Blog
Welcome to the blog for Health & Medicine. Founded in 1981, we’re a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates as an independent, freestanding center driven by a singular mission: formulating health policy, advocacy and health systems to enhance the health of the public.
2022
Voting is a Public Health Imperative
November 2, 2022Voting is a public health imperative. Health & Medicine encourages our supporters, partners, colleagues, family members, and friends to make a plan to vote in the midterm elections on November 8, 2022. The American Public Health Association’s webinar Voting and Health: Why Access to the Ballot Box Matters is a strong statement from America’s leading public health […]
Board Highlight: Karen Aguirre
October 31, 2022Karen Aguirre is a proud southside, Chicago-raised, Latinx from Back of the Yards. Her lived experience in growing up in a pre-dominantly Black and Latinx immigrant neighborhood with limited affordable health care access fueled her interest in public health and health care administration. She still resides in the area and maintains her commitment to bringing […]
October Recap: What We’re Reading at Health & Medicine
Each week, Health & Medicine staff gather articles and other readings we find important, helpful, and informative to our work. Read below for a recap of October’s resources: Crain’s Chicago Business: Q&A with Health & Medicine Policy Director Wesley Epplin: Hospitals alone can’t close the equity gap Crain’s Chicago Business: Operating on the Margins: Chicago hospitals commit […]
Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2022: Recognizing the Importance of Historical Context to Health Equity
October 7, 2022Health & Medicine stands with Indigenous people on October 10th, 2022, in recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ Day. In the United States, Indigenous people represent many different tribes who have experienced the theft of their lands, languages, property, and lives since the arrival of settlers from Europe. Their struggle for justice continues today, often placing them […]
Meet Our Award Winners: John McKnight
September 7, 20222022 Health Visionary Award John McKnight John McKnight co-founded Health & Medicine with Dr. Quentin Young. The two became fast friends and colleagues during the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s. In 1981, they laid the groundwork for a health policy organization that would uncover and challenge health inequities in Illinois. They envisioned […]
Board Highlight: Misty Drake
Learning the value of safety-net providers first-hand as a child patient, Misty Drake has more than 20 years of experience in community health. She is dedicated to improving the safety net system because of its role in improving health care access and outcomes for low-income and other vulnerable communities. Currently, Misty serves as the Vice […]
Meet Our Award Winners: Crystal Pirtle Tyler
August 29, 2022Emerging Leader Award Crystal Pirtle Tyler Crystal Pirtle Tyler, Ph.D., M.P.H., brings over 15 years of experience advancing reproductive and maternal health equity. As the Chief Health Officer at Rhia Ventures, she translates the needs of the women and birthing people most affected by systemic inequity into programming that fosters equitable reproductive health products and […]
Meet Our Award Winners: Michael Alebich
August 23, 2022Emerging Leader Award Michael Alebich Michael Alebich, D.O., F.A.C.P., has dedicated his professional career to patients with substance use disorders by standardizing their alcohol withdrawal treatment protocols and expanding their access to inpatient medications for addiction treatment. As a graduate of Benedictine University and the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, he was trained in internal […]
Meet Our Award Winners: Sharon D. Gates
August 17, 2022Lifetime Achievement Award Sharon D. Gates Sharon Gates, D.S.W., is a Chicago-based leader in the nonprofit sector. She has been a longtime employee of the Rush University Medical Center where she works in both the academic and corporate wings of the hospital’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) department. Dr. Gates has focused her career on […]
Meet Our Award Winners: Sista Yaa Simpson
August 10, 2022Lifetime Achievement Award Sista Yaa Simpson Yaa Simpson (Sista Yaa), M.P.H., is a veteran, advocate, and community epidemiologist for The Association of Clinical Trial Services (TACTS) and the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH). TACTS is a Black, women-led, and veteran-owned business that is the only one of its kind in Illinois. “I’m standing on […]
July Recap: What We’re Reading at Health & Medicine
August 4, 2022Each month, Health & Medicine staff gather articles and other readings we find important, helpful, and informative to our work. Read below for a recap of July’s resources: WBEZ Chicago: From police raids to reproductive justice, abortion history in Illinois is long and bumpy Chicago Tribune: Gov. J.B. Pritzker calls special legislative session on reproductive rights as […]
Staff Highlight: Anaga Dalal
Anaga came to Health & Medicine in May 2022 after spending most of her working life in New York where she was most recently with MDRC, a social policy research organization. Previously, she worked at a range of nongovernmental and media organizations that include the Center for Reproductive Rights, the Coalition for the International Criminal […]
Meet Our Award Winners: Anne C. Evens
August 2, 2022Lifetime Achievement Award Anne C. Evens Anne Evens, M.Sc., Ph.D., is the Chief Executive Officer of Elevate, a nonprofit organization based in Chicago. Elevate works to promote universal access to clean, healthy, safe, and affordable heat, power, and water for people in their homes and communities — no matter who they are, or where they […]
Meet Our Award Winners: The Night Ministry
