University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System

The University of Illinois has been moving medicine forward for the benefit of the people of Illinois and beyond since 1859. As a major step in realigning and focusing our resources, I am excited to announce a new name for our unified health enterprise: The University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System.

What you knew as the University of Illinois Medical Center is now part of a system that brings together U of I's vast health sciences resources into one powerful organization. Our hospital, seven health sciences colleges, and research scientists are now under one banner. By sharing one vision, we can better provide the benefits of our research, the knowledge of our faculty physicians and the advantage of advanced technology to every patient who walks through our doors.

Why is this important? Chicago is a city with some of the best healthcare in the world. But there are communities right here, right outside our door and across our state where people aren't getting the healthcare they need. Unfortunately, health disparities - differences in the care or outcomes of patients that have nothing to do with the patients' underlying medical conditions - remain all too common. Disparities can result from many factors including lack of access to care, racial or ethnic bias (or "institutional racism"), and a lack of culturally appropriate communication by health care providers. National health care disparities have been extensively documented, and mechanisms for the disparities are also well known. The crying need is for solutions.

Changing these disparities is a critical mission for the University of Illinois health enterprise, and we have set ambitious goals. Through patient care, education of new medical professionals, research into diseases and conditions that afflict specific populations, and elevating our presence in local communities, we will provide access to high quality, personalized health care to those who need it most.

At the same time we will continue to advance medicine at the highest levels - from nationally recognized programs in liver and kidney transplant as well as the treatment of brain aneurysms, to national centers for autism, sickle cell disease and pancreatic islet cell transplantation for the treatment of diabetes, to the management of high-risk pregnancies and the new Children's Hospital University of Illinois, we will continue to change medicine. For good. And by treating each patient as an individual, with respect for diverse cultures and unique needs for healing, we will demonstrate that we care not only for you, but also about you, helping your healing and easing your healthcare journey.

We want to be known as the best in the country at getting into communities and actually reducing disparities. Through our health sciences colleges, we will be known as the best at getting minorities into healthcare professions. And, through discovery and research, we will find breakthroughs and treatments that will help people lead better, healthier lives.