2018
Aug 02, 2018
Too often those in our community working for health and social justice are not given the recognition they deserve. Today, we're pleased to announce the recipients of our 2018 HMPRG Awards representing Chicago-area leaders whose work exemplifies Health & Medicine’s mission to promote social justice and challenge inequities in health and health care.
Jun 22, 2018
Health & Medicine Policy Research Group and the Illinois ACEs Response Collaborative strongly condemn the forcible separation of children from their parents and caregivers who have crossed into the U.S. without authorization. As a Collaborative committed to expanding the understanding of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and trauma, we know that the loss of a parent is an ACE that results in prolonged exposure to toxic stress and impacts health and wellbeing across the lifespan. To promote healing and build resilience, children must be reunited with their parents and caregivers immediately, as research shows that these relationships are the most important factor in mitigating the impacts of ACEs and toxic stress.
Jun 07, 2018
Thirty exceptional health professions graduate students have been selected for the prestigious Schweitzer Fellowship – a year-long service learning program that empowers Fellows to design and implement projects that help address the health needs of underserved Chicago communities.
Utilizing an interdisciplinary approach, the Fellowship exposes students to real-world inter-professional, collaborative care and aims to develop lifelong leaders in service. The 2018-19 Fellows include students from 10 area universities and 20 academic programs, ranging from nursing to disability studies and public health. The exceptional class of Fellows was selected from a pool of almost 100 applicants through a competitive process.
Jun 06, 2018
On June 19, 2018, for the first time in the organization’s history, Health & Medicine Policy Research Group will be celebrating Juneteenth, a day regarded as the oldest national celebration of African American liberation in the United States. While the official date of the Emancipation Proclamation was 1863, Juneteenth commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in the remote territory of Texas over two years later on June 19, 1865.
May 04, 2018
Health & Medicine's Health Equity Initiative recently completed a research project examining how the ACA and state level health reforms can support the move toward health equity and stronger communities in the Chicago area with a specific focus on the Western Suburbs. This research led to two papers that are available now.
May 03, 2018
While 2018 has already presented us with a number of challenges, it has also offered us many heroes. From activists across the country rallying in support of progressive issues to candidates with a renewed sense of purpose, we have no shortage of change makers. Thank you for being one of them, and helping Health & Medicine stand for health equity and social justice.
May 02, 2018
Protect Our Care Illinois--of which Health & Medicine is a member--urges you to take action today to stop junk insurance. We are calling on the General Assembly to pass the Short-Term, Limited Duration Health Insurance Coverage Act, SB2388 SFA1 to protect consumers from these unregulated health plans that don’t meet ACA standards!
Apr 16, 2018
Our latest Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellowship Newsletter rounds up our recent Program activities. We invite you check out the newsletter and stay engaged and involved with this innovative service learning program.
Mar 29, 2018
Nominations are now open for the 2018 HMPRG Awards! Honoring individuals and organizations across six categories, the awards celebrate those whose work exemplifies Health & Medicine’s mission to promote social justice and challenge inequities in health and health care. Nominations are due by June 10, 2018.
Mar 26, 2018
On March 7th, Health & Medicine and our Illinois ACEs Response Collaborative hosted a Legislative Briefing in Springfield with Representatives Juliana Stratton (5th district) and Sara Wojcicki Jimenez (99th district).
The briefing provided an overview of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in Illinois and how state systems can promote trauma-informed approaches to delivering care.
Jan 10, 2018
Governor Rauner’s veto of HB1424 as reported in the Sun Times on Sunday, Dec 31, which was intended to preserve the Community Care Program (CCP) may foreshadow a blow to the thousands of older adults and persons with disability who rely on this program to remain living in their communities rather than moving into a nursing home.
2017
Nov 27, 2017
Health & Medicine is saddened to share the passing of Leslie Nickels, MEd, PhD. Leslie recently received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Health & Medicine in honor of her many contributions to worker health, safety, and justice. She is also a former board member and made enormous contributions to many Health & Medicine initiatives, most recently our Quentin D. Young Equity Project.
Nov 06, 2017
On Thursday, November 2, Health & Medicine's Executive Director Margie Schaps presented the following testimony at the Cook County Board Budget Hearing.
My name is Margie Schaps, and I am the Executive Director of the Health and Medicine Policy Research Group. I want to thank the Board for allowing the opportunity to testify in support of a fully funded Cook County Health and Hospitals system budget. Since 1981, Health and Medicine has been an organization committed to developing and supporting systems and policies that create a healthier society.
Sep 19, 2017
Today, Health & Medicine in collaboration with a group of organizations including the Kennedy Forum, the Illinois Psychiatric Society, the Community Behavioral Healthcare Association, and others who seek to improve mental health and addiction treatment released a new report pointing to significant barriers to coverage. The report highlights the results of a provider survey asking hospitals, psychiatrists and community providers about their experiences with reimbursement for mental health and addiction services. The survey findings raise red flags about a number of potential barriers to services that families may face and whether Illinois’ health plans are providing mental health and addiction treatment on par with other types of medical conditions, which is required by state and federal parity laws for most plans.
Sep 05, 2017
Health & Medicine stands with Illinois' over 40,000 Dreamers and the thousands more across the country.
The young people affected by the decision of this Administration to end DACA are our neighbors, our friends, and our co-workers including the many young doctors, nurses, and health professionals who are Dreamers and now, after years of hard work, could lose everything. These young people contribute to the vibrancy of their neighborhoods and strengthen the fabric and health of our communities.
Sep 01, 2017
On September 1, 2017 Health & Medicine's Director of Health Equity Wesley Epplin and Board Member Linda Murray, MD, MPH testified at to the Cook County Health and Hospitals Systems Board meeting on ensuring that the health system’s hospitals and clinics are welcoming and affirming spaces for all patients. Both Epplin and Murray reiterated the policy recommendations of the Public Health Woke Coaltion, of which Health & Medicine is a lead member, that CCHHS should adopt to ensure their facilities are truly safe for all patients.
