Chicago City Wire

The University of Illinois College of Medicine and Cook County Health have announced an expansion of their partnership, which began in 2021. UI Health, the academic health enterprise at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), and Cook County Health, one of the largest public health systems in the United States, are working together to address the needs of patients and communities through shared clinical care, medical education, and research.

The two organizations emphasized that their collaboration is especially important as healthcare faces challenges such as federal budget cuts and policy changes. By aligning their missions and sharing resources, they aim to strengthen the healthcare safety net for patients regardless of income or insurance status.

“This transformational partnership between Cook County Health and UI Health is still just the beginning,” said Dr. Robert Barish, vice chancellor for health affairs at UI Health. “By continuing to architect dedicated frameworks for visioning and strategy implementation, Cook County Health and UI Health are committed to the future of healthcare in Chicago and beyond.”

Toni Preckwinkle, president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, stated: “As the development of this relationship continues to unfold, it will open up enormous benefits and opportunities for the patients, students, faculty and medical professionals of both of our organizations. The greatest benefits will be to the communities that rely on the medical expertise and the access to healthcare that both of our organizations provide.”

The expanded partnership includes new initiatives in clinical care such as collaborative efforts across more than 16 specialties including hematology, oncology, pediatrics, neuroscience, and surgical care. The institutions plan to expand provider recruitment efforts as well as regulatory reviews. They also intend to increase patient access to clinical trials.

In medical education, students from the University of Illinois College of Medicine will have more opportunities for clerkship rotations at Cook County Health. There will also be expanded residency programs and fellowships at both institutions. Staff from Cook County Health will gain broader access to simulation-based education and continuing education resources through UIC’s College of Medicine.

Leadership development opportunities are being created for staff at Cook County Health with potential promotion tracks within UIC’s College of Medicine. Shared resources such as library access will be available for faculty members from both organizations.

On research collaboration, both partners commit to transparency and accountability while seeking global impact through joint research portfolios. Researchers from UIC will mentor those at Cook County Health with plans to enroll more patients into joint research programs.

Dr. Erik Mikaitis, CEO of Cook County Health said: “The combined resources of Cook County Health and UI Health — two leading public healthcare providers in Cook County and in Illinois — across the clinical, educational and research fields will help advance health equity among our shared communities and patient populations.”

Committees made up of leaders from each institution’s educational, clinical, and research areas will oversee co-developed strategies under a Joint Academic Affiliation Council led by representatives from both organizations.

This latest agreement builds on previous collaborations such as their Partnership for Pediatric Care launched in November 2021. That initiative focused on specialty pediatric services by combining expertise from both institutions to improve care for children throughout Chicago and Illinois.

“These efforts are focused on harnessing our collective expertise and shared mission of delivering quality healthcare for all,” said Dr. Mark Rosenblatt, CEO of University of Illinois Hospital & Clinics and dean of the University of Illinois College of Medicine. “With this collaboration, we’ve recognized the importance of a public-public partnership for providing access and excellence to clinical care, training and research for the communities and patients both of our organizations serve.”