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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives are pleased to congratulate Dr. Jerry Beguelin 
4on the occasion of receiving the 2014 Rural Physician of 
5Excellence Award from the Illinois Rural Health Association; 
6and
  
 
7    WHEREAS, One of the biggest healthcare challenges across 
8our nation is the shortage of physicians who practice in rural 
9settings; and
  
 
10    WHEREAS, Dr. Beguelin earned his medical degree from 
11Washington University in 1962; he then completed his residency 
12at Barnes Jewish Hospital in 1963 and performed a specialized 
13internship in trauma and surgery at St. Louis County Hospital; 
14and
  
 
15    WHEREAS, In 1964, Dr. Beguelin returned to his hometown of 
16Irvington to open up his practice and serving patients at St. 
17Mary's Hospital; and
  
 
18    WHEREAS, Dating back to the 1960s, Dr. Beguelin was a 
19forerunner of using physician extenders and saw the benefit 
20they could bring to rural areas years by increasing access to 
21care; and
  
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, Dr. Beguelin has been instrumental in recruiting 
2many greatly needed specialists and primary care physicians to 
3the rural area he serves; and
  
 
4    WHEREAS, In the 1970s, Dr. Beguelin developed a 
5multi-disciplinary on-site care program for the Department of 
6Corrections, which, because of its success, is still in use 
7today; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, Dr. Beguelin was instrumental in designing and 
9staffing a hospital wing specifically for developmentally and 
10physically-delayed individuals; and
  
 
11    WHEREAS, Dr. Begeulin has always been on the forefront of 
12telemedicine, providing care to residents in nursing homes, 
13developmentally-delayed facilities, and those attending 
14alternative schools; and
  
 
15    WHEREAS, In order to increase access to care, Dr. Beguelin 
16has opened several Rural Health Clinics; he has also worked 
17diligently to start up the Little Egypt Breast and Cervical 
18Cancer Program; therefore, be it
  
 
19    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
20NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
 
 
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1we commend Dr. Jerry Beguelin for his 50 years of selfless 
2service to his community and the impact he has made on 
3improving rural health and congratulate him for winning the 
42014 Rural Physician of Excellence Award; and be it further
  
 
5    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
6presented to Dr. Beguelin as a symbol of our respect and 
7esteem.