Aug 31, 2017
On Tuesday, August 29th, Health & Medicine Executive Director Margie Schaps testified before the Cook County Health and Hospitals System with regards to their proposed 2018 budget.
Aug 24, 2017
The following is a statement on behalf of Alzheimer’s Association Illinois Chapter, Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans, Health & Medicine Policy Research Group, Jane Addams Senior Caucus, Caring Across Generations, and SEIU Healthcare Illinois in response to the withdrawal of rules that would have forced 36,000 vulnerable Illinois seniors out of the Community Care Program and into the unproven and untested Community Reinvestment Program:
Jul 26, 2017
Health & Medicine is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2017 HMPRG Awards representing leaders in the fields of policy, public health, medicine, research, and advocacy whose work exemplifies Health & Medicine’s mission to promote social justice and challenge inequities in health and health care.
“Today, so many voices for equity are emerging and recognizing this work is more important than ever,” Executive Director Margie Schaps said. “Too often those in our community working for health and social justice aren't given the recognition they deserve. We look forward to celebrating these unsung heroes.”
Jul 14, 2017
On Wednesday, July 12, Director of Health Equity Wesley Epplin spoke at the Cook County Preliminary Budget hearing for FY2018 on the need to increase the tax allocation for the Cook County Health & Hospital System (CCHHS) in the County budget. The Health System has faced several years of reductions in the County’s tax allocation, and Epplin urged the Board of Commissioners not to under-fund CCHHS, which provides vital health services to our community.
Jun 27, 2017
Health & Medicine Policy Research Group condemns the recent assault on the health safety net. The Senate’s Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA), like the House of Representatives’ American Health Care Act (AHCA) is an attack on the American people, developed behind closed doors specifically because its provisions are so unpopular. Their hope is the less sunlight shined on this proposal, the more likely it is to pass. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) scored the BCRA bill and predicts 22 million people would lose coverage if it were passed, an unprecedented move in the wrong direction.
We urge action! Call your U.S. Congressperson to let them know that you want them to help kill the bill!
Jun 13, 2017
Senate Republicans are working behind closed doors on their version of the American Health Care Act (AHCA). Like the House bill, the “revamped” AHCA would throw millions off of health care and gut Medicaid, harming older Americans, kids and their families, people with disabilities, and those seeking treatment for substance use disorders. Health & Medicine and Protect our Care Illinois urge you to take time tomorrow, June 14, to join advocates across the country to help us stop this!
Jun 07, 2017
On May 26, Health & Medicine's Director of Health Equity Wesley Epplin and Board Member Linda Rae Murray again testified before the Cook County Health and Hospitals System Board, urging the System to ensure that all patients and clients of the CCHHS are provided safe, affirming sanctuary in all of its facilities. Epplin and Murray's remarks follow-up on similar testimony earlier this year.
Jun 05, 2017
Health & Medicine Policy Research Group and the Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellowship Program and pleased to announce that Ai-jen Poo, Executive Director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, has been selected for the 2017 Schweitzer Leadership Award. Each year, Schweitzer Leadership Award honors and an individual who has done significant work to mitigate the social determinants of health in their community, and whose commitment to service has influenced and inspired others.
Jun 02, 2017
Too often those in our community working for equity and social justice aren't given the recognition they deserve. Help us celebrate these unsung heroes whose work exemplify Health & Medicine’s mission to promote social justice and challenge inequities in health and health care.
The nomination deadline has been extended to Friday, June 9. Winners will be honored at our 2017 Gala event on October 13th at the Chicago Cultural Center. To learn more and nominate a person or group whose work inspires you, click HERE!
Jun 01, 2017
In late 2016, Health & Medicine completed new research on the Cook County safety net in partnership with Loyola and others to capture how this reformed environment has impacted Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), free and charitable clinics (FCCs), and hospitals. Our report, Strengthening the Safety Net in Illinois After Health Reform: An Examination of the Cook County Safety Net, is designed to deepen understanding of a sampling of the safety net in Cook County while providing recommendations for policymakers and philanthropy, as well as identifying areas for further research to guide health reform and policy.
May 31, 2017
Today is Illinois' day of charitable giving, and we hope you’ll make a gift in support of our Schweitzer Fellows as they give back to our underserved communities by providing health services, education, and resilience-building. You can learn more about their efforts and meet our newest class of Fellows here. Click here to make a donation and support this inspiring Program. #ILGiveCommunity
May 30, 2017
The Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellowship, a year-long service learning program that empowers aspiring health professionals to design and direct innovative community service projects, today announced its newest class of Fellows. The thirty exceptional graduate students selected for the Fellowship proposed impactful community-based projects to address the health needs of underserved Chicagoans.
May 04, 2017
Health & Medicine’s Executive Director Margie Schaps today released a statement on the passage of the American Health Care Act.
We at Health & Medicine stand in solidarity with the over 60% of Americans who believe that the government should be responsible for ensuring health coverage for all Americans. We are horrified by the vote just taken in the U.S. House of Representatives to repeal the Affordable Care Act, thereby removing health coverage for 24million people.
May 03, 2017
On April 28, 2017 Health & Medicine’s Director of Health Equity, Wesley Epplin, testified before the Cook County Health & Hospitals Board in response to changes in immigration policies in the County providing recommendations on issues System's leadership and staff should respond to in order to protect patients.
Apr 25, 2017
Health & Medicine would like to announce two great resources recently made available online: CATCH-ON and ENGAGE-IL. Our own Chicago Area Health Education Center (AHEC) at Health & Medicine and Center for Long Term Care Reform have teamed up to help review and define these two programs as a way to increase access to learning and professional development opportunities for health professionals; promote health careers development to students; and enhance collaborative, community-based health promotion activities.
