News
2021
Save the Date: Black Men in White Coats Summit
December 16, 2021On Saturday, June 4, 2022 the Chicago Area Health Education Center (AHEC) at Health & Medicine Policy Research Group will host its second Black Men in White Coats Youth Summit at Malcolm X College in Chicago. The summit will bring together 500 students, parents, educators, clinicians, and community leaders to inspire youth to consider careers […]
Health & Medicine Seeks Sponsorship for 2022 Forum for Justice in Health Policy Series
Health & Medicine is currently seeking sponsors at a variety of levels for its 2022 Forum for Justice in Health Policy series. Since 2014, Health & Medicine Policy Research Group has hosted the Forum for Justice in Health Policy series to convene people to think about and discuss some of the toughest topics around public […]
Health & Medicine Launches Our Annual Winter Friends Fundraising Campaign
December 10, 2021During this season of giving, Health & Medicine asks friends and collaborators to consider making a gift to support our work building a more compassionate, diverse public health workforce. New and increased donations to our winter fundraising campaign will be matched by a challenge grant, doubling each gift’s impact. Donate today to help us reach […]
Workforce Policy Analyst Testifies Before Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, Health Equity and Quality Subcommittee
December 9, 2021On Wednesday, December 8th, Angela Eastlund, Workforce Policy Analyst, testified before the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, Health Equity and Quality Subcommittee in support of advancing the Community Health Worker (CHW) workforce through voluntary certification and Medicaid reimbursement strategies. Below is a portion of the testimony, which you can read in full here. […]
Health & Medicine Raises $2,700 on Giving Tuesday for Our Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellows Program
December 4, 2021Your generosity helped us raise more than $2,700 in one day. Thanks to all of those who participated in our Giving Tuesday campaign on November 30, 2021. Giving Tuesday is an international day of giving, and this year we jumped on board in an effort to raise funds to support our Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellows […]
Policy Director Testifies at Press Conference Demanding Mayor Lori Lightfoot and CDPH Commissioner Allison Arwady Deny the Permit to General Iron
December 3, 2021On Thursday, December 2nd, the Southeast Environmental Task Force held a press conference demanding that Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Dr. Allison Arwady, Commissioner of the CDPH, deny the permit to General Iron. Wesley Epplin, Health & Medicine Policy Director, testified as part of the leadership team for the Collaborative for Health Equity Cook County which […]
In Memoriam: Martha Holstein, Health & Medicine Board Member & Consultant Since 1996
November 30, 2021Martha Holstein, long time board member, consultant, and friend to many passed away on November 24, 2021. As a feminist ethicist with a primary focus on women as they age, Martha took any chance she could to point out the income and support disparities faced by aging women–particularly women of color–and the need for a […]
Health & Medicine’s Illinois ACEs Response Collaborative Invites You to Kickstart Your Trauma-Informed Transformation
November 18, 2021Preventing childhood adversity, building resilience, and promoting healing from trauma throughout life have always been critical to Illinois’ future, and these issues have taken on new urgency as the state addresses the immediate and long-term impacts of COVID-19 and confronts the historical and contemporary oppressions of racism and discrimination. Whether you are a healthcare professional, […]
Health & Medicine Releases Report About Creating a Universal Newborn Support System in Illinois
November 5, 2021The time has never been better for exploration of the possibilities for expanding the Universal Newborn Support System (UNSS) model in Illinois. A group of early childhood and maternal and child health advocates, supported by Health & Medicine, McAlpine Consulting for Growth, and Conlon Public Strategies, has studied and developed recommendations as to how such […]
Health & Medicine Celebrates 40 Years at 2021 Awards Gala
October 25, 2021On Thursday, September 30th, Health & Medicine hosted our 40th Anniversary Awards Gala at Ignite Glass Studios. We were thrilled to welcome over 150 in-person guests and 200 virtual guests for a beautiful night celebrating health justice leaders in Chicago, enjoying good food, dancing to music, and connecting with those committed to working towards health […]
Health & Medicine Releases Video Celebrating 40 Years Advancing Health Equity
October 14, 20212021 marks a significant milestone for Health & Medicine Policy Research Group. Health & Medicine was founded 40 years ago on July 23, 1981. That’s when 15 scrappy health advocates came together with the lofty goals of creating policy and systems that would improve the health of all Illinoisans by addressing past and present systemic […]
Health & Medicine Observes Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2021
October 8, 2021On October 11th, 2021, for the fourth time in the organization’s history, Health & Medicine Policy Research Group will be observing Indigenous Peoples’ Day. The Indigenous Peoples of America continue to show strength and resilience in the face of adversity and injustice. They are made up of many different tribes with rich cultures and histories […]
New Research Points to Opportunities for Preventing and Mitigating the Harmful Impacts of Childhood Adversity Among CPS High School Students
October 5, 2021The Illinois ACEs Response Collaborative (The Collaborative), a program of Health & Medicine Policy Research Group, released a brief today on recently published research relying on an existing youth survey to raise awareness about the connection between childhood experiences and health and well-being among Chicago Public Schools (CPS) high school students. Childhood experiences, both positive […]
Policy Director Testifies in Favor of Just Cause for Evictions at City of Chicago Subject Matter Hearing
September 23, 2021On Friday, September 17, Wesley Epplin, Health & Medicine’s Policy Director, testified in favor of the Just Cause for Evictions ordinance during a subject matter hearing held by the Housing and Real Estate Committee of Chicago’s City Council. Epplin was called to testify on behalf of Health & Medicine about the Just Cause for Evictions […]
Health & Medicine Welcomes Fall 2021 Equity Interns
