Platform: Allen is running on an “Experienced Medical Professional” platform. She said the office of coroner needs someone with extensive medical experience. “I feel that a coroner should be a medical professional,” Allen said. “You are dealing with something very medical when you’re talking about determining cause of death.”

Allen, who is a registered nurse at Kishwaukee Community Hospital, intends to keep her job there because she said the dual experience will better equip her for coroner. Medicine is a field that is always growing with new ideas that will benefit the office, Allen said.

Background: Allen has worked as a registered nurse in Mendota and DeKalb. She also has served as head nurse of the surgical unit for the old DeKalb Public Hospital.

Allen currently is an emergency medical technician’s assistant for the Malta Fire Department ambulance. She also is an emergency medical service instructor/coordinator for Kishwaukee Commmunity College. Allen also is Careline Coordinator for Kishwaukee Community Hospital.

Allen received her degree in registered nursing from Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Hospital School of Learning, Chicago. She has finished instruction in advanced cardiac life support at Swedish American Hospital in Rockford.

She received training as a trauma nurse specialist from St. Anthony Medical Center in Rockford and is a certified emergency nurse at Kishwaukee Community Hospital.