HR1270 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1270 LRB098 22688 GRL 61621 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Dr. Jerry Beguelin on the occasion of receiving the 2014 Rural Physician of Excellence Award from the Illinois Rural Health Association; and

WHEREAS, One of the biggest healthcare challenges across our nation is the shortage of physicians who practice in rural settings; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Beguelin earned his medical degree from Washington University in 1962; he then completed his residency at Barnes Jewish Hospital in 1963 and performed a specialized internship in trauma and surgery at St. Louis County Hospital; and

WHEREAS, In 1964, Dr. Beguelin returned to his hometown of Irvington to open up his practice and serving patients at St. Mary's Hospital; and

WHEREAS, Dating back to the 1960s, Dr. Beguelin was a forerunner of using physician extenders and saw the benefit they could bring to rural areas years by increasing access to care; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Beguelin has been instrumental in recruiting many greatly needed specialists and primary care physicians to the rural area he serves; and

WHEREAS, In the 1970s, Dr. Beguelin developed a multi-disciplinary on-site care program for the Department of Corrections, which, because of its success, is still in use today; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Beguelin was instrumental in designing and staffing a hospital wing specifically for developmentally and physically-delayed individuals; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Begeulin has always been on the forefront of telemedicine, providing care to residents in nursing homes, developmentally-delayed facilities, and those attending alternative schools; and

WHEREAS, In order to increase access to care, Dr. Beguelin has opened several Rural Health Clinics; he has also worked diligently to start up the Little Egypt Breast and Cervical Cancer Program; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we commend Dr. Jerry Beguelin for his 50 years of selfless service to his community and the impact he has made on improving rural health and congratulate him for winning the 2014 Rural Physician of Excellence Award; and be it further

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