Apr 03, 2017
Nominations are now open for the 2017 HMPRG Awards! Honoring individuals and organizations across six categories, the awards celebrate those whose work exemplifies Health & Medicine’s mission to promote social justice and challenge inequities in health and health care.
Feb 27, 2017
On February 24, 2017 Health & Medicien Board Member Linda Rae Murray M.D. MPH testified before the Cook County Health & Hospitals Board in repsonse to changes in immigration policies in the County.
Feb 15, 2017
As recognition of the widespread impact of trauma increases, the desire to provide trauma-informed care is at the forefront of a movement to build resilience and prevent and mitigate the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).
Given the growing momentum for change and the need to bolster awareness of promising practices in trauma-informed care, the Illinois ACEs Response Collaborative at Health & Medicine researched over 300 programs to develop this Environmental Scan Report.
Jan 27, 2017
The Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellowship is seeking nominations for their 2017 Schweitzer Leadership Award which recognizes an individual who has done significant work to mitigate the social determinants of health in our community, and whose commitment to service has influenced and inspired others. The nomination deadline is Monday, March 6, 2017 and the winner will be honored at an awards event this summer.
Jan 20, 2017
During Health & Medicine's January Board meeting, founding Board Member Lon Berkeley was honored by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA’s) Office of Regional Operations for his lifelong commitment and dedication to community service, health equity, and engagement with the underserved community to improve overall health.
Rick Wilk, Regional Administrator for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, HRSA Chicago Regional Office – Region V, presented the commendation to Berkeley on the occasion of his retirement from the Joint Commission where he has worked since 1997, serving as the Project Director for the Community Health Center Accreditation initiative since it was launched in 2011. Prior to his time at the Joint Commission, Berkeley was the Executive Director of the Illinois Primary Health Care Association.
2016
Dec 21, 2016
The Illinois ACEs Response Collaborative at Health & Medicine Policy Research Group is pleased to share three policy briefs on the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in the health, justice, and education systems including promising practices and recommended actions for change. These briefs were developed by members of the Illinois ACEs Response Collaborative—system leaders in Illinois who are working from an ACEs-informed lens to improve systems to prevent and mitigate trauma across generations.
Nov 09, 2016
Health & Medicine’s late founder Quentin D. Young always greeted me with the question “What have we done today to fight the forces of reaction?” I find myself reflecting on Quentin’s words today in the wake of an election cycle that has uncovered deep divisions in our nation and threatened to move us further away from being a country that champions social justice and health equity.
Nov 07, 2016
Health & Medicine provided testimony at a budget hearing hosted by the Progressive Caucus of Chicago's City Council on Thursday, November 3, 2016. Health & Medicine's testimony raised the problem of severe health inequities in Chicago as a priority in need of more funding.
Oct 31, 2016
Health & Medicine recently testified to the Cook County Board on the privatization of toxicology services in the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office and at an October 31st Board Budget Hearing on the city’s proposed sweetened beverage tax.
Sep 12, 2016
Health & Medicine Policy Research Group and the Collaborative for Health Equity Cook County are pleased to announce that a four-person team representing their organizations was selected today by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to participate in their Culture of Health Leaders initiative, a three-year national leadership development program targeting sharp health inequities along lines of race and income.
Aug 25, 2016
We're pleased to announce the recipients of the 2016 HMPRG Awards representing leaders in the fields of policy, public health, medicine, and advocacy whose work exemplifies Health & Medicine’s mission to promote social justice and challenge inequities in health and health care.
We invite you to join us for drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and conversation as we celebrate our 2016 HMPRG Award winners at our awards event on October 19, 2016 in Chicago from 5:30-8:30pm.
Jul 22, 2016
On Thursday, July 21, Health & Medicine’s Executive Director Margie Schaps offered testimony at a public hearing on Cook County Health & Hospitals System’s three-year strategic plan, Impact 2020. Throughout its history, Health & Medicine has worked to support CCHSS and the safety net through research, policy, and fiscal support. In 2007, Health & Medicine helped to create the independent board of CCHHS and continues to serves on the nominating committee, advising Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle on the new appointments.
Jul 20, 2016
Health & Medicine’s Executive Director Margie Schaps on Tuesday testified at the Cook County Board Budget Hearing in support of Board President Tony Preckwinkle’s preliminary fiscal year 2017 budget for the County.
“The Cook County Health & Hospitals System(CCHHS) is shifting its focus to public health, prevention, and addressing the social determinants of health—the things that will ultimately result in a healthier population and lower overall costs,” Schaps said. “But these savings do not happen overnight. The administration and board of the health system are to be commended for making these shifts.”
Jun 30, 2016
Health & Medicine is pleased to share that Board Member Dr. Virginia Bishop has been nominated to the board of the Cook County Health and Hospitals System (CCHHS).
In 2007, Health & Medicine helped to create the independent board of CCHHS and continues to serves on the nominating committee, advising Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle on the new appointments.
Jun 16, 2016
Health & Medicine is proud to share some program updates from the Bridge Model – an innovative social work based intervention that focuses on the medical and psychosocial needs of older adults as they transition from hospital to home. In 2010, Health & Medicine helped to develop Bridge and continues to support the expansion of this successful program which now has trained over 60 replication sites across the U.S.
As part of the model’s growing national impact, two publications—the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society and Journal of Gerontological Social Work—recently released articles about Bridge.
Jun 13, 2016
Along with most of the world, we at Health & Medicine Policy Research Group are saddened and outraged at the events that took place in Orlando early Sunday morning.
Our communities, indeed our world, are healthier and more vibrant when all people are valued, honored, and lifted up. A society that devalues any of its people devalues the whole.
