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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives are pleased to congratulate Dr. Kathy Swafford 
4on the occasion of receiving the 2015 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, In 1981, Dr. Kathy Swafford graduated from the 
11Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Georgia; she went on to 
12complete her fellowship in pediatric nephrology and residency 
13in pediatrics at the University of Texas Health Science Center 
14in Houston, where she was Chief Resident and later a Clinical 
15Instructor; and
  
 
16    WHEREAS, Dr. Kathy Swafford began her service in southern 
17Illinois as a pediatrician with the Union County Hospital 
18District in 1998; in 1999, she founded Swafford Pediatrics; and
  
 
19    WHEREAS, Since 2009, Dr. Kathy Swafford has served as the 
20Medical Director of the Children's Medical and Mental Health 
21Resource Network; and
  
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, Dr. Kathy Swafford is highly regarded in the 
2academic world and has trained many physicians who go on to 
3practice in rural areas through her role as Assistant Professor 
4of Clinical Pediatrics at the Southern Illinois University 
5School of Medicine; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Dr. Kathy Swafford has taken time out of her busy 
7medical career to share her expertise through her active 
8leadership roles in numerous organizations and committees, 
9including the Southern Illinois Medical Society, the Union 
10County Health Department, the Illinois Emergency Medical 
11Services for Children Advisory Board, the Illinois Department 
12of Public Health Immunization Advisory Committee, and the 
13Illinois Association of Maternal and Child Health, to name a 
14few; and
  
 
15    WHEREAS, Dr. Kathy Swafford has dedicated her career to 
16preventing child abuse and death and is one of only 324 Board 
17Certified Child Abuse Pediatricians in the nation; and
  
 
18    WHEREAS, Dr. Kathy Swafford also gives back to her 
19community by singing in her local church choir, donating items 
20to the local mission, and serving on Anna's Animal Shelter's 
21PAWS Board; therefore, be it
  
 
 
 
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1    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
2NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
3congratulate Dr. Kathy Swafford on the occasion of receiving 
4the 2015 Rural Physician of Excellence Award and commend her 
5for her selfless service to her community and the impact she 
6has made on improving rural health; and be it further
  
 
7    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
8presented to Dr. Kathy Swafford as a symbol of our respect and 
9esteem.