HEALTH EQUITY AND THE CENTER FOR HEALTH EQUITY TRANSFORMATION

Episode Summary

In this episode of the Better Edge podcast, Melissa A. Simon, MD, MPH, vice chair for research in the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and director of the Institute for Public Health and Medicine (IPHAM) and Center for Health Equity Transformation (CHET), discusses the importance of access to quality health care for all patients, regardless of their gender, ethnicity or socioeconomic status. She shares how the CHET is promoting health equity and health justice, and the impact this initiative has on our communities.

Election to the National Academy of Medicine
Dr. Simon was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in October of 2021 for her work, which aims to promote health equity and eliminate health disparities for underserved communities as well as improve access to preventive care and cancer treatment for low-income women. A primary focus of her work is creating health interventions that reduce and eliminate these disparities through integrating health services research with social epidemiologic models.

Read further about Melissa A. Simon, MD, MPH election to the National Academy of medicine here.

Honored with the Henry P. Russe, MD, Citation for Exemplary Compassion in Healthcare
Melissa A. Simon, MD, MPH, has been honored by the trustees of Rush University Medical Center and The Institute of Medicine of Chicago with the 2021 Henry P. Russe, MD, Citation for Exemplary Compassion in Healthcare.

This ongoing award demonstrates that humanitarianism must characterize the practice of medicine and medical education beyond the science, technology and personal skillfulness essential in caring for the health of fellow citizens.

Read further about how Melissa A. Simon, MD, MPH has been honored for exemplary compassion in healthcare here.

Melissa A. Simon, MD, MPH is the vice chair for research in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and director of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Institute for Public Health and Medicine (IPHAM) Center for Health Equity Transformation (CHET).

Dr. Simon's primary research interests are aimed at promoting health equity and eliminating health disparities among low income, medically underserved women across the lifespan. Integrating health services research with social epidemiologic models, Dr. Simon's research focuses on interventions (such as patient navigation and community health outreach workers) that aim to reduce and eliminate such disparities.