Jun 09, 2016
Thirty-one exceptional health professions graduate students from Chicago-area universities have been selected for the nationally-recognized Schweitzer Fellowship—a year-long service learning program that empowers students to design and implement innovative community-based projects to address the health needs of underserved Chicagoans.
Jun 08, 2016
Nominations are now open for the 2016 HMPRG Awards! Honoring individuals and organizations across six categories, the awards celebrate those whose work exemplifies Health & Medicine’s mission to promote social justice and challenge inequities in health and health care. Nominations are due by July 17, 2016.
May 20, 2016
A letter to the editor by Health & Medicine’s Executive Director Margie Schaps and Director of Health Equity Wesley Epplin was published in the Chicago Tribune on May 19. Health & Medicine letter was submitted in response to a recent editorial in the paper about plans to develop former rail yard at Clark Street and Roosevelt Road and it’s potential to revitalize Chicago neighborhoods.
May 13, 2016
A letter to the editor by Health & Medicine’s Director of Health Equity Wesley Epplin was published in Friday's (5/13/16) New York Times in response to their recent article, In Deeply Divided Chicago, Most Agree: City Is Off Course (5/6/16). The Times’ story shared results from a survey of Chicagoans conducted by the paper and the Kaiser Family Foundation which showed divides in people's perceptions of the relative degree of unfairness in the city.
Apr 11, 2016
On July 1, 2016, unless the Illinois General Assembly and Governor take action, almost 41,000 Illinois children will lose access to healthcare.
Support HB 5736, amending the Covering ALL KIDS Health Insurance Act to extend the repeal date from July 1, 2016 to October 1, 2019.
Mar 30, 2016
Health & Medicine is proud to be a co-sponsor of an upcoming event hosted by Loyola University Chicago on health issue of a national and local significance: lead poisoning.
Mar 24, 2016
Our Schweitzer 20th Anniversary Conference: Improving Community Health Together on April 30th truly has something for everyone! Featuring presentations from Schweitzer alumni, community providers, and academics, this can't-miss-event is open to all and topics will include "Why Uninsured Chicagoans Refuse Obamacare and What You Can Do About It" and "Community Engagement and Outreach with Military Veterans and Their Families."
Mar 17, 2016
Health & Medicine Policy Research Group and the Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellowship Program are pleased to announce the recipient of the 2016 Schweitzer Leadership Award honoring an individual who has done significant work to mitigate the social determinants of health in their community, and whose commitment to service has influenced and inspired others. This year, we are excited to honor Meade Palidofsky, founder and artistic director of Storycatchers Theatre.
Mar 16, 2016
Health & Medicine strongly opposes the elimination of the State Board of Health, as called for in SB2416.
At a time in our country and state’s history when public health threats are greater than they have been in decades we are disappointed and concerned by the introduction of SB2416 to abolish the State Board of Health.
Mar 08, 2016
Health & Medicine Policy Research Group (Health & Medicine) is saddened to announce that the organization’s founder, Quentin D. Young, MD, passed away yesterday at his home in California at the age of 92. A tireless fighter for social justice and respected physician to Mayor Harold Washington and Dr. Martin Luther King among others, Dr. Young will be remembered for his commitment to progressive causes.
Mar 08, 2016
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Health & Medicine Policy Research Group founder Quentin D. Young, MD.
Feb 24, 2016
Our latest Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellowship Newsletter rounds up our recent Schweitzer activities including information about our upcoming 20th Anniversary activities and a recap of our 2015 Schweitzer Leadership Award event.
Feb 18, 2016
In his second budget address yesterday, Governor Rauner talked about the Illinois economy, but what he should be focusing on is the unnecessary fiscal crisis that is costing jobs and harming people’s health and well-being.
Gov. Rauner speaks about the laudable goal of supporting early and K-12 education, but his actions have already harmed children throughout the state. Family programs (including those offered by The Autism Project, Epilepsy Grants, and services for homeless youth just to name a few) have been needlessly cut due to lack of funding. These do not seem like the sort of “compassionate”, “responsible” solutions the Governor claims to promote.
Feb 12, 2016
Health & Medicine and our Court-Involved Youth Project applaud the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice's decision to close its Youth Center in Kewanee. The difficulties in maintaining high supports and services for youth in that facility, along with the struggle to recruit and maintain quality staff, has left this facility with a high-burden of unmet needs.
Feb 03, 2016
The Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellowship is seeking nominations for their 2016 Schweitzer Leadership Award which recognizes an individual who has done significant work to mitigate the social determinants of health in our community, and whose commitment to service has influenced and inspired others. The nomination deadline is Monday, February 8, 2016 and the winner will be honored at an awards event on April 29th as part of the Schweitzer 20th Anniversary Conference: Improving Community Health Together.
Feb 01, 2016
On January 22, 2016 Lutheran Social Services of Illinois announced significant cuts to its programs in light of Illinois' ongoing budget crises. Health & Medicine (and many other groups committed to the health and well-being of Illinoisans) was dismayed by this development. A Letter to the Editor detailing our response to the cuts was published in Crain's Chicago Business.
Jan 29, 2016
A letter to the editor by Health & Medicine's Executive Director Margie Schaps in response to Governor Rauner's State of the State address on Wednesday, January 27th was featured in today's Chicago Tribune.
Jan 13, 2016
Health & Medicine Policy Research Group is preparing to celebrate the 20th anniversary of our Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellows Program and the 10th anniversary of our Fellows for Life alumni program. In recognition of these milestones, we are hosting a weekend of 20th anniversary activities from April 29 to May 1 in Chicago. All are welcome to join us for this landmark event which will feature opportunities to network, be inspired, and share best practice.
2015
Dec 16, 2015
Health & Medicine Policy Research Group is preparing to celebrate the 20th anniversary of our Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellows Program and the 10th anniversary of our Fellows for Life alumni program. In recognition of these milestones, we are hosting a 20th anniversary conference on Saturday, April 30th, 2016 in Chicago--stay tuned for full details--to engage the community in sharing resources and knowledge relating to community-based work addressing health needs of undeserved communities.
