Patient Satisfaction Survey

Dr. Katie Fitzgerald, Internal Medicine/Pediatrics

Will be joining Graham in September 2012

FREE Blood Pressure Clinic

Wednesdays from 9:00 am - 11:00 am
FREE Blood Pressure Clinic, open to the public, every Wednesday from 9:00 am - 11:00 am at Graham Medical Group, Canton. If you have questions, please call: 309-647-0201.

Dr. Buckley Retires After 19 Years

After 19 dedicated years at Coleman Medical Associates (CMA) and Coleman Clinic/Graham Medical Group serving patients in Fulton and surrounding counties, Dr. William Buckley has retired, effective December 31, 2011. Dr. Buckley joined Coleman Medical Associates and the Coleman Clinic (now known as Graham Medical Group), on September 28, 1992, as a Board Certified General Surgeon. Dr. Buckley has been a staple in the Canton community since joining CMA 1992. He proudly supports the YMCA, YWCA, Wesley United Methodist Church, Spoon River College, and Mothers Against Drunk Drivers. He also serves as a Commissioner of the Canton Park District, and as a Director of MidAmerica National Bank. Dr. Buckley earned his medical degree and completed his surgical residency at the University of Iowa Medical School in Iowa City in 1977 and 1982, respectively. Graham Health System thanks Dr. Buckley for his years of service to CMA, the Graham Hospital Surgery Department, Graham Health System, and most importantly to the thousands of patients he cared for over the past 19 years.

Dr. Gowda Honored for Outstanding Teaching Service by U of I

The University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria (UICOMP) honored eight faculty members during its annual All Faculty Meeting on Monday, May 11. One of those faculty members honored is a Canton physician. Dr. Ramayya U. Gowda of Canton received the UICOMP Outstanding Teaching and Service Award for Community-Based Faculty. "Congratulations! This is a very prestigious award, and you should feel very proud to have earned it," said Thomas R. Rossi, M.D,. chairman on Faculty Fellowships and Award, in a memo to Dr. Gowda informing him of the award. A press release from Dr. Gowda's colleagues in Canton said he is not only an outstanding teacher, he is also known by his peers to be an excellent surgeon who has been innovative and at the cutting edge of surgery. He constantly strives to keep up with the changes in the field of medicine and surgery by keeping up with new training opportunities. Dr. Gowda was the first to establish thoracoscopic surgery at Graham Hospital and in central Illinois and has been doing this procedure since 1976. This is a procedure that is minimally invasive to remove part of the cancerous lung or to inspect the chest cavity and other pathologies in the chest. The first pacemaker inserted at Graham Hospital was done by Dr. Gowda, and he continues to perform this procedure at Graham Hospital. Dr. Jack Gibbs and Dr. Gowda started the minimally invasive laparoscopic cholecystectomy (removal of the gallbladder) in 1990. This was among the first gallbladders laparoscopically removed in central Illinois. Currently, Dr. Gowda performs other minimally invasive laparoscopic surgeries including removal of cancerous colon, infected appendix and other minimally invasive surgeries of the abdomen. He also performs endoscopies, which means looking inside the colon, stomach and lungs, using fiberoptic scopes. Vascular surgery was pioneered by Dr. Gibbs at Graham Hospital starting in 1965 and included carotid and blood vessel bypass surgery for blocked arteries. Dr. Gowda continues in the field of vascular surgery in the community and has kept pace with the developments in this field. Open surgery to bypass blocked arteries has been largely replaced with angioplasty and stenting. This is a minimally invasive approach known as endovascular surgery. Dr. Gowda has pursued training in the field in such venues as the Arizona Heart and Vascular Institute. He established endovascular surgery at Graham Hospital in 1998 when the endovascular surgery was becoming a new technology. He did the first endovascular procedure at Graham Hospital and continues to provide these state-of-the-art services in the community. He also continues to do those open vascular procedures not amenable to the endovascular approach such as carotid surgery for the prevention of stroke. Dr. Gowda is certified by the National Board of Thoracic Cardiovascular Surgery and also the General Surgery Board and has been re-board certified several times by the National Board of Examiners. UICOMP's Faculty Fellowships and Awards Committee selected the winners of this year's faculty awards. Currently, more than 1,100 full-time, part-time, and volunteer faculty members contribute to UICOMP's medical education programs. The other honorees for 2008-2009 are: Dr. James R. DeBord, UICOMP Faculty of the Year; Dr. Sanjeeva Mohanam, UICOMP Outstanding Research; Dr. Timothy J.Bruce, Dr. J. Stephen Marshall and Dr. L. William Scheibe, UICOMP Outstanding Service; and Dr. Stephen M. Lasley and Dr. Amy B. Stanfill, UICOMP Outstanding Teaching. Canton Daily Ledger, May 2009

Graham Partners With Park District On New Program

Walking club at Wallace Park offers incentives and benefits for a healthier lifestyle CANTON – The Canton Park District and Graham Health System are pleased to announce the new Wallace Park Walking Club. The program is free and open to the public. Anyone that walks, jogs, or runs at Wallace Park will now be able to log their miles at the park district office. After 100 miles have been logged participants will be awarded a t-shirt that marks their success. Additional rewards may be awarded for other significant mile achievement such as 500 or 1000 miles. All mileage is tracked by individuals on an honor system. Graham Health System will also be supplying signage around the trail at Wallace Park. The signs will have motivational messages and messages that promote physical fitness. The half mile, paved trail at Wallace Park will have signs placed every 1/8 of a mile. According to park director Jon Johnson, “This is an excellent opportunity for people to come out to the park, get some exercise, get healthier, and get a reward for doing it.” Johnson continued, “This would not be possible without the help of Graham. I can’t tell you how pleased we are to be working with them on this. We’re in the recreation business and they are in the health business. It’s just a great partnership! Bob Senneff, President & CEO of Graham Health System echoed those comments. “We have a great relationship with the City of Canton and with the Canton Park District. We are proud to partner with the Park District on this wellness initiative, and hope to pursue other opportunities with them as they present themselves. Jon and his folks are always great to work with.”