Shawnee Health Awarded $2.5 Million from Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation to Establish State-of-the-Art Pediatric Dental Center in Marion
Marion, IL — Shawnee Health is proud to announce it has been awarded $2.5 million from the Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation (ILCHF) to create a new Pediatric Dental Center in Marion, Illinois. This transformative project will replace Shawnee Health’s current general dentistry clinic at the Marion location with a fully renovated, specialized pediatric facility designed to serve children from birth through age 21.
The new Pediatric Dental Center will feature an expanded footprint, including both clinical and general anesthesia treatment areas, enabling Shawnee Health to meet the complex oral health needs of children across its 19-county service area. The facility will be equipped with brand new, state-of-the-art dental technology, ensuring the highest standard of pediatric oral healthcare.
Key components of the project include:
- Construction and Renovation: Addition to the current building and complete transformation of the existing dental clinic into a dedicated pediatric care space.
- Advanced Equipment: Installation of the latest dental technology and tools to support preventive, restorative, and anesthesia-based care.
- Expanded Team: Hiring and training an additional pediatric dentist and two dental assistant apprentices during the second year of the practice’s opening to increase capacity and reduce wait times.
- Regional Outreach: Implementation of targeted outreach strategies to connect children throughout southern Illinois to critical oral healthcare services.
Once complete, the Shawnee Pediatric Dental Center will play a vital role in improving access to care, particularly for children who require specialized treatment under general anesthesia. The center’s expanded capabilities will allow Shawnee Health to provide timely, comprehensive dental services, helping reduce barriers to care and improve lifelong oral health outcomes.
“This investment from ILCHF allows us to create a facility that not only meets the dental needs of our youngest patients today but also sets the stage for healthier futures across our communities,” said Di Riley, Chief Director of Clinical Services. “We are deeply grateful for ILCHF’s commitment to improving children’s health in Illinois.”
“ILCHF, guided by our vision that every child in Illinois grows up healthy, is proud to partner with Shawnee Health on this vital opportunity to expand access to oral healthcare for children across Southern Illinois,” said Heather Higgins Alderman, President & CEO of the Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation. “This partnership is not only about building a new facility, but also about ensuring that thousands of children have timely access to the specialized oral health services they need and deserve.”
Construction is set to begin Fall 2025, with completion expected in September 2026. Shawnee Health will share updates and images as the project progresses.
All general dentists that have been practicing out of the Marion location will be relocated to Shawnee Health’s 一般牙科 location at 402 S. Lewis Lane in Carbondale, Illinois.
Media Contact:
亞歷克斯·漢森
Marketing Manager
肖尼健康
(618)956-9570
ahansen@shsdc.org
HRSA awards Shawnee Health highest honor plus four more national recognition badges.
Shawnee Health has been recognized with five 2025 Community Health Quality Recognition (CHQR) badges from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), marking a milestone achievement in the organization’s commitment to delivering exceptional care to Southern Illinois. This year, 45 Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in Illinois and 1,359 nationwide received CHQR recognition.
Shawnee Health is proud to have earned the Quality Leader Gold Status, placing us among the top 10% of Federally Qualified Health Centers nationwide. This distinction reflects our deep commitment to delivering exceptional clinical outcomes across preventive care, chronic disease management, and patient-centered services, and underscores our dedication to excellence in serving Southern Illinois. We join the ranks of health centers serving a collective 32 million patients nation-wide who rely on FQHCs for their care.
In addition to the Gold designation, Shawnee Health received four more prestigious honors:
全國品質領先者Achieved top 10% overall clinical quality measure (CQM) performance among all health centers in the US. |
National Quality Leader – Behavioral HealthRecognizing top performance in depression screening, follow-up, and other behavioral health outcomes. |
National Quality Leader – Heart HealthAwarded for excellence in controlling high blood pressure and reducing cardiovascular risk. |
National Quality Leader – DiabetesHonoring superior performance in diabetes control and management. |
Advancing Health Information Technology (HIT)Recognizing achievements in optimizing electronic health records and using data to improve patient outcomes. |
The CHQR badges are awarded annually to the highest-achieving community health centers across the United States, based on clinical performance data. Shawnee Health’s recognition reflects years of investment in clinical excellence, quality improvement initiatives, and innovative care models that reach diverse patient populations.
“The Mission of Shawnee Health is to provide accessible and exceptional care to all, and our providers and staff take great pride in living this Mission every day.” Christina Carney, CEO, stated. “ It is an honor to receive such high recognition, on a national platform, for our commitment to quality and the positive outcomes this creates for our patients.」
Media Contact
Alex Hansen, ahansen@shsdc.org
Shawnee Health’s Dr. Aaron Newcomb Named Physician Leader of the Year by ISMS
Carbondale, IL — Shawnee Health is proud to announce that Aaron Newcomb, DO, Family Medicine, has been named Physician Leader of the Year by the Illinois State Medical Society (ISMS). This distinguished award recognizes Dr. Newcomb’s outstanding leadership, dedication to patient care, and commitment to advancing access to care in southern Illinois.
Dr. Newcomb has been a cornerstone of Shawnee Health’s mission, leading innovative initiatives that improve care coordination, expand access for underserved populations, and strengthen collaborative practice among care teams. His passion for rural health and mentorship of emerging medical professionals has made a lasting impact within the organization and the broader community. ISMS recognized Dr. Newcomb for his extraordinary advocacy and leadership in patient-centered care, especially in addressing the opioid epidemic locally, state-wide and nationally.
When asked about the recognition, Dr. Newcomb stated, “I am humbled and honored to have received the ISMS Physician Leader of the Year Award for 2025. ISMS has been a steadfast ally and invaluable supporter as I lead efforts to drive cultural reform in healthcare around addiction and the responsible prescribing of controlled substances. To receive this honorable recognition is a profound gift—one that affirms my commitment to advancing patient-centered care that is guided by evidence but not constrained by arbitrary protocols. I am deeply grateful to all who support my advocacy work—especially my dedicated colleagues at Shawnee Health the board members of the Illinois Society of Addiction Medicine, and most of all, my wife, Kim Magwire, whose unwavering support has carried me through many difficult nights addressing various challenges and roadblocks along the way.”
The ISMS Physician Leader of the Year Award honors physicians who demonstrate exceptional leadership in healthcare delivery, advocacy, and community engagement. More information about the award and the full list of 2025 recipients can be found on the ISMS website.
“Dr. Newcomb lives the mission of Shawnee Health, enhancing lives by providing accessible and exceptional care to all. He is dedicated to responsible, quality care in all aspects and has transformed provider prescribing practices and addiction medicine services on a scale much larger than many may realize. Dr. Newcomb embodies the kind of compassionate, forward-thinking leadership that defines Shawnee Health. His unwavering commitment to our patients and his colleagues makes him a true asset not only to our organization, but to the entire southern Illinois region. We are incredibly proud to see his work recognized by ISMS.” -Christina Carney, CEO, Shawnee Health
Shawnee Health congratulates Dr. Newcomb on this well-deserved recognition as the 2025 Physician Leader of the Year.
自 1971 年成立以來，Shawnee Health 作為聯邦合格健康中心 (FQHC) 一直致力於透過促進、開發和管理優質、全面的健康和社會服務來改善伊利諾伊州南部居民的健康和福祉。 Shawnee Health 相信優質護理是一項權利，並不斷努力確保患者和客戶獲得最高品質的護理，無論年齡、種族、宗教、性別、居住地或支付能力。
Media Contact:
亞歷克斯·漢森
Marketing and Recruitment Manager
肖尼健康
(618) 956-9570
ahansen@shsdc.org
