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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are pleased to congratulate Dr. Katherine
4Austman on receiving the "2012 Rural Physician of Excellence
5Award" from the Illinois Rural Health Association; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Dr. Austman received her medical degree from the
7University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford in 2001;
8and
 
9    WHEREAS, One of the biggest healthcare challenges across
10our nation is the shortage of physicians who practice in rural
11settings; and
 
12    WHEREAS, After completing her residency in Family Practice
13at the Methodist Medical Center of Illinois in Peoria, Dr.
14Austman began her service to the rural residents of Ford County
15when she joined the staff at Gibson Area Hospital; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Dr. Austman's certifications in Neonatal
17Resuscitation, Advanced Life Support for Obstetrics, Pediatric
18Advanced Life Support, and Advanced Cardiac Life Support allow
19her to provide the utmost in care to rural families; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Because of her hard work and respect of her

 

 

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1colleagues, Dr. Austman is the current Chief of Medical Staff
2at Gibson Area Hospital; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Dr. Austman's commitment to providing access to
4healthcare to "brand new rural residents" is exemplified in
5cases in which she delivered babies in non-traditional
6settings, such as her office or at the home of a new mom, who at
7the time was not even a patient; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Dr. Austman often sees patients after hours and in
9her own home if necessary, in order for there not to be any
10delays in care; and
 
11    WHEREAS, In order to expose young people to careers in
12medicine, Dr. Austman provides transportation to the
13community's elementary school students so they can participate
14in Gibson Area Hospital's annual "School Tours"; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Dr. Austman provides health education to her
16community by being an active participant in area health fairs;
17and
 
18    WHEREAS, Dr. Austman supports many local charities' 5K runs
19and rallies the rest of the medical staff to join her; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Dr. Austman supervises a physician assistant in

 

 

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1order to expand the care rural residents in her community
2receive; therefore, be it
 
3    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
4NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
5we commend Dr. Katherine Austman on the impacts she makes on
6improving access to rural health care; and be it further
 
7    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
8presented to Dr. Austman as a symbol of our respect and esteem.