HR0291 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0291 LRB101 12107 MST 59666 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to recognize milestone events in the lives of Illinois citizens; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Sara Rusch is retiring in May of 2019 after 11 years as Regional Dean of the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria (UICOMP); and

WHEREAS, Dr. Rusch became the first women to serve as Regional Dean of UICOMP in 2008; in her first four years, she was able to eliminate existing debt and brought campus operations out of deficit spending; she converted UICOMP into a four-year institution, which resulted in a vast increase in physician residents and included the establishment of a new residency in psychiatry with UnityPoint Health Peoria; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Rusch created five new fellowship training programs with OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in cardiology, gastroenterology, pulmonary critical care, hospice and palliative care, and simulation; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Rusch oversaw the completion of the 24,000 square foot Cancer Research Center addition at UICOMP as well as the extensive remodeling of existing classrooms including the new human cadaver anatomy lab; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Rusch's extraordinary dedication to medicine and the Peoria community has been recognized with numerous accolades; she was named UIC Woman of the Year and Faculty Member of the Year; she received the Athena International Leadership Award and the UIC Dean's Award for Excellence in Healthcare; in addition, she was inducted into the Laureate Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame and received the highest distinction of Mastership in the American College of Physicians; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Rusch was born in Wisconsin and attended University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she received her Bachelor of Arts and medical degree; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Rusch moved to Peoria in 1978 for residency training in internal medicine at OSF Saint Francis Center; after she completed her training, she entered private practice, where she cared for patients while concurrently teaching in the residency; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Rusch became Chair of Medicine for OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center and UICOMP in 1993; she held the role for 15 years before becoming the Regional Dean of UICOMP; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Rusch looks forward to spending her time with her husband, Tom Cusack, and their seven children and 11 grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Rusch has excelled as a student, professional, mentor, businesswoman, and leader; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Dr. Sara Rusch on her retirement and wish her the best in all her future endeavors; and be it further

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