CHICAGO – CommunityHealth, Illinois’ largest free clinic providing more than 27,500 medical and dental visits for 9,000 patients each year, will honor Illinois Senator and Assistant Majority Leader Jeff Schoenberg and Midwestern University for exemplary commitments to improve healthcare in Illinois. CommunityHealth will present the awards during its Gala, “Leading the Way in Care for the Uninsured,” April 28 at Harold Washington Library. Nearly 400 decision makers from business, medical and civic sectors attend to provide critical support toward the organization’s annual operating costs.
“As the debate continues around health care reform, CommunityHealth provides a medical home for low-income, uninsured adults,” said CommunityHealth Executive Director Judith Haasis. “This high-quality, free care is fueled by 1,000 volunteers including physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, dentists, pharmacists and counselors who volunteer to serve a very vulnerable patient population, many of whom have recently lost their jobs and health insurance.”
Assistant Majority Leader Jeff Schoenberg will receive the Public Service Award for his long-standing commitment to addressing healthcare disparities that impact low-income, uninsured individuals and families across Cook County. “People who have access to an affordable ‘medical home’ are less likely to use emergency rooms for routine care. CommunityHealth does tremendous work, and I’ve always supported them while serving as an appropriations chair and as a longstanding member of the public health committees in the House and Senate,” said Senator Schoenberg.
Midwestern University will receive the Visionary Award for its commitment to educating clinicians and serving the community. Students from the University’s Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine provide a “Student Run Clinic,” and its College of Pharmacy places residents and students at the clinic’s on-site MedAccess Chicago pharmacy for formal training. “CommunityHealth provides our students with an outstanding learning opportunity while instilling the importance of service and caring for others,” said Kathleen H. Goeppinger, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer, Midwestern University.
About CommunityHealth:
CommunityHealth is the largest free clinic in Illinois serving a vulnerable and low-income population. CommunityHealth’s unique model of service delivery is made possible by more than 1,000 volunteers, donors and partners who are committed to high-quality care at no cost to patients. For more information or to provide support please visit www.communityhealth.org.
