Inspired To Heal

Using molecular methods and shoe-leather epidemiology, Don Weiss and Kim Musser teamed up to resolve a Legionnaires’ outbreak in the Bronx in 2015.  It’s a classic tale of combining surveillance and …

Chief Communications Officer, Caryn Stancik, and General Counsel, Elizabeth Reidy, recognized the value of a functional government healthcare system to care for the medically underserved population o…

Professor Laura Bix, the Director of the School of Packaging at Michigan State University, is a national leaders in designing solutions for drug packaging that improves medication safety.  Two catast…

When asked, "What is the one item, literal or figurative, that you would put in your medical bag?", seventeen former Cook County Hospital healthcare workers provided responses that sustained them dur…

Dr. Denise Cardo and David Henderson are infectious diseases physicians and leaders in healthcare epidemiology—the medical discipline that studies the causes and solutions to prevent infections, use …

Pediatrician Kyran Quinlan and occupational therapist Marla Robinson witnessed severe scald burns among young children in their hospital's burn unit. They embarked on an epidemiologic evaluation that…

Dr. Jeff Schaider thrived in his career as an emergency medicine physician in Cook County Hospital's storied Emergency Department.  From the "routine" chaos of a Friday night in the ER to the stress …

Legendary leaders of Cook County Hospital's internal medicine program for trainees and medical students, and expert clinicians, Peter Clarke and Chris Smith, share their wisdom.  They discuss caring …

Dr. Robert (Bob) A. Weinstein, former Chair of Medicine at Cook County Hospital, describes a career formed early as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer investigating hospital outbreaks at the Ce…

Medical crises often require time to recuperate in a clean and safe environment—but what happens when someone leaves the hospital with no place to recover?  Without access to basic hygiene, secure me…

With roots across continents and religions, inclusion comes natural to Dr. Benjamin Mba. He shares insights on why inclusion is the requisite factor for meaningful DEI efforts, for success of organiz…

Dr. Benjamin Mba is a nationally renowned clinical educator of internal medicine trainees and medical students.  Effortless?? No!  Ben shares insights he learned observing mentors and through decades…

We hear the inspiring story of Mary Driscoll, who repurposed the skills she acquired during community organizing for peace and civil rights to Cook County Hospital and the Illinois Department of Publ…

After medical school and training, Doctor Jen Smith knew how to treat the medical complications from harmful use of alcohol and drugs but not how to help people avoid those risks through treatment of…

At a time when many were reluctant to provide care for people with AIDS, staff at Cook County Hospital rose to the challenge.  With support from a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grant, the Midwest’s …

With the looming cutbacks to Medicaid, safety net health systems are vital.  After three-decades at County, Dr. David Schwartz explores its tumultuous history—one filled with challenge and progress. …

While  working in Guatemala, Dr. Jack Raba is recruited back to Cook County Hospital to be the medical director for Cook County Jail.  He negotiates and spearheads the transformation of healthcare at…

In Part 1, Dr. Jack Raba recounts his transformative high-school volunteer experience at Cook County Hospital, his return to Cook County as a student at Northwestern Medical School.  Seeking to build…

Dr. Christine Acob trained at Cook County Hospital and ended her 30-year career as the Chair of the Internal Medicine Residency Program.  She provided calm and compassionate leadership before, during…

In Chicago to Chinle: A Journey from Urban to Tribal Health Justice, Dr. David Goldberg discusses his over 30-year career spanning Cook County & the Indian Health Service with characteristic humility…