A board-certified Emergency Physician with four decades of experience in his field, Dr. Hanko has served for seven years as the Medical Director of Emergency Medicine at OSF Saint Anthony's Health Center in Alton, IL. The hospital is part of the OSF HealthCare network of hospitals, an integrated health system owned and operated by The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis of Peoria, IL. In his role, Dr. Hanko offers clinical services to patients and serves as a liaison between the hospital administration and staff.

As an emergency medicine physician, Dr. Hanko is trained to assess and treat patients within an emergency room or urgent care setting, regardless of their medical condition, illness, or injury. The main focus of an emergency physician is to stabilize the patient and determine what steps need to be taken to further care for the patient. Emergency physicians must be able to handle multiple patients at once and quickly triage them according to their symptoms and conditions. Life-threatening conditions take top priority over less severe illnesses or injuries.

In pursuit of his medical career, Dr. Hanko earned a Bachelor of Science in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1979. He received his Medical Degree from George Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis in 1983. Following medical school, Dr. Hanko completed a residency in Internal Medicine at Barnes Jewish Hospital, where he served as Chief Resident in his final year.

Due to his extensive training and expertise, Dr. Hanko is board-certified in Internal Medicine through the American Board of Internal Medicine. The ABIM is a physician-led non-profit independent evaluation organization driven by doctors who want to achieve higher standards for better care in a rapidly changing world. He maintains an active affiliation with the Southern Illinois Physicians Association.

In recognition of his dedication and expertise within his field, Dr. Hanko has been recognized as an "American Top Physician" by the Consumers' Research Council. Dr. Hanko wishes to dedicate this recognition to his mentor, Steven Lefrak, MD, and his wife of six years, Deborah Hanko, and their three children, Alexandra, Shannon, and Michelle.

  

Outside of work, Dr. Hanko enjoys golfing, hiking, boating, and spending time with his family.