DIVISION OF EDUCATIONAL SERVICES STAFF
INSTRUCTION AND TESTING
Cindy Kirwan, M.A. (ED)
CATERPILLAR FELLOWSHIP
Meenakshy Aiyer, M.D.
Gayle Vollrath
GRAPHIC DESIGN & AUDIOVISUAL
Mary Jean Dzurisin, B.A.
MEDICAL EDUCATION SPECIALIST
Loni Wenzel
BIOMEDICAL REPRESENTATIVE
Slim Vinyl
Meenakshy Aiyer, M.D., F.A.C.P.
Director of Caterpillar Faculty Scholars Fellowship
(309) 671-8459 - aiyer@uic.edu
Meenakshy was born and raised in India. She attended medical school at Madurai Kamaraj University, in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. She completed her internship year at the University of Louisville, and both her internal medicine residency and chief residency at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria. Since 1996, she has served as a faculty member in the Department of Internal Medicine. Her faculty roles have included resident supervision, M3 and M4 clerkship director. She has also been very instrumental in the Resident as Teachers program. In 2002, she participated in the Faculty Development Fellowship: The Harvard Macy Program for Physician Educators and was invited back as returning scholar in 2005. She has received numerous awards, including the Raymond B Allen Golden Apple Award for outstanding contributions to teaching. Meenakshy joined DES in 2004 serving as the Co-Director of the Caterpillar Faculty Scholars Fellowship program.
Personal interests include music and spending time with her husband and two children.(Return to Menu)
Mary Jean Dzurisin, B.A.
Graphic Designer
(309) 671-8448 - mjd@uic.edu
Mary Jean Dzurisin earned a B.A. degree in art and literature. Since 1989 she has worked as a Graphic Designer at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, where she supports faculty, staff, students, and residents. In addition to graphic design, she also renders student lectures and provides photographic and audiovisual setup services. Mary Jean also works in fine art and especially enjoys representational landscapes and floral pieces in watercolor, acrylic, stipple, pencil, and colored pencil. Her stipple work is on display at the Wide Water Gallery in Ottawa, Illinois. Mary Jean also creates commissioned pieces of landscapes, homes, and portraits.
Personal interests and hobbies include: Hiking, photography, bicycling, poetry, water gardens, and traveling. (Return to Menu)
Cindy Kirwan, M.A., Ed
Coordinator of Educational Services
(309) 680-8614 - CAK@uic.edu
Cindy Adams Kirwan is a native of Peoria, Illinois and a graduate of Bradley University where she studied educational administration, M.A. (Ed.). She has focused on undergraduate educational testing and measurement in the Division of Educational Services at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria where she has worked since 1996. Cindy was a teacher in the area of special education for ten years and high school principal for one before she joined the academic staff at the College of Medicine. Cindy enjoys working with the students, data analysis and medical information which is involved in her daily routine.
Personal interests and hobbies include: travel, water sports and cooking. Cindy continues to be inspired by the students, faculty and staff with whom she works.(Return to Menu)
Slim Vinyl
Biomedical Representative
(309) 671-8460
Slim is a native of Tegucigalpa, Honduras. He earned a Bachelors Degree in Biology and Human Anatomy from Bradley University and began working as a Biomedical Representative at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria in 1984. In this capacity, Slim provides support at conferences on site and in the Peoria area. He also models UIC sports apparel.
Personal interests and hobbies include: basketball, fitness training, carolling, trick-or-treating, and traveling. Slim also volunteers as a motivational speaker at Blowin' In The Wind weight loss centers. (Return to Menu)
Gayle Vollrath
Program Coordinator, CAT Fellowship
Monday and Tuesday
(309) 671-8459 - gaylev@uicomp.uic.edu
Attended Western Illinois on a basketball scholarship and studied Psychology/Biology. I have been married for 14 years to John and have two children. Their names are Bryce (11) and Brody (7). They both attend Christ Lutheran School. I am a member of St Peters Lutheran Church in East Peoria and am very active with the Family Life Ministry and the Youth programs.
Due to medical reasons, I was unable to finish nursing school or X-ray tech school but only have a semester to go to have my degree. Since I am no longer able to lift, due to my back injury, I am now attending Midstate College on a full-time basis to get my Business Administration Bachelors degree with an emphasis on the healthcare field.
Hobbies: I love to scrapbook, cook with Pampered Chef, and stamp. I also coach basketball, girls junior high and Biddy Basketball, ages kindergarten through second grade. My kids are my life!
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Loni Wenzel
Medical Education Specialist
(309) 671-8459 - loni@uicomp.uic.edu
Loni joined UICOMP in January of 2006 working with the medical students in the ob/gyn clerkship before moving to her current position in DES. Prior to UICOMP, Loni worked for a combined 22 years in the child welfare field holding positions at DCFS and Catholic Charities.
Loni enjoys spending time with her husband Steven, and their three children, AJ, Mandi, and Shelby. Other personal interests include photography, watching professional football (especially the Green Bay Packers), and is a certified group fitness instructor.
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