July 27, 2022Group Award The Night Ministry The Night Ministry is a Chicago-based organization that provides human connection, housing support, and health care to members of the local community who are unhoused or experiencing poverty. With an open heart, they compassionately accept each individual as they are and work alongside them to advocate for their immediate physical, […]
Meet Our Award Winners: CROWD at Sinai Urban Health Institute
July 19, 2022Group Award CROWD at Sinai Urban Health Institute Sinai Urban Health Institute (SUHI) is a leader in the development, implementation, and evaluation of innovative approaches to improving population health management. For 22 years, SUHI’s health interventions have utilized the community health worker (CHW) model, showing positive health and financial outcomes. The Center for CHW Research, […]
What We’re Reading at the Center for Long-Term Care Reform and Illinois Aging Together
July 6, 2022Health & Medicine Policy Research Group’s Center for Long-term Care Reform and Illinois Aging Together campaign are dedicated to advancing policies and structures that improve the conditions in which Illinoisans live, work, play, and age across the life course. Through our work, it is crucial for us to stay abreast of current events, developments, and […]
Staff Highlight: Karol Dean
July 5, 2022Karol joined Health & Medicine as Director of the Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellows Program in June 2022, driven by a passion to nurture a community service orientation among evolving health and human service professionals. “The Schweitzer Fellowship draws graduate student activists into the ongoing struggle for public health equity, Karol says. “The innovation, adaptability, and […]
Health & Medicine Statement on Roe Reversal
June 24, 2022We are heartbroken that the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade will further endanger the health and safety of millions of people in Illinois and the United States, especially in lower-income communities and communities of color. Health & Medicine affirms its commitment to advocate for the the right to compassionate, equitable, accessible health […]
Commemorating Juneteenth with a Renewed Call to Action
June 17, 2022We the successors of a country and a time where a skinny Black girl descended from slaves and raised by a single mother can dream of becoming president only to find herself reciting for one. –Amanda Gorman Health & Medicine joins fellow Illinoisans and all Americans to mark June 19th, or Juneteenth, as a day […]
What We’re Reading at the Center for Long-Term Care Reform and Illinois Aging Together
June 10, 2022Health & Medicine Policy Research Group’s Center for Long-term Care Reform and Illinois Aging Together campaign are dedicated to advancing policies and structures that improve the conditions in which Illinoisans live, work, play, and age across the life course. Through our work, it is crucial for us to stay abreast of current events, developments, and […]
May Recap: What We’re Reading at Health & Medicine
May 31, 2022Each week, Health & Medicine staff gather articles and other readings we find important, helpful, and informative to our work. Read below for a recap of May’s resources: Week of 4/29 WBEZ Chicago: Life expectancy of Chicagoans dropped by two years during the first year of the pandemic Healthy System Tracker: COVID-19 mortality preventable by vaccines Chicago […]
What We’re Reading at the Center for Long-Term Care Reform and Illinois Aging Together
Health & Medicine Policy Research Group’s Center for Long-term Care Reform and Illinois Aging Together campaign are dedicated to advancing policies and structures that improve the conditions in which Illinoisans live, work, play, and age across the life course. Through our work, it is crucial for us to stay abreast of current events, developments, and […]
Construyendo Hacia el Impacto: Aprendizajes del Tercer Año del Piloto de Promotores de Salud en los Suburbios del Condado de Cook
May 20, 2022La Historia de Una Promotora de Salud En su México natal, Yudy Galván era médica y, en ese rol, comenzó a cultivar su amor por involucrarse y ayudar a su comunidad a llevar una vida saludable. Yudy es una promotora de salud y supervisora en el Centro Médico Alivio, una de las organizaciones originales en […]
Building Toward Impact: Year 3 Learnings of Community Health Worker Pilot in Suburban Cook County
May 19, 2022One CHW’s Story In her native Mexico, Yudy Galvan was a physician, and in that role, she began to cultivate her love for engaging and helping her community lead healthy lives. Yudy is a community health worker (CHW) and CHW supervisor at Alivio Medical Center, one of the original organizations in the three-year CHW Pilot […]
What We’re Reading at the Center for Long-Term Care Reform and Illinois Aging Together
May 17, 2022Health & Medicine Policy Research Group’s Center for Long-term Care Reform and Illinois Aging Together campaign are dedicated to advancing policies and structures that improve the conditions in which Illinoisans live, work, play, and age across the life course. Through our work, it is crucial for us to stay abreast of current events, developments, and […]
Board Highlight: Sara Lindholm
May 4, 2022Before retiring in 2013, board member Sara Lindholm worked for 40 years as an affordable housing developer. Sara began her work at City Lands Corporation, the development affiliate of the South Shore Bank of Chicago, where she served as President and then Chairman of City Lands Corporation for twelve years. She then moved on to […]
Staff Highlight: Mayra Diaz
May 2, 2022Mayra is a Policy Analyst who joined Health & Medicine’s Illinois ACEs Response Collaborative in February of 2022. At Health & Medicine, she plays a critical role in supporting institutions across Illinois, helping them integrate trauma-informed and healing-centered frameworks into their policies and practices. Mayra obtained her bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at […]
April Recap: What We’re Reading at Health & Medicine
