Chief Medical Officer

William Tillis, MD

"I believe the care we provide is second to none. The number of patients and the severity of the disease are only matched by the compassion and expertise of our staff."

Dr. Tillis was exposed to the life of a physician at a very early age.  His father was an obstetrician/gynecologist in Rockford, Illinois, where Dr. Tillis grew up. He attended medical school there after graduating with a degree in biology from the University of Notre Dame.

"At first I thought I'd be a general internist," he says. "But I found myself most attracted to pulmonary and critical care.  Treating the very sickest patients fits my personality.  I love the challenge and the intensity."

Dr. Tillis came to Peoria in 1993 and joined the OSF HealthCare family in 2009. He is justifiably proud of the growth and quality of the program. "Our care is second to none," he says. "We have the largest number of ICU beds in Illinois and we treat patients with the greatest severity of lung disease."

"I love what I do," he says. "There is nothing more satisfying than taking care of people, interacting with both patients and their families.  Our entire group feels the same way; they’re expert, experienced and dedicated to providing the best care possible."

Illinois Lung & Critical Care Institute, formerly Peoria Pulmonary Associates, has gained wide recognition for critical care, pulmonary and sleep disorders.  The Interventional Pulmonary Lab is a first for central Illinois; this new field uses advanced diagnostic and therapeutic techniques to treat patients with lung cancer, benign airway disorders and pleural diseases. 

As Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Tillis's role is to manage the practice, ensure quality of care and patient safety, and expand services to both inpatients and outpatients. "Our goal is to be THE destination for patients with lung disease," he says. "No one should have to go far from home to receive the best possible care."

Dr. Tillis's family includes his wife, Kelly, a nursing instructor at Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing; his son, Brian, a 21-year-old senior at Truman State University, majoring in pre-med and active on the school swim team; and daughter, Molly, a junior at Notre Dame High School and also a swim team member.

For relaxation, Dr. Tillis enjoys all sorts of exercise, reading and relaxing with family.  And that includes "just sitting at swim meets and cheering!"