr. Smaga has made a major impact on improving the
2quality of life for many geriatric patients, serving as Medical
3Director for SIU Alzheimer's and Related Memory Disorders
4Clinic in Carbondale, as well as her service to programs such
5as the Older Adults Community Care Collaborative Initiative and
6the Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Dr. Smaga inspired hundreds of medical students,
8many of whom went on to practice in rural areas during her
928-year teaching career at the SIU School of Medicine; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Dr. Smaga's board certifications in both family
11practice and geriatric medicine have allowed her to care for
12multiple generations of families in her community; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Dr. Smaga will now have more time to devote to
14cultivating her garden at home during her retirement after she
15dedicated her entire career to cultivating an improved health
16care environment for the residents of southern Illinois;
17therefore, be it
 
18    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
19HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
20commend Dr. Sharon Smaga for her 35 years of selfless service
21and dedication to her patients and we wish her the best in her
22retirement; and be it further
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
2presented to Dr. Smaga, as a symbol of our respect and esteem.