Each week, Health & Medicine staff gather articles and other readings we find important, helpful, and informative to our work. Read below for a recap of April’s resources: Week of 3/25 Chicago Tribune: Illinois’ new health care program for undocumented seniors leaves some of the most vulnerable behind NPR: Better air in classrooms matters beyond COVID. Here’s […]
What We’re Reading at the Center for Long-Term Care Reform and Illinois Aging Together
April 21, 2022Health & Medicine Policy Research Group’s Center for Long-term Care Reform and Illinois Aging Together campaign are dedicated to advancing policies and structures that improve the conditions in which Illinoisans live, work, play, and age across the life course. Through our work, it is crucial for us to stay abreast of current events, developments, and […]
March Recap: What We’re Reading at Health & Medicine
March 31, 2022Each week, Health & Medicine staff gather articles and other readings we find important, helpful, and informative to our work. Read below for a recap of March’s resources: Week of 2/28 Brookings: The pandemic showed why social and structural determinants of health matter. Now it’s time for policymakers to act Kaiser Health News: The Demise of Single-Payer […]
Board Highlight: Tom Wilson
Tom’s connection to Health & Medicine began in the early 90s when he worked alongside Quentin Young on the Campaign for Better Health Care (CBHC). As the two staunchest defenders of universal single payer health care on that board, the pair resigned together when CBHC surrendered this as a primary goal, but their work together […]
Staff Highlight: Sara Wright-Pupo
Sara joined Health & Medicine in 2022 as a member of the Chicago Area Health Education Center (AHEC) team. As the AHEC Program Coordinator, she supports initiatives to recruit and retain a diverse health workforce. Sara was drawn to Health & Medicine because she knew that she wanted to directly serve Chicago communities by ensuring […]
Honoring the Life of Dr. Paul Farmer (1959-2022)
March 30, 2022Written by Ange Uwimana, 2021-2022 Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellow On February 21 at 8:26 a.m., I received some of the worst news of my life. A friend of mine from Rwanda sent me a text via WhatsApp saying: “Sorry for your loss, just heard about Paul Farmer’s passing.” I was sitting in the Edelstone Lounge of […]
What We’re Reading at the Center for Long-Term Care Reform and Illinois Aging Together
March 29, 2022Health & Medicine Policy Research Group’s Center for Long-term Care Reform and Illinois Aging Together campaign are dedicated to advancing policies and structures that improve the conditions in which Illinoisans live, work, play, and age across the life course. Through our work, it is crucial for us to stay abreast of current events, developments, and […]
What We’re Reading: Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellows Program
March 24, 2022Each year, we ask our Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellows for their top book recommendations. From page-turning novels, to eye-opening essay collections, to comprehensive examinations of history and public health, we are thrilled to share this year’s list! Preview recommendations from the Class of 2022 (our 25th class of Fellows!) below, and read the full list […]
What We’re Reading at the Center for Long-Term Care Reform and Illinois Aging Together
March 16, 2022Health & Medicine Policy Research Group’s Center for Long-term Care Reform and Illinois Aging Together campaign are dedicated to advancing policies and structures that improve the conditions in which Illinoisans live, work, play, and age across the life course. Through our work, it is crucial for us to stay abreast of current events, developments, and […]
Staff Highlight: Shajaya Martinez
March 3, 2022Shajaya Martinez joined Health & Medicine in January 2022 – joining the Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellowship team as it wraps up its 25th anniversary and prepares to welcome a new class of Fellows. Providing administrative support and coordinating aspects of the Schweitzer Fellowship and Fellows for Life Program, Shajaya works closely with Program Director Maya […]
Board Highlight: Kai Tao
A board member since 2015, Kai Tao, ND, MPH, CNM, has experience in health policy, programs, and clinical operations. Her experience spans a wide variety of reproductive advocacy and on the ground efforts, from opening a birth center in Phoenix to starting affordable vasectomy services for Illinoisans. Given Health & Medicine’s longstanding advocacy for freestanding […]
What We’re Reading at the Center for Long-Term Care Reform and Illinois Aging Together
February 24, 2022Health & Medicine Policy Research Group’s Center for Long-term Care Reform and Illinois Aging Together campaign are dedicated to advancing policies and structures that improve the conditions in which Illinoisans live, work, play, and age across the life course. Through our work, it is crucial for us to stay abreast of current events, developments, and […]
What We’re Reading at the Center for Long-Term Care Reform and Illinois Aging Together
February 7, 2022Health & Medicine Policy Research Group’s Center for Long-term Care Reform and Illinois Aging Together campaign are dedicated to advancing policies and structures that improve the conditions in which Illinoisans live, work, play, and age across the life course. Through our work, it is crucial for us to stay abreast of current events, developments, and […]
What We’re Reading at the Center for Long-Term Care Reform and Illinois Aging Together
January 24, 2022Health & Medicine Policy Research Group’s Center for Long-term Care Reform and Illinois Aging Together campaign are dedicated to advancing policies and structures that improve the conditions in which Illinoisans of all ages live, work, play, and age. Through our work, it is crucial for us to stay abreast of current events, developments, and stories […]
