News & PR
Hammond-Henry Hospital welcomes Dr. Carlos Avila to its Kewanee Clinic
The Board of Directors of Hammond-Henry Hospital and its Administration announce the addition of Dr. Carlos Avila to its Kewanee Clinic staff.
“It has been a longstanding priority of the Hammond-Henry Hospital team to bring in a bilingual family physician of this caliber to serve this ever-growing population,” said Colton Anderson, Director of Clinic Services. “Since Dr. Avila is fluent in both English and Spanish, we are confident we will be better able to assist in the care of different cultures, ensuring they receive the quality healthcare services they deserve.”
Board certified in Family Medicine, Dr. Avila will be accepting pediatric and adult patients when he begins his practice in July. Scheduling is now open for July appointments during regular business hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday by calling 309.853.3677.
“I’m looking forward to working with all the families and communities served by Hammond-Henry Hospital, and particularly those in the Kewanee area. If my being able to speak Spanish assists more individuals seeking a family medicine physician, I would see it as a privilege to serve them,” said Dr. Avila.
Dr. Carlos Avila received his MD in Medicine and Surgery from the Universidad Salvadorena Alberto Masferrer (USAM), School of Medicine, San Salvador, El Salvador, in 2005. He completed his Family Medicine Residency Program at Southern Illinois University at Springfield, IL, in 2017. From 2017 to just prior to his service to Hammond-Henry Hospital, Dr. Avila had served as a Family Medicine Specialist and Site Lead Physician at Unity Point Health Care (now Carle Health) and also at East Peoria First Care (outpatient clinic and urgent care).
During this time, he also served Barring Trace Clinic, Peoria Heights, Pekin Clinic, and Family Medicine Pear Tree, and offered telemedicine services provided under the American Well platform for the Unity Point Health System.
From June 2004 to 2007, Dr. Avila served as First Surgical Assistant for General Surgery and Laparoscopic Surgery, San Salvador, El Salvador, before moving to Illinois. In 2007, he served as a Medical Assistant to Dr. Anad Salem at the Family Medicine Clinic, Carbondale, IL, followed by serving as First Surgical Assistant for general surgery, plastic surgery, obstetrics, gynecology, and orthopedic surgery at Passavant Area Hospital, Jacksonville, IL.
In 2011, Dr. Avila served as Research and Education Coordinator at Saint Croix Hospice, Rochester, MN, and was also Chair of the Ethics Committee for St. Croix Hospice, before returning to Passavant Area Hospital through June of 2014. Between this time and July 2017, Dr. Avila completed his three-year Family Medicine Residency Program at Southern Illinois University at Springfield. He volunteers as a Physician Preceptor for medical students from the University of Illinois College of Medicine, Peoria, and is a Board Member of HOPE (Helping Other People Excel) as a medical team member.