The Fellowship seeks submissions for conference presentations from current Fellows, Fellows for Life, community-based organizations, researchers, and other stakeholders to present their work as it relates to serving the community and a dedication to a life of service.
Dec 14, 2015
Since our founding in 1981 by Dr. Quentin Young, Health & Medicine has driven so many policy changes that have made an important difference in people’s lives—from promoting coverage of hospice care under Medicare, to nurturing service-minded health leaders and professionals through our Schweitzer and AHEC programs, to helping justice-involved youth get the health care they need to lead healthy and productive lives, just to name a few.
We invite you to view our impact brochure for a brief history of our many accomplishments in our first 35 years, and we thank you for your support in making our work possible.
Dec 01, 2015
This ?Giving Tuesday?, we thank you for your support, and invite you to take a moment to make a gift to support Health & Medicine so that we can continue to make health justice a priority in Illinois
Jul 02, 2015
Yolanda “Bobby” Hall, 93, of Oak Park, Illinois, died at home in Oak Park on June 19.
Hall, a former Assistant Professor at Rush University, was a lifelong social activist and educator. She helped to shape some of the major social movements of her era: unionism, women’s rights, health justice, and civil and constitutional rights.
In 1981, Hall, Dr. Quentin Young and nine others, founded the Health and Medicine Policy Research Group. In 2011, HMPRG created the “Bobby Hall Social Justice Internship” in honor of her lifelong commitment to social justice and the elimination of healthcare inequities.
Jun 05, 2015
The Schweitzer Leadership Award honors an individual who has done significant work to mitigate the social determinants of health in their community, and whose commitment to service has influenced and inspired others. This year, we are pleased to honor M. Fred Friedman, J.D. Mr. Friedman is the co-founder and chief organizer of Next Steps NFP, a nonprofit organization that works to ensure that people with lived experience of homelessness, mental illness, substance use, or addiction are active leaders in the development and implementation of healthcare, housing, and social policies at the state and local levels.
May 20, 2015
On May 6, 2015, transfer reform bill senate amendments #1 to House Bill 3718 passed out of the Senate Criminal Law Committee. This bill would grant juvenile court judges greater discretion in determining whether youth should be tried as juveniles or adults and represents a huge victory for youth in Illinois.
Tell your state representative that you believe that Illinois children should be treated as children. Call your representative and ask them to support amendment 1 to HB3718. The progress that has been made is due to the support of advocates like you. Your continued support is essential to ensure passage of this vital legislation.
May 14, 2015
Health & Medicine and the Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellows Program are pleased to announce the members of the 2015-16 Fellowship class. Thirty exceptional health professions graduate students (selected from among nearly 100 applicants) will participate in the the prestigious Schweitzer Fellowship – a year-long service learning program that empowers Fellows to design and implement projects that help address the health needs of underserved Chicago communities.
May 05, 2015
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) has announced Phyllis Mitzen of Health & Medicine’s Center for Long-Term Care Reform is the recipient of its 2014 National Lifetime Achievement award. The award honor’s Phyllis’ over four decades of dedication to the social work profession and to improving the care of older Americans.
Phyllis is known for her leading role in gerontology social work. She played a pivotal role in reforming long-term care in Illinois by helping craft Illinois long-term care reform legislation. Through her work at Health & Medicine, she continues to advance public policies that help those in need of accessible, affordable and quality long-term care. Phyllis has authored numerous studies and publications to help individuals and organizations transition the elderly to and from different situations.
Apr 21, 2015
Our latest Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellowship Newsletter rounds up our recent Schweitzer activities including information on our newest Fellows for Life seed grant recipients,
pictures from our Fellows for Life Retreat which focused on self-care for caregivers, a recap of a recent symposium on the healthcare needs of the aging population,
updates and photos from Fellows’ service projects and much, much more.
Mar 30, 2015
Members of Health & Medicine’s Center for Long-Term Care Reform presented on the Bridge Model of transitional care and inequities in care transition at the America Society on Aging’s Aging in America Conference on March 23-27 in Chicago. The Conference brought together leaders in aging from around the nation to learn and grow their skills and knowledge in order to bring better services and products to the aging population.
Mar 26, 2015
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth are over-represented in the Juvenile Justice System. With few resources, Illinois Youth Centers, along with many Juvenile Detention Centers, are working with Health & Medicine’s Court-Involved Youth Project to find ways to support them through policy development, training, and interventions.
You can help us to support these young people by donating to our LGBTQ Book and Movie Drive. With your help, we can make sure that youth have access to books and movies that reflect their identities.
Mar 17, 2015
An opinion piece co-authored by Health & Medicine's Executive Director Margie Schaps and Policy Analyst Wesley Epplin examining Gov. Rauner's proposed cuts to Illinois' Medicaid program was published in Crain's Chicago Business today. The article, "First, do no harm? Rauner's Medicaid budget an economic drain," explains how budget cuts will impact health care for vulnerable populations in Illinois and ultimately cost the state money.
Feb 20, 2015
The Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellowship is seeking nominations for their 2015 Schweitzer Leadership Award which recognizes an individual who has done significant work to mitigate the social determinants of health in our community, and whose commitment to service has influenced and inspired others. The nomination deadline is Friday, March 5, 2015 and the winner will be honored at an awards event this June.
Feb 11, 2015
Phyllis Mitzen, a policy consultant for Health & Medicine’s Center for Long-Term Care Reform, was recently featured on WTTW’s Chicago Tonight. Mitzen participated in a discussion on “The Village Movement: How Elders are Aging in Place” addressing the growing collection of "virtual villages" which are popping up all over the country, providing engagement, services, and a new way of looking at how we age.
