Health and Medicine has a twenty-five year history of evaluating local health policy as an independent, voluntary policy center with a mission centering on the health of the poor and underserved.  Health and Medicine has been long familiar with the developments that have shaped the availability of health care to the poor in the region, and has maintained its influence by developing groundbreaking standards for public programs.

    Health and Medicine has repeatedly developed effective partnerships with community-based organizations, while at the same time, maintaining access to the corridors of power in the city, county and state. Health and Medicine is uniquely positioned to provide state and local linkages between the public and private sectors, and between policy leadership and community and grassroots opinion.

    Health and Medicine currently serves in two key capacities: to promote dialogue on health reform among diverse constituencies, and to interpret the needs of the state, city and county for reconfigured health programs. Not only does Health and Medicine contribute to local policy development, but also provides national thinkers with the rationale for our local agendas.

   Health and Medicine's 2005 agenda focuses on five areas:  (1) analysis of the implications of national health sector events (particularly Medicare and Medicaid) for Chicago, Cook County and Illinois; (2) policy research on state long-term care programs and development of long-term care policy for Illinois’ elderly and disabled; (3) research, policy analysis and policy development to support a women’s and girl’s health agenda relevant to the local environment; (4) creation of opportunities for young health professionals in training to commit themselves to projects that serve the poor and underserved; and (5) research and policy development to address racial and ethnic disparities in health.  In addition, Health and Medicine will continue to advance options for a statewide health reform agenda.