Cook County Health • System News • February 2026

February 2026

Dear Cook County Health friends and partners,

This year marks a historic milestone – the 100th anniversary of Black History Month.

As Cook County Health celebrates this centennial moment in American history, we not only honor a century of reflection, recognition and Black achievement, but this February also serves as an important moment to once again reaffirm our commitment to advancing health equity, opportunity, and justice in the years ahead.

We begin by first recognizing a few trailblazers whose work shaped Cook County’s health, from Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, who established Provident Hospital in 1891 – the first Black-owned and operated hospital in the country and Dr. Agnes Lattimer, who in 1986 became the first African American woman medical director of a major U.S. hospital when she was appointed medical director of Cook County Hospital to the late civil rights leader and Chicago icon, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. whose recent loss we mourn, as one of his final acts of service in November, raised awareness about malnutrition, hunger and food insecurity.

Their leadership, along with the contributions of so many others, has inspired or paved the way for generations of public health champions and clinicians who continue to serve Cook County residents with excellence and compassion.

As we observe Black History Month, we acknowledge the disproportionate impact that access to healthy nutritious food options as well as the leadership and innovation within those communities that continue to drive solutions. CCH’s Food as Medicine program reflects our shared commitment to equity, prevention, and whole-person care.

This week, we were joined by Cook County Commissioner Michael Scott (2nd District) and community advocate Barbara Deer for a conversation about Food as Medicine, recognizing the powerful role that healthy, nutritious and culturally relevant food plays in preventing disease, managing chronic conditions, and improving overall wellbeing. Click here to watch the video.

Thank you for helping us celebrate Black History Month and for continuing our legacy of bold, innovative service to the residents of Cook County. Together, we honor the past, advance equity in the present, and build a healthier future for all.

Thank you,

Dr. Erik Mikaitis

Chief Executive Officer

Cook County Health

CCH launches the Austin Health Center Advisory Council

On February 10, 2026, Cook County Health hosted the first Advisory Council meeting for the Austin Health Center located at 4800 W. Chicago Street in Chicago. With this council, all ACHN sites have now have advisory councils. The Austin Health Center Advisory Council is composed by representatives from all Chicago, Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC) , Elevate, Family Guidance Centers, Family Solutions, Gift of Hope, Greater Chicago Food Depository, Malcolm X College, Meals on Wheels, Onward House, Rose Up for Autism, The Mustard Seed Effect Project, and UCAN among others. At the meeting, the council received an overview on Cook County Health, the Austin Health Center, CountyCare and the Cook County Department of Public Health. We are excited to welcome this council and its members to the Cook County Health family. To learn more about our advisory councils and to apply to be an advisory council member at any of our sites, please visit: Community Relations | Cook County Health.

Cook County Health Honors Black History Month

Cook County Health joined local leaders for a Black History Month discussion on Food as Medicine. Click here to watch.

EPI Retreat is March 13

Join Cook County Department of Public Health for the 2026 Elevating Public Health in Illinois (EPI) Retreat on Friday, March 13, 2026, from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the UIC School of Public Health in Chicago, IL.

This year’s theme, "Resilient Epidemiology: Strengthening Public Health Data in Illinois," brings together epidemiologists, informaticians, and data-driven public health professionals to share local work, connect, and collaborate through presentations and workshops. Dr. Katelyn Jetelina, founder and CEO of Your Local Epidemiologist will be a virtual keynote speaker. Graham Briggs, division chief of Emerging Health Issues for the Illinois Department of Public Health, will deliver a keynote in person.

Health Literacy Webinar is March 20

Organizational health literacy is the degree to which organizations equitably enable individuals to find, understand, and use information and services to make health-related decisions for themselves and others.

Save the date for part three of Cook County Department of Public Health’s healthy literacy webinar series on building meaningful collaborations across organizations: Friday, March 20 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/transformation-not-transaction-public-health-partnership-to-drive-change-tickets-1983455430586?aff=oddtdtcreator

Access more information and resources on health literacy, including past webinars at https://cookcountypublichealth.org/health-literacy-in-public-health/

Heart Awareness Month: Taking Care of Your Heart

February is Heart Awareness Month. It's a perfect time to check in on your heart health.

As heart disease is the number 1 killer in the United States and disproportionately impacts African American men and women, Cook County Health through its nationally and internationally recognized Heart Institute continues to advance the treatment of heart and blood vessels disorders. Recent investments include new technologies such as the TAVR procedure and MitraClip™ which help patients with structural heart disease, and the Impella® Device, which provides advanced life support.

