The Healing-Centered Illinois Task Force, established by SB 646 in January 2024, has released its comprehensive recommendations report, offering a blueprint for advancing trauma-informed and healing-centered policies and practices across the state. The Illinois ACEs Response Collaborative at...
On November 7, 2024, Health & Medicine Policy Director Wesley Epplin delivered testimony to the Chicago City Council Committee on Budget and Government Operations regarding threats to the Chicago Public Health Department’s budget. “In the shadow of the Federal election results this...
On October 24, 2023, Health & Medicine Policy Director testified before the Cook County Board of Commissioners about the dire need for public health funding. “If there’s one lesson you take away from the COVID-19 pandemic, I hope it is this: People’s lives depend upon us having both a...
We are all aging, all of the time, and virtually all of us care about—and many provide care to— older persons; so, we all have a vested interest in moving toward aging equity. Further, as our population gets older, to successfully provide services to all, every agency of our government and sector...
On October 18, 2024, Health & Medicine Policy Director Wesley Epplin delivered testimony to the Cook County Board Finance Committee requesting a $23 million increase in the Cook County Department of Public Health’s budget. Read the full remarks here.
A group of 80 Chicago-area organizations signed letters requesting significantly increased funding for the Chicago and Cook County departments of public health to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Chicago City Council, Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle, County Commissioners, and other relevant...
Wesley Epplin, Policy Director at Health & Medicine Policy Research Group Good afternoon. I’m Wesley Epplin. I serve as Policy Director at Health & Medicine Policy Research Group. I direct our Aging Equity Center which has worked for 25 years to create policies and systems that support all...
ILLINOIS (August 14, 2024) — Illinois Aging Together, a campaign for aging equity led by Health & Medicine Policy Research Group, celebrates Illinois Governor Pritzker’s executive order to establish a planning commission for a multi-sector plan for aging. Across the nation, states are...
Health & Medicine is pleased to announce our 2024 award winners! These Chicago-area leaders exemplify the Health & Medicine mission to build power and momentum for social justice and health equity in Illinois. Help us celebrate the public health champions in our community! Join us for the...
Kim had a realization after being suddenly laid off from her corporate job of 10 years. “I had this feeling [about] the next job I walked into,” she said. “I wanted to really love it and feel like I’m giving back to people from what I do.” One of her former colleagues suggested that Kim would be...
Four Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellows have been awarded Named Schweitzer Fellowships—distinctions within a year-long service-learning program that helps Fellows design and implement innovative projects that address the health needs of underserved Chicago communities. Named in honor of famed...
Twenty-six 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. The...