HR1284 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1284 LRB097 23363 GRL 72218 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Dr. Penelope Tippy for receiving the 2012 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. Tippy earned her medical degree from the University of Illinois School of Medicine in 1974 and completed her residency at Wilson Memorial Hospital in New York; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Tippy became board certified in family practice medicine; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Tippy returned to her hometown of West Frankfort to practice and eventually became the Medical Director at the SIU Family Practice Centers in Carbondale, Sesser, and West Frankfort; and

WHEREAS, In 1982, Dr. Tippy joined the faculty at the SIU School of Medicine; and

WHEREAS, In 1984, Dr. Tippy was named the director of the SIU Family Practice Residency Program, where she went on to establish a specialized rural residency program to insure that residents were introduced to the challenges and rewards of practicing with rural populations; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Tippy serves as the Medical Director for Physician Assistant Programs for SIU, as well as St. Louis University; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Tippy serves as an advisor on the SIU's Center for Rural Health and Social Service Development Advisory Board; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Tippy worked to secure funds to establish the SIU School of Medicine's Care-A-Van, which travels to area high schools to provide mobile health care to teenagers; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Tippy has made a huge impact on improving access to health care for rural residents in Southern Illinois through all the physicians and physician assistants that she has trained that remained in the area to practice locally; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we commend Dr. Tippy for her selfless service to her community and for the impact she has made on the improving rural health over the past 30 years; and be it further

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