Although recent developments in the race for a vaccine are promising, it is still critically important that we continue to follow public health guidance for social distancing, mask wearing and frequent hand washing. The light at the end of the tunnel appears to be in sight, but we are still experiencing a surge in cases, hospitalizations and deaths that are on track to far outpace the initial wave of the virus from spring 2020.

Unfortunately that means making tough decisions, which include following federal and state guidelines that suggest foregoing traditional holiday gatherings this year. We're all suffering from some form of 'COVID fatigue,' but we're at a critical moment where every choice we make can be the difference between prolonged spreading of the virus and being reunited with our loved ones.

Lastly, I want to express my unending gratitude to all of the frontline healthcare workers, and essential service workers. You are the true heroes in this fight, and the IMD will continue to support and praise you for all that you do.

Earlier this year, Harrison Square welcomed Dr. Murphy's Food Hall to the IMD as part of the Old Cook County Hospital redevelopment.

Named after Dr. John B. Murphy, a pioneering surgeon who studied, worked and taught at Cook County Hospital, the food hall features "a diverse range of chef-driven vendors, an 800 sq ft. outdoor patio, a vibrant bar and a lounge."

Dr. Murphy's Food Hall currently offers delivery and contact-free pick-up. You can place orders online and select items from multiple vendors and pay all on the same bill. A special promotion for Catalyst subscribers offers $1 off orders of $10 or more (pick-up or in-store only), by using the code "FEEDME". Catering service is also available: [email protected]"

Rush University Medical Center announced that it has surpassed 100,000 COVID tests since the start of the pandemic. Citing the hard work of its Clinical Microbiology Laboratory team, Rush notes that it launched in-house testing capabilities on March 16, just ten days after the project began.

Through these efforts, Rush has been able to conduct large-scale testing, which helps individuals who are sick get care earlier, and identifies those who have been exposed to the virus so they can quarantine and help reduce community spread of COVID-19.

Earlier this month, IMD CEO Dr. Suzet McKinney joined a group of distinguished healthcare and real estate professionals for a webinar hosted by Bisnow.

The discussion focused on the effects of the pandemic on healthcare real estate and infrastructure, which of those changes will have lasting effects on the market, and what to expect in the post-COVID healthcare real estate era. You can watch the event here.

Easterseals President and CEO Angela F. Williams recently penned an op-ed for The Hill. In her piece, Ms. Williams advocates for increased attention to the healthcare disparities faced by individuals with disabilities.

Ms. Williams' op-ed makes the case that COVID-19 has highlighted disparities in healthcare access faced by individuals with disabilities. This issue is compounded by the fact that many individuals with disabilities are more vulnerable to COVID. Ms. Williams argues that “While the ADA assures people with disabilities equitable physical access to health care facilities, it does not assure health equity.”

The IMD is a proud partner of Easterseals and Easterseals of Chicagoland and Rockford. You can read Ms. Williams' entire op-ed here.

Local, state and federal health officials continue to promote guidelines for citizens on how to protect themselves from COVID-19.

Individuals are encouraged to observe basic precautions to help protect against infection, such as:

Additional information is available via:

Our Catalyst newsletter exists in part to promote the great work of our IMD partners and friends. If you have news, events or information about your organization that you'd like us to include in a future edition of The Catalyst, please reach out to IMD Communications Director Ryan Gage.