MATTOON - Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center has announced the addition of Dr. Lori Cudone to its medical staff.

An otolaryngologist, or ENT doctor, treats infections, diseases, abnormalities and other disorders of the ear, nose and throat, according to a press release.

Cudone took a non-traditional path to becoming a doctor. She had a successful chiropractic practice in Mattoon and had three teenage children in 2002 when she decided to enroll in medical school at the University of Illinois.

"It was a calling," Cudone said of her decision. The journey began when she found herself talking with a woman about the Rural Medicine Education Program while accompanying her youngest son on a school field trip to the U of I in 2001. She later decided to take the Medical College Admission Exam.

Receiving high marks, she was admitted to the University of Illinois School of Medicine and later received a scholarship, though she was still reluctant to go.

"We had a family meeting and we talked about the sacrifices that would have to made and everyone was willing to do their part to make this happen," Cudone said. When other concerns quickly dissipated, she decided it was her destiny.

Choosing ENT as her specialty, Cudone likes the fact that it covers the widest spectrum of ages, from newborns to the very elderly. It is also a varied and challenging specialty encompassing a wide range of medical and surgical treatments, which includes treating nasal and sinus diseases, allergies, hearing and balance problems, voice disorders, snoring and sleep apnea, and head and neck cancer.

Following medical school, she completed a five-year residency program in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, a highly competitive specialty, at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield. She said it was a difficult yet very rewarding journey.

"I love taking care of people and I'm excited about returning to the area," she said. Her husband, Bob, is a former SBL employee who worked in information systems for many years.

Originally from New York, Cudone began her career as a medical technologist. She later became a chiropractor and was also an instructor at Eastern Illinois University. She said her many life experiences have given her greater perspective.

"I think being a mom and having many different life experiences has given me a better understanding of what's important and that will make me a better doctor. It's great to be involved in a profession where what you do is so very important to the people you interact with," she said.

To make an appointment with Cudone, call 258- or 348-2409 in Mattoon or 347-7077 in Effingham. She has offices at SBL Medical Office Pavilion, Suite 401, Mattoon, as well as the SBL Effingham Clinic at 905 N. Maple.