UHI donates $50,000 grant to first CommunityHealth Englewood Clinic

January 14, 2011

The Urban Health Initiative of the University of Chicago Medical Center has provided a $50,000 grant to the inaugural CommunityHealth Englewood Clinic to support area residents in need of health care services.

The grant will help provide medical equipment and financial support for building expansion and renovations as well as other capital–related expenditures. CommunityHealth, the largest volunteer–based free clinic in Illinois, opened its first satellite clinic site in Englewood Sept. 27, 2010, to become a resource for a growing population of uninsured, underserved area residents.

"Working with CommunityHealth provides an excellent opportunity for the University of Chicago Medical Center through the Urban Health Initiative to partner with an organization that is deeply committed to meeting the core health needs of South Side residents, which is done with a great sense of compassion," said Dr. James N. Woodruff, program director of internal medicine residency training at the Medical Center. "This is a win–win for both the Medical Center and the community."

House staff from the Medical Center's internal medicine residency program examine and treat patients twice a week as part of their ambulatory care training at the Englewood Clinic. The new clinic, housed within a Chicago Department of Health facility at 641 W. 63rd St., has eight patient treatment rooms, a laboratory, health education classroom and a pharmacy. Expansion plans set for early next year include four dental operatories and an additional laboratory.

"This grant contribution exemplifies the on–going commitment of UHI to advance medical care and the quality of life on the South Side and beyond as we work to close the large health disparities and connect patients with primary care physicians in conjunction with our over–arching mission," said Quin R. Golden, associate vice president for strategic affiliations and the Urban Health Initiative.

Since the inception of CommunityHealth in 1993, more than 32,000 people throughout greater Chicago have received free health services. The new facility, said, CommunityHealth Executive Director Judith Haasis, gives the people of Englewood the ability to access affordable health care much closer to home.

"We are delighted to receive this generous gift from the University of Chicago Medical Center through the Urban Health Initiative," said Haasis. "It is this type of collaboration that allows CommunityHealth to realize its goal of delivering comprehensive, patient–focused health care for uninsured, low–income individuals on the South Side."