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Monday, October 24, 2011

A Passion for Life!

Kristie and Niall Campbell of the Firefly Grill in Effingham are two of the most dynamic people I know. Firefly Grill is a dream that became a journey. Billed as a modern roadhouse situated in America’s Heartland. Their approach to food is simple-source the best ingredients possible and stay out of the way. Besides getting rave reviews from customers across the country the restaurant has a special sense of place all its own.

The menu features seasonal fare including produce from local farmers, foragers and their own garden right out side the restaurant! A visit to the Firefly is more of an experience than just ordering a meal. Weather its a table on the deck a stroll past the koi pond or a show at the professional theatre across the way the Firefly offers so much more than just dinner.

While the Firefly is a dream come true it was a national nightmare that started Kristie Samuels on a path that would lead her away from Wall Street and to her roots in central Illinois. After the events of 9/11 Kristie (who was a young wiz at a Wallstreet type firm) decided to re-evaluate her life and focus on what was really important. After an extended vacation on a tropical island she rediscovered her passion for life. A chance meeting with a brash young chef, Niall Campbell changed her life forever.

Before long the two were planning a life together and a new adventure in the restaurant business. To make a long story short they came to central Illinois with the idea of opening a new restaurant dedicated to creating an atmosphere and a sense of place. Anyone who has been to Firefly Grill would agree they have succeeded!

To watch the TV interview with Niall and Kristie CLICK HERE

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

The New Renaissance

Dr. Donna J. Cox is a Professor in the the School of Art and Design, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the first Michael Aiken Chair. She is also the Director of the Advanced Visualization Laboratory (AVL) at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications and the Director of the Illinois Emerging Digital Research and Education in Arts Media (eDream) Institute.

Professor Cox is a recognized pioneer in scientific visualization for public outreach and has published on the importance of interdisciplinary Renaissance Teams and cinematic science. Her NCSA team and scientific collaborators have inspired millions with artistic virtual tours through data in astrophysics, atmospheric, and ocean science. She will tell us about her AVL research group, eDream, and the projects they create for IMAX movies and digital dome museums. To view the TV interview with Dr. Cox CLICK HERE

Monday, September 19, 2011

What Brave New World-Robotic Surgery

Provena Covenant Medical Center has acquired the most advanced da Vinci® Si™ Surgical System offering patients a less invasive surgical option that results in less pain, less scarring, a shorter recovery time and quicker return to normal activities.

“The new features of the da Vinci Si system will help us provide the best possible outcomes and is proof of our commitment to provide our community access to the latest advancements in minimally invasive surgery,” said Provena Covenant Medical Center President and Chief Executive Officer Mike Brown.

The da Vinci Si Surgical System is designed to provide surgeons with enhanced capabilities, including high-definition 3D vision and a magnified view. The physician controls the da Vinci Si, which translates his or her hand movements into smaller, more precise movements of tiny instruments inside the body. da Vinci Si technology allows the physician to perform complex procedures through just a few tiny openings. As a result, patients may be able to get back to life faster ― without the usual recovery following major surgery.

Often an effective, alternative to open surgery or laparoscopy, the da Vinci Si system is used in procedures that treat a range of conditions, including bladder cancer, coronary artery disease, endometriosis, gynecologic cancer, hysterectomies, kidney disorders, obesity, prostate cancer, throat cancer and uterine fibroids. Dr. Michael Smith has already begun using the da Vinci Si at Provena Covenant Medical Center for gynecologic surgeries.

“The da Vinci Si technology is truly remarkable because it allows the physician such precise accuracy during procedures and allows us as surgeons to avoid a large abdominal incision in almost every case,” said Dr. Michael Smith, Christie Clinic Obstetrician/Gynecologist and President of the Medical Staff at Provena Covenant. “My goal is for all patients to have the option of da Vinci Si assisted hysterectomies, if hysterectomy is indicated, because of the immense benefits it provides the patients.”

Hysterectomies are the second most common surgical procedure for women in the United States, and an estimated one third of all U.S. women will have a hysterectomy by age 60. Traditionally, abdominal hysterectomies are performed with open surgery, which requires a wide incision below the navel. This procedure can be painful, involving heavy pain medications, risk of infection and significant blood loss. After surgery, a long recovery (often six weeks) is necessary. In addition, many patients are not happy with the scar left by the incision.

For most women, da Vinci Si Hysterectomy offers numerous potential benefits over traditional surgical approaches, including:

  • Significantly less pain
  • Less blood loss and need for transfusion
  • Less risk of infection
  • Shorter hospital stay
  • Quicker recovery and return to normal activities
  • Small incisions for minimal scarring
  • Better outcomes and patient satisfaction, in many cases

The da Vinci Si surgical system at Provena Covenant also features a Skills Simulator only compatible with the most advanced da Vinci Si. This simulator allows physicians interested in training on the da Vinci Si the ability to practice their skills in a virtual environment at Provena Covenant instead of having to travel to a major metropolitan area to do so. Several physicians from the southern Illinois market have already inquired about training on the da Vinci Si at Provena Covenant Medical Center.

To watch the TV interview with Dr.s Huag and Smith CLICK HERE

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

To Watch the Cazoodle Interview: CLICK HERE

Cazoodle was established in August 2006, as a startup company from the University of Illinois (UIUC). The goal of the company is to make web-search broader and deeper, by accessing data beyond the reach of current search engines. The company was co-founded by Prof. Kevin C. Chang and it is supported by the University of Illinois with transfer of technology from the MetaQuerier projects.

The company’s mission is to help users make their decisions more efficiently such as when they're looking for apartments for rent, or deciding on which products to buy. In such situations, users often end up spending hours and hours checking on possibilities spread across dozens of websites. Cazoodle’s search engines aggregate information from thousands of online sources, creating a one stop-destination for users to quickly navigate through all their possible choices.

Kerris Lee is a great ambassador for Cazoodle and shares his passion for the technology while telling the story of a young start up company that just may soon be a household word to all of us!