Family physicians in seven Illinois communities are hosting students from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine Moday to Dec. 11. The students are participating in the School's Family Medicine Preceptorship Program.

The experience is an opportunity for students to use their medical knowledge in an office setting under supervision of an experienced physician. Locally, Nadia Ali, daughter of Naushad and Donna Ali of Carbondale, is the guest of Dr. Clare Fadden at Murphysboro Health Center.

The students choose from more than 160 family practice physicians in Illinois for their preceptorship experience. They will graduate from medical school in May 2011 when they will go on for advanced training in a specific area of medicine before beginning practice. Since its beginning in 1981, 1,982 students have participated in the program, which is offered by the School's Department of Family and Community Medicine.

SIU School of Medicine's mission is to assist the people of central and southern Illinois in meeting their health needs through education, patient care, research and community service. An international leader in medical education, the school is based in Carbondale and Springfield and is specifically oriented to educating new physicians prepared to practice in Illinois. Since opening, more than 2,260 physicians have graduated from its program.

For information, call SIU's main number, 217-545-8000 or visit www.siumed.edu.