By Invitation Only 

FOCUS GROUP #2 — COLLABORATION FOR SYSTEMIC CHANGE

Philanthropic and health system agencies, corporations, city, county and state stakeholders

Sept. 25, 2020

9:00 A.M. -12:00 P.M. CT 

Virtual Meeting

Please register by Sept. 23rd NOON CT

On behalf of the Institute of Medicine of Chicago (IOMC), we want to personally thank you for your interest and commitment to making the Cook and collar counties a welcoming community for all. In these uncertain times, all of us need to leverage opportunities to make our future better. We invite you to join us in convening thought leaders to forcefully confront the economic and racial inequities that people of color have for far too long experienced on September 25, 2020 at 9 AM to Noon.

You’re invited to participate in the first series of virtual meetings leading up to an October 23, 2020 State of Health of Chicago. Your participation is requested on Friday, September 25, from 9:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. This gathering is aimed to garner your needs as a philanthropic and health system agencies, corporations, city, county and state stakeholders. Download agenda here.

GUEST SPEAKER

Somava(Soma) Stout, MD, MS, Vice President, Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), is deeply committed to improving health, wellbeing, and equity globally.  A global public health practitioner for more than 20 years, she has also worked as a safety net primary care internist and pediatrician. 

She serves as Executive Lead of 100 Million Healthier Lives, convened by IHI, which brings together hundreds of partners across sectors and communities to support 100 million people globally to live healthier lives. Full Bio here.

THE ISSUE

These are challenging times for our city and the country. The impact of the virus on the everyday lives of individuals, communities, and particularly people of color is devastating and unprecedented. The economic consequences have been catastrophic with the increasing rise in homelessness, missed rent, unpaid bills, foregoing medical care, lack of food—the list goes on.

The public call for action against systematic racism has added urgency and clarity, requiring decisive and bold action. A neutral convener is needed to ask uncomfortable questions and gather experiences that met or failed to reach those at risk regarding COVID-19 or future pandemics.  

THE IDEA

The Institute of Medicine Chicago (IOMC) has and continues to have a long-standing interest in and a commitment to addressing the health inequities and disparities that exist in our region. IOMC, over the past two years, has examined ways in which social determinants of health (SDOH) are addressed in various communities; what interventions have made a difference; and, what could possibly be launched in the Cook and collar counties to address these root causes.  

On September 4, 2020, we are gathering the input of coalitions and data gatherers/analysts to learn about how we can do better together; what is needed (assets, resources, funding) by agencies, coalitions/alliances and for data gathers and analysts. Those suggestions and supplemental materials will be provided to you prior to the meeting to consider ways to accomplish what our region needs during this moving forward during this unprecedented time.

Together, we must seize this moment to make a difference by focusing on initiatives that address these systematic injustices. Doing so will produce tangible results upon which hope for a brighter future can be built.

JOIN US IN THIS TRANSFORMATIVE EFFORT

Two representatives from your organizations are invited to be active participants in the second meeting on Friday, September 25, from 9:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M.

A final report will be shared on October 23rd at IOMC’s Grand Convening of the State of the Health of Chicago to determine action items to make change.

Sincerely, 

Cheryl Rucker-Whitaker, MD, MPH, President and Chair, Institute of Medicine of Chicago

AJ Wilhelmi, MD, Chief Executive Officer, Illinois Hospital Association

Raul Garza, Vice-President, Chief Executive Officer, Aunt Martha’s Health and Wellness

Cheryl Larson, Chief Executive Officer, Midwest Business Group on Health (MBGH)

 and Jason Parrot, President of the Board of MBGH and Vice President, Boeing Senior Manager   Global Healthcare & Well Being Strategy

Howard Nochumson, Executive Director, Washington Square Health Foundation

This opportunity is funded by the Portes/Michael Reese Education and Research Trust Foundations

By invitation only. If you have any questions, please contact us at infostaff@iomc.org.

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