While most of Cook County Health’s heart care takes place at John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital, CCH has made a concerted effort to bring heart and vascular care to our ambulatory sites. Patients can know see heart specialists at our Arlington Heights, Belmont Cragin and Robbins health centers where they can now get the care they need in their local communities.

Our staff is also committed to raising awareness of heart disease. On Friday, February 6 CCH staff wore red to raise awareness of heart disease. You can see photographs on Cook County Health's Instagram. In addition, we encourage you to participate in one of our monthly walks as part of our Walk with a Doctor program of our Englewood Health Center at the Salvation Army Red Shield Center in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood. Physical exercise is good for your heart and your vascular system.

To schedule an appointment, please call 312-984-0200 or visit Patient Support Center Appointments site.

Provident Hospital of Cook County, founded by Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, was established as the first hospital owned and operated by African Americans in the country in 1891. The hospital also included the Provident Nursing School which was the only training program for African American nurses in Chicago. After closing due to financial pressures in 1987, the historic Provident Hospital re-opens as part of Cook County Health in 1993. The hospital serves patients of all races.

Cook County Health is proud of the historical significance of Provident Hospital and continues to invest more than $23M to expand and modernize its services. Between 2020-2025 some improvements include the opening of the Bronzeville Health Center, a new outpatient health center in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood and the establishment of the Clinical Triage and Stabilization Center, mental health triage unit. In addition to the John Sengstacke Health Center, Provident Hospital campus provides health services of all types to our community. Whether it is ophthalmology, emergency medicine, podiatry or women and children’s care, you find it at Provident Hospital.

Continuing its history of achievements, Provident Hospital was awarded the Leapfrog Top General Hospital Award for Outstanding Quality and Safety in 2024 and 2025. And since the establishment of the Provident Scholarship Fund in 2022, Cook County Health has awarded more than $4 million in scholarships to over 200 students from disadvantaged communities seeking careers in the medical field.

Provident Hospital of Cook County boasts a remarkable history. From its origins in the late 19th century as an answer to racial discrimination and being a beacon of hope and a symbol of progress for the African American community to its current function as a full service health center in Chicago’s South Side, Provident Hospital is a standard-bearer of quality care in medicine. To find out more about the hospital and its services, please visit our webpage. To schedule an appointment, please call 312-984-0200 or visit Patient Support Center Appointments site.

Cheryl Boose-Davis, Graphic Design Manager

Cheryl Boose-Davis has been an integral part of the administrative team here for more than 25 years. In her current role as Graphic Design Manager, her primary duty is to ensure that the CCH Brand Standard is being adhered to. In controlling the use of our logo, fonts and colors, she designs a host of internal and external communication material. Creating decals, newsletters (including this publication), letterhead, templates, posters, signage, window decals, brochures, flyers, postcards, logos, banners, stickers and labels. She also creates the intranet homepage carousel, screensavers, landing pages, setup SharPoint pages and a host of digital files for production, including the patient portal; you have certainly viewed her work over the years!

Cheryl is a key figure when it comes to supporting our outreach team and their efforts. She helps plan, design, print and distribute printed materials, giveaways, bannerstands, tablecloths and most other supporting material or supplies when our outreach teams attend various events throughout Cook County. The consistency of our materials, help our team represent the organization in a professional and polished manner. When there is a need for new informative material to be created based on feedback from patients, the community, staff or from our partners, she assists with determining the best way to provide the information through various delivery methods and platforms. She also supports by providing photography services at CCH large, outreach sponsored events such as The Annual Bud Billiken Day Parade.

Cheryl also serves as the CCH unofficial archivist, retaining, storing and managing the upkeep of the CCH photo and physical archives and the art collection. These items were turned over for her upkeep by Dr. Gerturde Novak (r), Dr. Peter Orris (r) and Mrs. Bennie Blakely-Roby (r). Quite a few of the items that were hidden away over the years are on display in the Hyatt House – Chicago Medical Center hotel Cook County Hospital Museum.

After writing radio commercials and print ads in Advertising for a few years, she began her Cook County career in 1993 as a Senior Clerk in Cook County Hospital’s Public Affairs Department. She departed in 1995 to work as a coordinator in community marketing for a west suburban competitor, served as a director of admissions in a long term care organization and held the position of senior client representative at the Tribune’s direct marketing company. Cheryl returned in July 2002 when she was called to direct the audio visual services department and assist with the Stroger Hospital opening in December 2002.