September 22, 2021Health & Medicine is glad to welcome our fourth cohort of Equity Interns, Courtney L. Savage Hoggard, Khushbu Shah, and Rachel Donaldson. Courtney is a 2019 graduate of Brown University, where the former student-athlete received a Bachelor of Arts in Health and Human Biology and Latin American and Caribbean Studies. While at Brown, Courtney researched […]
Illinois Aging Together Launches Campaign for Aging Plan to Support Older Persons
September 16, 2021Illinois Aging Together is publicly launching its statewide movement for aging equity. The group is campaigning for a strategic action plan for aging, which it hopes to accomplish through state legislation. As Illinois’s population becomes older, there is a significant and growing need––and opportunity––to create a long-term vision for aging in Illinois. Illinois’s population has […]
Health & Medicine’s Position on Vaccine Mandates
September 10, 2021Many of our team are engaged with the important work of the Chicagoland Vaccine Partnership and other city, county, and state COVID-19 related taskforces. We’re pleased to see many organizations coming out for vaccine mandates and want to clearly state our support for mandates, with very limited exceptions. We believe vaccines are our only way out of […]
Health & Medicine Speaks Out About the Texas Abortion Law
SB8, the Texas law just passed and left in place by our partisan Supreme Court, not only violates abortion precedents, but also attempts to shield illegal statutes from the courts. This law is dangerous to our democracy and dangerous to public health. At least seven other states are reportedly looking to mimic the Texas law, […]
2021-22 Chicago Schweitzer Fellows Fundraise for Health Equity Projects
September 9, 2021Our 2021-22 Schweitzer Fellows have created short videos explaining their innovative public service projects that promote health equity in Chicago’s underserved communities and their wish lists of supplies and resources that will help them realize their service project goals. View the videos below and visit the Fellows’ fundraising pages here to learn more and support […]
Students Prepare for Health Careers in Medically Underserved Communities
August 13, 2021Students interested in health careers gathered with public health professionals on August 14-15, 2021 to learn, teach, network, and discuss best practices for improving health in and with marginalized communities across Illinois. Co-convened by three urban administrators of Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) — Public Health Institute of Metropolitan Chicago (PHIMC) for Northeast Illinois AHEC, […]
New Study Examines COVID-19 in Cook County Nursing Homes
August 6, 2021A new study looking at factors that contributed to increased COVID-19 infection and deaths among older adults in nursing home facilities found that facilities with poor Medicare quality ratings were associated with increased COVID-19 cases and deaths. The study was led by founding Health & Medicine Board member Michael Gelder. It is well known that […]
Meet Our 2021 Health & Medicine Awards Winners
July 16, 2021We’re pleased to announce the recipients of our 2021 Health & Medicine Awards representing Chicago-area leaders whose work exemplifies Health & Medicine’s mission to promote social justice and challenge inequities in health and health care. This year, to celebrate our 40 years of advancing health equity, we are honoring public health champions with over 40 […]
Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellows Program Announces 2021-22 Named Fellowship Recipients
June 30, 2021Paige-Ashley Campbell, a medical student at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine; Ivy Hernandez Delgado, a Master’s in Social Service Administration student at the University of Chicago; and Karen Montes, a student at the University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Nursing, were awarded Named Schweitzer Fellowships—distinctions within a year-long service-learning program that helps […]
Updates on the #DenyThePermit / #StopGeneralIron Campaign
June 23, 2021Health & Medicine would like to share an update on the #StopGeneralIron Campaign we have been supporting and rallying health and social justice workers and organizations to support alongside the Collaborative for Health Equity Cook County. On Friday, May 7th, 2021, the City’s review of the permit application was put on hold, at least until […]
Health & Medicine Welcomes 2021-22 Schweitzer Fellows
Twenty-eight passionate health professions graduate students have been selected for the distinguished Schweitzer Fellowship, a year-long service-learning program that helps Fellows design and implement innovative projects that help address the health needs of underserved Chicago communities. Named in honor of famed humanitarian and Nobel laureate Dr. Albert Schweitzer, the Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellows Program encourages […]
Health & Medicine Honors Juneteenth
June 17, 2021“You can’t separate peace from freedom, because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom.” – Malcolm X, Human Rights Activist and Minister On June 19, 2021, Health & Medicine will be honoring Juneteenth, a day regarded as the oldest national celebration of the ending of slavery in the United States. This […]
Now Hiring: Deputy Director
June 1, 2021Job Title: Deputy Director Supervised by: Executive Director Supervises: Director, Workforce Programs; Director, IL ACEs Response Collaborative; Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellows Program Director Classification: Exempt, Full-time, Salaried Organization Summary Health & Medicine Policy Research Group (HMPRG) began in 1981 as an independent, non-profit health policy, research and advocacy center in Chicago working to improve the […]
Health & Medicine Invites Constituents Across the State to Help Build a More Trauma-Informed Illinois
May 24, 2021The Illinois ACEs Response Collaborative (The Collaborative), a program of Health & Medicine Policy Research Group, invited both the public and the press to join its virtual event, Building a More Resilient and Just Illinois. Held in conjunction with the third annual Trauma-Informed Awareness Day in Illinois, the event highlighted leaders in Illinois who champion […]
Infographic—American Rescue Plan Funding Opportunities
May 13, 2021On March 25, 2021, the Biden-Harris administration announced a series of public health actions to expand access to vaccines to vulnerable populations through the American Rescue Plan (ARP). Below you will find a snapshot of the most recent funding opportunities that are open to eligible applicants.