Jan 19, 2015
Health & Medicine is sadden by the passing of long-time Board Member Ray Werntz. We are honored to count Ray among our community of supporters and are deeply grateful for his many years of service to our organization. We will remember him for his decades of work helping employees across Illinois and their families improve their health status.
Jan 15, 2015
Health & Medicine is pleased to join area advocates, universities, and non-profit organizations as a co-sponsor of Leadership Greater Chicago’s upcoming event Unleashed Healthcare: "Innovations in Healthcare." The convening, which will take place on February 23, 2015 at 8:00am at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, will focus on the many complex questions of healthcare including how to reduce costs and increase value and ways to improve patients’ experiences and outcomes.
2014
Dec 09, 2014
The Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellows Program supports graduate students committed to becoming "leaders in service" – individuals who are dedicated and skilled in addressing the health needs of underserved populations, and whose example influences and inspires others. Two upcoming Schweitzer informational sessions will be hosted on January 7 and 8, 2015, and are open to any interested students.
Dec 02, 2014
Today is Giving Tuesday - a global day to give back this holiday season by supporting your favorite charities. As a non-profit organization, the generous support of our community of donors makes our work possible and helps further our mission to promote social justice and challenge inequities in health and health care. We thank you for your support, and invite you to take a moment to make a gift so that we can continue to make health justice a priority in Illinois.
Nov 05, 2014
On Thursday, November 6th, Health & Medicine’s Executive Director Margie Schaps will speak on the “Role of Researchers in the Policy Development Process” at an event hosted by the Alliance for Research in Chicagoland Communities (ARCC).
The workshop event will be led by Kendall Stagg, Chief of Policy and Senior Advisor to the Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health. Ms. Stagg will share concrete examples of how academic partners assisted with policy research, development, and evaluation related to the City of Chicago’s recent portfolio of groundbreaking tobacco control initiatives. Ms. Schaps, along with Karen Reitan, Executive Director of the Public Health Institute of Metropolitan Chicago, will speak about their organizations and how they collaborate with researchers on policy development.
Oct 27, 2014
After more than 25 years of advocacy led by Health & Medicine’s Birth Center Task Force, we are pleased to share that the first free standing birth center (FSBC) in Illinois has opened at PCC Community Wellness. In the center’s first week of operation, two healthy babies have been born and we look forward to many more in the years to come.
Sep 26, 2014
Our latest Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellowship Newsletter rounds up our recent Schweitzer activities. We invite you check out the newsletter and stay engaged and involved with this innovative service learning program.
Sep 25, 2014
Recruitment is underway for our 20th class of Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellows. The Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellows Program fosters the leadership abilities of aspiring health professionals, who design and implement service projects that promote health equity. Any student who will be enrolled at least part-time in a health-related, graduate-level-degree-granting program during the 2015-16 Fellowship year is welcome to apply.
Sep 22, 2014
The Chicago Area Health Education Center (AHEC) is pleased to share a continuing education self-study guide titled "The Health Insurance Marketplace: What Health Professionals Need to Know" sponsored by the National AHEC Organization and HRSA.
The new health insurance options available to patients are vast and providers need to be able to refer patients to the appropriate sources for insurance and/or assistance. This training is designed to meet the educational needs of health professionals who accept health insurance coverage, and is available for download.
Sep 17, 2014
On Friday September 19, Program Coordinator Bonnie Ewald will present at the Illinois Hospice & Palliative Care Organization annual symposium, “Navigating the Sea of Change.” As a member of Health & Medicine’s Long Term Care team, Ewald does work around the Bridge Model, a social work-based transitional care service model launched by Health & Medicine in collaboration with several partners.
Sep 04, 2014
Health & Medicine Policy Research Group has announced the recipients of the 2014 HMPRG Awards representing leaders in the fields of medicine, policy, public health, and advocacy. The nine 2014 honorees will be celebrated at an awards event on October 14, 2014 in Chicago.
Since their inception in 2006, the HMPRG Awards have recognized 28 individuals and organizations whose work exemplifies Health & Medicine’s mission to promote social justice and challenge inequities in health and health care. The award categories –Health, Medicine, Policy, Research, and Group–reflect key prongs of Health & Medicine’s work and policy research efforts.
Aug 07, 2014
Newly passed Community Health Worker (CHW) Legislation calls for the Illinois Department of Public Health to establish and appoint the Illinois Community Health Worker Advisory Board. Membership applications for the Advisory Board are now being accepted and Health & Medicine encourages all those interested in serving on the board to apply.
Jul 31, 2014
This morning Governor Pat Quinn signed Community Health Worker (CHW) Legislation, HB5412, formally recognizing the vital role CHWs play in promoting access to culturally-competent, high quality healthcare in communities throughout Illinois.
Health & Medicine, along with other key stakeholders, including the Chicago CHW Local Network, the Governor’s office, and the Illinois Department of Public Health, helped draft and garner support for this important legislation, the first of its kind in Illinois. The bill, which was sponsored by State Representative Robyn Gabel (D-Evanston) and by Senator David Koehler (D-Peoria), adopts the American Public Health Association’s definition of a CHW and establishes an advisory board to provide recommendations and consider essential core competencies.
Jul 29, 2014
Health & Medicine Policy Research Group announced today that Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis and Linda Rae Murray, MD, MPH, Chief Medical Officer at the Cook County Department of Public Health, will be presenting keynote addresses at the upcoming forum Education & Health Equity: Everybody in, Nobody Out which will take place on August 14, 2014 at Malcolm X College.
The forum, the first event of its kind in Chicago, will bring together education and health professionals - as well as advocates, community members, and researchers – to focus on the reciprocal relationship between education and health.
