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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are pleased to recognize milestone events in
4the lives of Illinois citizens; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Dr. Sara Rusch is retiring in May of 2019 after 11
6years as Regional Dean of the University of Illinois College of
7Medicine at Peoria (UICOMP); and
 
8    WHEREAS, Dr. Rusch became the first women to serve as
9Regional Dean of UICOMP in 2008; in her first four years, she
10was able to eliminate existing debt and brought campus
11operations out of deficit spending; she converted UICOMP into a
12four-year institution, which resulted in a vast increase in
13physician residents and included the establishment of a new
14residency in psychiatry with UnityPoint Health Peoria; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Dr. Rusch created five new fellowship training
16programs with OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in cardiology,
17gastroenterology, pulmonary critical care, hospice and
18palliative care, and simulation; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Dr. Rusch oversaw the completion of the 24,000
20square foot Cancer Research Center addition at UICOMP as well
21as the extensive remodeling of existing classrooms including

 

 

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1the new human cadaver anatomy lab; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Dr. Rusch's extraordinary dedication to medicine
3and the Peoria community has been recognized with numerous
4accolades; she was named UIC Woman of the Year and Faculty
5Member of the Year; she received the Athena International
6Leadership Award and the UIC Dean's Award for Excellence in
7Healthcare; in addition, she was inducted into the Laureate
8Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame and received the
9highest distinction of Mastership in the American College of
10Physicians; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Dr. Rusch was born in Wisconsin and attended
12University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she received her
13Bachelor of Arts and medical degree; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Dr. Rusch moved to Peoria in 1978 for residency
15training in internal medicine at OSF Saint Francis Center;
16after she completed her training, she entered private practice,
17where she cared for patients while concurrently teaching in the
18residency; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Dr. Rusch became Chair of Medicine for OSF
20HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center and UICOMP in 1993; she
21held the role for 15 years before becoming the Regional Dean of
22UICOMP; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Dr. Rusch looks forward to spending her time with
2her husband, Tom Cusack, and their seven children and 11
3grandchildren; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Dr. Rusch has excelled as a student, professional,
5mentor, businesswoman, and leader; therefore, be it
 
6    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
7HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
8we congratulate Dr. Sara Rusch on her retirement and wish her
9the best in all her future endeavors; and be it further
 
10    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
11presented to Dr. Rusch as a symbol of our respect and esteem.