Cheryl states that one of the most fulfilling, but challenging times in her career at CCH was during the COVID-19 epidemic when she was called on to create various material for the Cook County mass vaccination sites. From the community vaccination logo, to the exterior building signage and banners, table tent numbers, ceiling signage, floor and elevator distance decals, mask signage, banners, vaccination instructions, handouts, hours signage and more. This all helped in eventually facilitating smooth operations, educating and vaccinating millions of residents at our vaccination sites, hospitals and clinics in Cook County.

Cheryl is a proud Chicago native, raised and living in the western suburbs and Chicago’s North Lawndale community and also volunteers and donates her time at several organizations. She's a mother, grandmother and avid gardener. She holds a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree from DePaul University and has over 36 years of communication, design and logistics experience.

Provident Hospital Women's Auxiliary

The Provident Women’s Auxiliary (PWA) serves as Provident Hospital of Cook County’s dedicated fundraising entity, coordinating efforts that directly support the hospital’s mission and the community it serves.

Originally founded as the Professional Women’s Auxiliary of the Provident Medical Center, the group remained active and committed to the community even after the hospital’s closure in 1987. When Provident Hospital reopened in 1993, members advocated to continue serving as the hospital’s sole fundraising body and were officially re-chartered in 1994 as the Provident Women’s Auxiliary. For five decades, PWA has raised more than $1 million to enhance programs, services, and patient-centered initiatives that strengthen care delivery and improve the overall patient experience.

The Provident Women’s Auxiliary’s impact extends beyond its financial contributions to the hospital, its patient, employees and community. Their sustained commitment reflects deep community investment, ensuring that critical resources remain available to support high-quality, equitable care for the South Side communities served by Provident Hospital. Through consistent advocacy, volunteerism, and engagement, the PWA helps bridge gaps in funding that allow the hospital to enhance patient programs, improve the care environment, and respond to emerging community health needs. Their long-standing dedication demonstrates the power of community partnership in strengthening access to compassionate, culturally responsive health care and advancing the hospital’s mission for future generations.

Recently, the PWA hosted a Christmas luncheon for Provident employees in December 2025. In addition, they presented hats, gloves and scarves as Christmas presents for the inpatients at the hospitals. In 2024, the PWA donated jogging suits for patients in need. The distribution was managed through Provident Hospital’s social workers team. They also coordinated and scheduled the Senior Health Fair at North Washington Park Manor and donated blankets to seniors at North Washington Park Manor.

To learn more or to contribute to the PWA, please visit Contribute Provident Women’s Auxiliary | Cook County Health.

Dr. Agnes Lattimer

In 1971, Dr. Lattimer arrived at Cook County Hospital and was appointed chair of the division of ambulatory pediatrics. In 1984, she became director of Fantus Health Center of Cook County. In 1986, Dr. Lattimer was appointed as the medical director of Cook County Hospital, making her the first African American woman medical director of a major hospital.

The longtime Hyde Park neighborhood resident retired from Cook County Hospital in 1995.

Community Events

In March, teams from Cook County Health, the Cook County Department of Public Health, CountyCare, and the Cook County HIV Integrated Programs (CCHIP) may be present and participate in health fairs, resource fairs, presentations, tabling events, or general community events listed below.