Jul 25, 2014
Health & Medicine Board Treasurer Health O’Donnell recent remarks to the Chicago City Council as they debated a proposed ordinance that would temporarily halt the conversion of single-room-occupancy hotels into market-rate housing have been quoted in the July 23rd issue of The Chicago Tribune.
Jul 10, 2014
Health & Medicine’s Executive Director Margie Schaps spoke at the Adler School Institute on Social Exclusion’s Policy Roundtable on July 10. Schaps presented on “Developing Systems and Working Across Disciplines” at the Roundtable which aimed to create plans for taking action on health in all policies, community capacity building, and community assessment and planning.
Jul 09, 2014
Health & Medicine and our Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellows program are pleased to award seed grants to three Schweitzer Fellows for Life. The seed grant program, sponsored by the AMA Foundation, supports Schweitzer graduates, or Fellows for Life (FFL), as they start or build upon innovative health improvement projects in underserved communities.
Jun 20, 2014
Thanks to the work of AHEC supporters, the Senate L-HHS Subcommittee passed a version of the FY 2015 L-HHS Appropriations bill providing $30.25 million for the AHEC program. As the bill moves to the full Appropriations Committee, it is important for constituents to again express their support for AHEC and our work helping to recruit, maintain, and support a diverse healthcare workforce.
Jun 18, 2014
Health & Medicine’s Executive Director Margie Schaps is featured in the UIC School of Public Health spring issue of Healthviews. Schaps is included in an article called “Alumni Making a Difference: The Policy Makers” about the role of public health professionals in health policy work at the local, state and federal levels.
Jun 05, 2014
Nominations are now open for the 2014 HMPRG Awards! Honoring individuals and organizations across six categories, the awards celebrate those whose work exemplifies Health & Medicine’s mission to promote social justice and challenge inequities in health and health care. Nominations are due by July 15, 2014 and winners will be honored at our awards event on October 14, 2014.
Jun 03, 2014
Christine Head , LGBTQ Youth Task Force Coordinator for Health & Medicine’s Court Involved Youth project, is presenting at the state Re-Connecting the Pathways Conference from June 2-4 in Springfield.
May 29, 2014
HB5412,a bill that formally recognizes Community Health Workers (CHWs) as an integral part of our healthcare teams, passed both houses of the Illinois legislature today. Health & Medicine, along with other key stakeholders, such as the Chicago CHW Local Network, the governor’s office, and the Illinois Department of Public Health, helped draft and garner support for this important legislation, the first of its kind in Illinois.
May 29, 2014
At the Erie Family Health Center 2014 Luncheon today, Health & Medicine Board Member Dr. Bechara Choucair, MD received the Health Innovator Award.
May 20, 2014
Health & Medicine urges individuals and organizations who believe in continuing to fund critical services for communities across Illinois to contact their legislators and ask them to vote to maintain the current tax rate. Maintaining the current tax rate will preserve adequate resources for the Illinois Department of Human Services and the Illinois Department of Public Health to continue providing essential programs.
May 16, 2014
Health & Medicine is pleased to announce an upcoming forum we're planning, Education and Health Equity: Everybody In, Nobody Out, to be held on August 14, 2014.
May 08, 2014
At the conclusion of a thorough and competitive selection process that began last fall, Health & Medicine is pleased to announce the thirty-one 2014-15 Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellows.
May 02, 2014
Health & Medicine Board Member Robyn Golden, MA, LCSW will give a lecture on "Social Work's Role in Care Coordination: Practice, Evidence & Policy" at the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration (SSA) on Tuesday, May 6. Director of Health & Aging at Rush University Medical Center and an SSA alumna, Ms. Golden’s speech is part of the Michael M. Davis Lecture Series which bring renowned policy experts, researchers and commentators to the University to explore the intersection of health policy and the broad needs of vulnerable and disadvantaged populations.
Apr 24, 2014
An option piece by Health & Medicine Board Member Joe Feinglass has been published in Aljazeera America. A Research Professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Dr. Feinglass’s article addresses the costs, both financial and in terms of poor health outcomes, faced by individuals without insurance.
Apr 10, 2014
Health & Medicine’s Executive Director, Margie Schaps, will be speaking at Northern Illinois University on Thursday, April 10. Her presentation is entitled, “Achieving Health Equity: How Far Does the Affordable Care Act Take Us?” and is part of the School of Nursing and Health Studies Graduate Colloquium.
Apr 09, 2014
Health & Medicine Policy Analyst Erica Martinez took part in the 2nd Annual Women in Public Health Panel at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health on Wednesday, April 9.
Apr 07, 2014
Health & Medicine Policy Research Group and the Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellows program announced today that Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle will be speaking at the 2014 Annual Celebration of Service to be held on Thursday, April 17 at Northwestern University.
Apr 03, 2014
Funding for AHEC is not included in the Federal FY 2015 Budget. The Chicago Area Health Education Center (Chicago AHEC) at Health & Medicine is working with other members of the Illinois AHEC Network and the National AHEC Organization to ensure Congressional support for the AHEC program. Ask your members of Congress to support the Title VII AHEC program at $75 million for FY 2015. It is important to reach out to members of Congress now, as they must submit their appropriations requests by April 5th.
Mar 27, 2014
In Illinois, CHWs help residents manage chronic conditions; develop healthier lifestyles; increase rates of preventive screenings; and improve access to health care and social services. CHWs are able to engage with communities through outreach, enrollment, and patient education. Rep. Robyn Gabel has introduced HB5412, which recognizes the important contribution Community Health Workers (CHWs) make to our healthcare teams. HB5412 will be voted on in the House of Representatives during this spring session. If you would like to support the bill, you can contact your Representative.
Mar 26, 2014
Dr. Martha Holstein (Health & Medicine consultant to the Center for Long-Term Care Reform) was asked by the Governmental Accountability Office to present about the practical and moral importance of Social Security - including proposed modifications - to retirees, especially to women and minorities.