Health & Medicine Welcomes Max Clermont and Chloe Gurin-Sands to Our Board
April 27, 2021Health & Medicine is excited to welcome Max Clermont, MPH, and Chloe Gurin-Sands, MPH, to our Board of Directors. Max Clermont, MPH, Senior Project Lead with Partners In Health, has engaged with Health & Medicine through his management of the Vaccine Corps Partnership, a collaboration of multiple stakeholders from across the Chicagoland community dedicated to […]
Health & Medicine Releases Statement on Killing of Adam Toledo
April 20, 2021I just came home from another protest and march against police violence. This one, of course, in response to the killing of 13-year-old Adam Toledo just a few days ago. The march was, on one hand, inspiring. So many people, every generation, every race and ethnic group, all masked, carrying their homemade posters, chanting together […]
Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellows Program: Celebrating 25 Years of Social Justice in Action
April 19, 2021In 2021, we are celebrating our 25th year of the Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellows Program at Health & Medicine Policy Research Group. In our 25 years, we’ve worked with over 670 graduate students in the Chicago area, students who have gone on to be the public health, equity, and justice-oriented nurses, physicians, social workers, optometrists, […]
Health & Medicine Celebrates 40 Years Advancing Health Equity and 25 Years of Social Justice in Action
April 1, 20212021 marks two significant milestones for Health & Medicine Policy Research Group. Health & Medicine was founded 40 years ago on July 23, 1981. That’s when 15 scrappy health advocates came together with the lofty goals of creating policy and systems that would improve the health of all Illinoisans by addressing past and present systemic […]
Public Health Leaders Demand Mayor Lori Lightfoot and CDPH Commissioner Allison Arwady Deny the Permit to General Iron
March 8, 2021Over 500 public health and healthcare workers, students, community activists, and over 70 local and national organizations signed a letter demanding that Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Dr. Allison Arwady deny the permit to relocate the General Iron/Reserve Management Group (RMG) scrap metal recycling facility to the Southeast Side of Chicago. In the open letter […]
Chicago AHEC Hosts Black Men in White Coats Screening for CPS Students & Teachers
March 3, 2021On Friday, March 5th, the Chicago Area Health Education Center (Chicago AHEC) hosted a virtual screening of the Black Men in White Coats documentary for Chicago Public School (CPS) students and teachers with special guest Dr. LaMenta “Sweetie” Conway, CEO, I Am Abel Foundation. Black Men in White Coats (BMWC) is an organization created by […]
Honoring Martin Luther King Jr. Day
January 15, 2021“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter” – Martin Luther King, Jr. As I read through hundreds of powerful MLK Jr. quotes recently, this one stood out to me as perfect for our times. This sentiment is true always, but right now, this moment demands that we speak […]
Patient Community Advisory Committee Publishes Final Report for Elevating the Patient Voice in Research
January 14, 2021In summer 2019, a Eugene Washington PCORI Engagement Award for Conference Support was awarded to the CAPriCORN Patient Community Advisory Committee (PCAC) and Health & Medicine Policy Research Group. The grant enabled PCAC and Health & Medicine to plan and implement the “Elevating the Patient Voice in Research” project, which was designed to increase patient […]
Health & Medicine’s Statement on the Violence in the Capitol
January 7, 2021If you’re like me, you’re exhausted, appalled and saddened by the events of yesterday and the insurrection mounted by Trump supporters as they followed his instructions and sieged the Capitol. What we witnessed yesterday none of us have seen in our lifetimes. But this white supremacist insurrection sadly shouldn’t be surprising to us. In fact, we have seen similar rage mounted against Black people, immigrants, women and native populations since the founding of our country.
Now Hiring: Health and Aging Policy Organizer
January 1, 2021Job Title: Health and Aging Policy Organizer Supervised by: Director, Center for Public Health Equity Supervises: N/A Classification: Exempt, Full-time, Salaried Organization Summary Health & Medicine Policy Research Group (HMPRG) began in 1981 as an independent, non-profit health policy and advocacy center in Chicago working to improve the health of all people in Illinois by […]