March 2 – National Kidney Foundation of Illinois' World Kidney Day – Chicago – Malcolm X College, 1900 W. Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60612.
March 5 – TCA Health's Job Fair – TCA Health, East Wing,1029 East 130th Street, Chicago, IL 60628.
March 5 – Kennedy-King College and St. Sabina Employment Resource Center’s Spring 2026 Career & Internship Fair – Kennedy-King College, 6301 S. Halsted Street, Chicago, IL 60621.
March 6 – Chicagoland Communities Health Workers Champion Award– The Walnut Room, Macy’s 7th floor, 111 N. State Street, Chicago, IL 60602.
March 7 – Neighborhood Housing Services – South Suburbs’ Neighbors at the Table: A Neighborhood Assembly – Village of Hazel Crest, 3601 W. 183rd Street, Hazel Crest, IL 60429.
March 7 – South East Chicago Commission's 17th Annual Woodlawn Community Summit – Edith Abbott Hall, Lobby, 969 E. 60th Street, Chicago, IL 60637.
March 7 – CCDPH Suburban Vaccination Event – Robbins Health Center, 13450 S. Kedzie Avenue, Robbins, IL 60472.
March 12 – CountyCare’s Community Enrollee Committee Meeting – Provident Hospital of Cook County, 500 E. 51st Street, Chicago, IL 60615.
March 12 – Illinois Welcoming Centers and ICIRR's Virtual Training on Health Care Access for Immigrant Communities – virtual.
March 14 – Village of Hanover Park and Hanover Park Park District’s Kids at Hope Health & Resource Fair– Hanover Park Park District, 1919 Walnut Avenue, Hanover Park, IL 60133.
March 14 – Congresswoman Robin Kelly's 2025 Youth Opportunities Fair – Hillcrest High School, 17401 S. Pulaski Road, Country Club Hills, IL 60478.
March 14 – CCDPH Suburban Vaccination Event – Cottage Grove Health Center, 1645 S. Cottage Grove Avenue, Ford Heights, IL 60411.
March 15 – Addus Homecare and NAMI Resource Event– Mt. Carmel Children of God Baptist Church, 5141 S. Damen Avenue, Chicago, IL 60609.
March 15 – The Links, Incorporated's Black Family Wellness Expo – New Landmark Baptist Church, 2700 W. Wilcox Street, Chicago, IL 60612.
March 19 – CountyCare’s Community Stakeholder Committee Meeting – virtual.
March 21 – Calumet City Library's Spring 2026 Open Closet Extravaganza – Calumet City Library, 660 S. Manistee Avenue, Calumet City, IL 60409.
March 21 – LUCERO's Colorectal Cancer Awareness Health and Resource Fair – Richards Academy, 5009 S. Laflin Street, Chicago, IL 60609.
March 21 – CCDPH Suburban Vaccination Event – North Riverside Health Center, 1800 S. Harlem Ave Suite A, North Riverside, IL 60546.
March 26 – Walk with a Doctor – Englewood Red Shield Salvation Army, 945 W. 69th Street, Chicago, IL 60621.
March 28 – M.E.A.N. Girls Empowerment Inc.’s Bullying Prevention Program 5th Annual Girls’ Health Matters Summit – Englewood Stem High School, 6835 S. Normal Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60621.
March 28 – CCDPH Suburban Vaccination Event – Arlington Heights Health Center, 3250 N. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60004.

Redetermination Events

Cook County Health and CountyCare are currently hosting a series of Redetermination events in the System’s facilities, other FQHCs and community partners. For more information, please visit CountyCare’s Medicaid Redetermination Information page.

March 3 – Cottage Grove Health Center – 1645 S. Cottage Grove Avenue, Ford Heights, IL 60411.
March 4 – Primecare Health Center – 5635 W. Belmont Avenue, Chicago, IL 60634.
March 5 – Friend Health – 5635 S. Pulaski Road, Chicago IL 60629.
March 6 – St. Bernard Hospital – 6307 S Stewart Street, Chicago, IL 60621.
March 9 – Jorge Prieto Health Center – 2424 S. Pulaski Road, Chicago, IL 60623.
March 10 – Robbins Health Center – 13450 S. Kedzie Avenue, Robbins, IL 60472.
March 10 – Family Guidance Center – 310 W. Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL60654.
March 11 – Provident Hospital – 500 E. 51st Street, Chicago, IL 60615.
March 12 – Alivio Health Center – 2021 S. Morgan Street, Chicago, IL 60608.
March 13 – Chicago Family Health Center – 9119 S. Exchange Avenue, Chicago, IL 60617.
March 16 – Stroger Hospital –1969 W. Ogden Avenue, Chicago, IL 60612.
March 17 – Esperanza Health Center – 4700 S. California Avenue, Chicago, IL 60632
March 18 – Primecare Health Center – 5635 W. Belmont Avenue, Chicago, IL 60634.
March 19 – Friend Health – 5635 S. Pulaski Road, Chicago IL 60629.
March 20 – Englewood Health Center – 1135 W. 69th Street, Chicago, IL 60621.
March 24 – Humboldt Park Health – 1044 N. Mozart Street, Chicago, IL 60622.
March 25 – Provident Hospital – 500 E. 51st Street, Chicago, IL 60615.
March 26 – Care for Friends – 530 W. Fullerton Parkway, Chicago IL 60614.
March 27 – Arlington Heights Health Center – 3520 N. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60004.
March 30 – Blue Island Health Center – 12757 S. Western Avenue, Blue Island, IL 60406.
March 31 – Lawndale Christian Health Center – 3750 W. Ogden Avenue, Chicago IL 60623.