Letter from the IOMC President  Cheryl Rucker- Whitaker 

A MESSAGE TO OUR FELLOWS and COLLEAGUES

March 2021 

Dear Fellows and Colleagues:

It is an amazing time for IOMC! Amid the pandemic crisis, we have conducted 14 virtual sessions since the fall of 2020 with more programs throughout 2021. The ‘State of Health of Chicago’ program is strong and will continue due to your support. IOMC is committed to our mission and working together to promote systemic change – WE CAN DO BETTER.

IOMC’s objective in the past few months was to elevate our operational efforts and offer more programs that support our mission. We recently held virtual sessions on ‘Closing the Gaps with COVID-19 in Cook and Collar Counties,’ ‘Racial Inequity in Healthcare,’ and ‘Child and Family Health in Chicago, and the COVID-19 Pandemic.’ From youth to seniors, from Cook County to our collar counties, and on many levels, we are working together. It’s a success due to your support and attendance. In the coming months, we will launch a multi-series on implicit bias training to raise all population and community health levels in Illinois. 

We have created a video library on the website to allow you to revisit the excellent programs. Over 30 speakers have contributed their time and expertise in the past few months. In 2021, IOMC began offering accredited programs with Continuing Education Credits as we were not doing this before for our Fellows and colleagues. 

IOMC is preparing for the IOMC Annual Meeting on June 25th. It will be a virtual meeting due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the annual meeting, we will conduct an election with new incoming officers, and your vote is essential. We will provide an update report at the annual meeting- don’t miss it. We will conclude the State of Health of Chicago program in December. 

We would like to hear from you! Please think about issues, trends, and programs that align with our mission and goals. As a Fellow, what will make you stand up and be more engaged this year? Send your ideas and thoughts to iomcstaff@iomc.org. Please state “2021 Think” in the subject line.

Your engagement is necessary to improve the lives of our communities and the people we serve as health care and public leaders. Don’t miss this moment to be involved with IOMC. 

Sincerely,

Cheryl Rucker-Whitaker, MD, MPH, FACP

President and Chair of the Institute of Medicine of Chicago

CEO, Complete Care Management Partners, LLC