On a recent Wednesday morning in Chicago’s West Side, medical students from Rush Medical College organized a mobile clinic at the Harmony Community Cares food pantry. The effort was part of the Cardiometabolic Health Initiative, which brings free health screenings to local food pantries.
The program was inspired by cardiologist Danny Luger, MD, who challenged his students to address heart disease and related chronic conditions in people who may not know they are at risk. “Food pantries serve people who lack access to healthy food they can afford, and such food insecurity itself contributes to chronic health conditions,” Luger says.
Since its inception less than three years ago, the initiative has expanded into monthly clinics at four locations in the Chicago area, screening more than 650 individuals. The volunteer team includes social workers, counselors, dietitians, nurses, doctors, and students from across Rush University.
At the Harmony food pantry in North Lawndale, first-year medical student Alyssa Kohler collected health histories and measured blood pressure for visitors like Atia Breen. Participants had their weight, waist and neck circumference measured to determine BMI; blood pressure; cholesterol; and blood sugar levels checked. Before leaving, each person received results and spoke with a cardiologist about their health. The team also assessed social determinants such as housing and transportation and connected people with needed resources.
Those identified at high risk for cardiometabolic diseases were offered support pathways including follow-up care and counseling.
Luger emphasized the importance of early detection: “High blood pressure is one of the most damaging conditions, and one of the least noticeable,” he says. “Once you know you have high blood pressure, you can take steps to bring it down to normal, check it regularly and control it.”
The impact of these screenings is significant on Chicago’s West Side, where average life expectancy is up to 20 years shorter compared with more affluent neighborhoods—a gap largely driven by cardiometabolic diseases.
Diane Carioscio, coordinator at Harmony Community Cares pantry, welcomed the partnership: “It’s wonderful to have someone come and partner alongside us and work with us toward giving people opportunities to improve their health,” she says.
The Cardiometabolic Health Initiative also operates monthly events at other sites including Marillac Saint Vincent in East Garfield Park, El Mercadito Nourishing Hope in Humboldt Park, and Beyond Hunger in Oak Park. Plans are underway for expansion through collaboration with another medical college.
First-year student Maya Mikos leads operations for the initiative. She volunteers at multiple clinics each month. “When I am practicing as a physician one day, I want to be connected to the patients I see, just as I am here,” she said.
Collected data from these screenings are being shared through conferences and published articles. A study on diabetes prevalence appeared in Nature journal. “Initially, we focused on identifying high-risk populations,” Luger said. “Now we’re starting a clinical trial to see if our interventions reduce risk scores.”
With funding from the Physicians Association Foundation, 200 participants will receive free ongoing coaching and follow-up screenings over six months as part of this new clinical trial.
Second-year volunteer Truman Steele reflected on seeing immediate patient engagement: “They’ll say, ‘Oh my cholesterol is high? What can I do about it?’ Those are the most rewarding. ‘I might have reversed something.’”
Rush University Medical Center—founded in 1837 in Chicago—serves as a training hospital with pediatric facilities under President Dr. Omar Lateef.
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