Feb 26, 2014
Phyllis Mitzen, part of our Center for Long-Term Care Reform team, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Illinois Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers on March 31, 2014.
Feb 20, 2014
Crain’s writes about HB5412, the legislation that Health & Medicine helped to develop which would strengthen the healthcare workforce and healthcare system by formally recognizing the important role played by community health workers in Illinois. While we’re not quoted, Margie Schaps spoke at length with Crain’s Kristen Schorsch for the article.
Feb 19, 2014
Margie Schaps was interviewed and quoted by Yana Kunichoff in a Daily Whale article about the 1115 Waiver application.
Feb 18, 2014
We are very happy to announce that Representative Robyn Gabel has introduced House Bill 5412 formally recognizing the important role of Community Health Workers in our evolving healthcare system.
Jan 31, 2014
Quentin Young's book, "Everybody In, Nobody Out: Memoirs of a Rebel Without a Pause," was reviewed today in the Chicago Tribune by Rick Kogan. Kogan writes, "This book is the story of a life well and courageously lived. It is an essential for any Chicago book collection." Visit our online store to purchase your copy today!
Jan 27, 2014
Attorney and Loyola University clinical law professor Emily Benfer has been chosen to receive the Schweitzer Leadership Award. The annual
award honors an individual who has done significant work to mitigate the social determinants of health in their
community, and whose commitment to service has influenced and inspired others.
2013
Nov 27, 2013
Interested in designing your own project to help underserved Chicago communities? Or, know of a graduate student with bright ideas and a passion for helping others? The Chicago Schweitzer Fellowship is now accepting applications until Feb. 1, 2014. An information session for applicants will be held at our office (29 E. Madison St., Suite 602, downtown Chicago) on Jan. 9, 2014 at 6:00pm. Space is limited, please reserve a spot by emailing rwang@hmprg.org.
Oct 03, 2013
HMPRG is pleased to welcome Sharon Powell to our staff as the new Director of the Chicago AHEC Program. Sharon comes to HMPRG with a wealth of experience as a health educator in Chicago Public Schools, at Columbia College Chicago and in communities across the Chicago Area.
Oct 02, 2013
We are very excited to announce that Quentin Young's memoir is now available. "Everybody In Nobody Out: Memoirs of a Rebel Without a Pause," written in collaboration with Steve Fiffer, offers a rare glimpse inside the mind of one of the nation's most fearless advocates for a single-payer health system as we follow him on his journey through the Civil Rights Movement, the '68 Democratic Convention and his days as the head of Cook County Hospital. Dr. Young shows he's never been afraid of questioning authority - without losing his unbridled optimism - in his fight for health care equality.
Sep 23, 2013
HMPRG is proud to announce that the Illinois State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Office (SLTCO) has just released a report, Expansion of Illinois’ Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program: Home Care and Managed Care, which was produced by HMPRG’s Center for Long-Term Care Reform.
Aug 22, 2013
The American Association of Birth Centers has selected HMPRG to receive the 2013 AABC Public Advocate Award in recognition of our perseverance and advocacy over the last 25 years to make birth centers a reality for Illinois families. The award will be presented at the Opening Session of the 7th Annual AABC Birth Institute conference on Thursday, September 26 in Minneapolis, MN.
Jul 18, 2013
HMPRG is proud to announce that the Illinois Department on Aging has just released a report, The Transition to Medicaid Managed Care in Illinois: An Opportunity for Long-Term Services and Supports Systems Change, which was produced by HMPRG’s Center for Long-Term Care Reform. This comprehensive review identifies the best practices from other states that have made the transition, and is expected to become the blueprint for Illinois as our state does the same.
Jun 20, 2013
The Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellows for Life Program is pleased to announce the recipients of 8 seed grants that will help vulnerable communities improve their health and well-being. Fellows for Life are graduates of the Schweitzer Fellowship Program who are continuing their path as leaders in service and as advocates for the underserved. A $20,000 per year grant for three years from the AMA Foundation made funding of the Fellows for Life seed grant projects possible.
May 30, 2013
This year, the Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellows Program seeks to honor a local individual whose life example has significantly mitigated the social determinants of health in his/her community, and whose commitment to service has influenced and inspired others, with the Schweitzer Leadership Award. Anyone may submit a nomination, and nominees do not have to be Fellows, Fellows for Life, or have had any previous involvement with the Schweitzer Fellowship. Know someone you’d like to see recognized? Please review the attached flier for information about how to submit nominations. Deadline for nominations has been extended to September 1st.
May 23, 2013
HMPRG is excited to announce the recipients of the 2013-14 Chicago Schweitzer Fellowship. Thirty-two students from a wide variety of schools and disciplines and dedicated to social justice and health equity were selected to design and lead innovative projects that will help under-resourced communities improve their health and well-being. Each Fellow will contribute at least 200 hours of direct service within the next year.
May 13, 2013
New on-line tool, "Visualizing Health Care Reform" launched by Health and Disability Advocates shows the potential impact of the Affordable Care Act by region in Illinois broken down by income, race/ethnicity, age, gender, veteran status, disability status and undocumented non-citizen data.
May 09, 2013
As supporters of Senate Bill 73, Health & Medicine found this article on NPR.org to be quite interesting: "California Weighs Expanded Role for Nurse Practitioners." For more information, read our position paper, "Eliminating Scope of Practice Barriers for Illinois Advanced Practice Nurses."
Apr 17, 2013
Schweitzer Fellow Emilee Lamorena is helping under-served Chicago teens impacted by cancer cope by sharing their experiences and supporting each other. Her project is featured in a story published today on the Rush Alumni website.
Feb 22, 2013
HMPRG is seeking a Director of Development and Communications and a Communications and Grants Coordinator to join us in 2013. Read about the responsibilities, minimum qualifications and how to apply.
2012