Health & Medicine Policy Research Group is proud to celebrate the 2024-25 graduates of the Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellowship! These incredible students spent the past year implementing service projects that addressed the social determinants of health in partnership with underserved...
At Health & Medicine, we believe a just and equitable society is not only possible—it is necessary. In a time when public health is being politicized, underfunded, and misunderstood, we remain rooted in our mission: to build power and momentum for social justice and health equity in Illinois....
On April 16, 2025, Health & Medicine Policy Director Wesley Epplin delivered remarks at a press conference supporting the Hazel M. Johnson Cumulative Impacts Ordinance. Speaking on behalf of both Health & Medicine and the Collaborative for Health Equity Cook County, he emphasized the...
Expanding Birth Equity in Illinois: Health & Medicine Deepens Its Commitment to Reproductive Justice
Health & Medicine Policy Research Group has led the movement to increase access to high-quality, community-based birthing options in Illinois for almost four decades. Today, our work to address the state’s maternal health disparities continues through two complementary initiatives: the...
Health & Medicine Policy Research Group is proud to share our 2025 Policy Agenda. Our top policy priorities are divided into seven categories: Aging Equity Healing-centered and Trauma-informed Health Workforce Health Care as a Human Right Housing Justice Public Health System Capacity...
Health & Medicine Policy Research Group is proud to announce that Andrea Kimpson, MPP(C), has been named the HiteHass Equity Intern and will be continuing with us in the current spring cohort to further her work in health policy and workforce development. Andrea first joined Health &...
On January 24, 2025, Health & Medicine Policy Director Wesley Epplin delivered testimony to the Cook County Health Board of Directors, highlighting the urgent need to address immigrant fears and threats caused by unjust ICE raids. His recommendations included: Establishing a dedicated...
Health & Medicine announces an exciting collaboration that marks a transformative step forward for reproductive justice in Illinois. Health & Medicine Policy Research Group is joining forces with the Black Midwifery Collective and researchers from Northwestern University to create...
By Meera Puthenmadom, Anna Yankelev, and Gita Krishnaswamy A 2020 report by the Illinois Nursing Workforce Center forecasts a daunting shortage of nearly 15,000 registered nurses by 2025 (1). With less than 8,000 nurses in Illinois graduating each year, our healthcare system is under immense...
The Healing-Centered Illinois Task Force, established through SB 646 in January 2024, has released a landmark recommendations report outlining a blueprint to advance trauma-informed and healing-centered policies and practices statewide. The Illinois ACEs Response Collaborative at Health &...
Immigrant rights are essential for health equity! In today’s harsh political environment, Health & Medicine stands in solidarity with immigrants. We have assembled the below resources from government and nonprofit organizations that provide information for both immigrants and partner agencies....
Health & Medicine Policy Research Group seeks a skilled Instructional Designer to create engaging and accessible visualizations for 19 public health career pathways. This project will support our Health Career Pathways Resource (CPR), a tool designed to increase awareness and access to health...