Join Us for The Closing Reception of the Chicago Health and Medical Careers Citywide Student Conference held Saturday, May 21st at 6pm at Rush University Searle Conference Center
Registration is now open for the Chicago Health and Medical Careers Citywide Student 2 - Day Conference to be held Friday - Saturday, May 20-21st, 2022. This conference that hosted over 500+ students before the pandemic is the "how to" conference of the year for pre-health students in every field from nursing, pharmacy, medicine and beyond.
There is also a "conference within a conference" for ALL Chicago area medical students that includes Clinical Skills Workshops in everything from bedside ultrasonography to reading CTs/MRIs, Chest Xrays, EKGs and more. The information is pitched exclusively for medical students who need help with their clinical skills so they may shine on their clinical core rotations.
Don't miss our closing reception devoted to our physicians, nurses, medical students and healthcare community for their amazing work being done to improve healthcare equity for all Chicagoans. If you are a Chicago area medical student you are welcome to attend the reception and there is no cost. Physicians, I Am Abel Foundation mentees or any young person attending the conference that is striving to become one of the next generation of healthcare Heroes, this special and inspiring evening celebration is for you. There will be phenomenal entertainment featuring Hip Hop Violinist, Windy Indie as well as great food and fellowship. This evening of celebration comes just one week before the 2 year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd which tipped off the twin pandemics of structural and societal racism as well as healthcare equity that we are battling in the U.S. until today.
At this inspiring celebration, I Am Abel Foundation will celebrate our 2022 COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARDEES. This award recognizes healthcare leaders, students and community advocates who simply "can't wait" for change. They are our everyday unsung heroes who have decided to be the change they want to see and refuse to wait or pass the buck. Our IMPACT Awardees are true change makers and are the catalysts for making the places we work, live, and play better, safer, and healthier. Our awardees understand how the social determinants of health reflect true barriers that many of the patients and community members we serve cannot navigate around. Darryl Dennard, V103 Journalist on "Chicago Speaks" used the radio waves to address testing as well as to combat vaccine hesitancy and was relentless in his messaging every Sunday for 2 years straight. We are certain he changed hearts, minds and saved lives.
Farah Rahmen, Loyola Stritch medical student, understood that there is no healthcare equity without representation. She therefore brought voting to doors of clinics and for 3 months straight got people registered to vote in her Maywood Clinic.
Chicago's own Dr. Abdullah Pratt, I Am Abel Foundation Mentor and Asst. Professor of Emergency Medicine at University of Chicago created an Emergency Preparedness curriculum and mentored kids impacted by violence on Chicago's south side by helping them learn how to save a life when emergencies present.
Our IMPACT Awardees are true changemakers and are the catalysts for making the places we work, live, and play better, safer, and healthier. We are also excited to have two amazing keynote speakers for our event. The first, is also a native Chicagoan, and a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy.
Dr. Venita Simpson is the first black woman graduate from the Baylor University Neurosurgery program. She understands all too well that "delay does not equal denial." She will inspire our attendees to create a pathway where none exists and to never give up.
Finally, Dr. Derek Robinson, MD, MBA, Chief Medical Office of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois and one of Crain's 40 under 40 will drive home our conference theme, "Why We Can't Wait - Our Singular and Collective Calling and Power to Create Equity in Medicine Now." Dr. Robinson is a true force in Chicago medicine who leads with integrity and compassion and a deep sense of mission to create Healthcare equity for all. He is also an Emergency Medicine physician that has been in the emergency room trenches fighting Covid alongside many of our healthcare heroes.
A big thanks to Dr. Jan Roberts and Dr. Ronald Rembert, Co-chairs of the closing reception and all of our amazing event leadership team. Register today for the Chicago Health and Medical Careers Citywide Student Conference Chicago and don't forget to join us for the closing ceremony.
To register, please click here>
To download the event PDF, please click here>
For the Workshop Tracks, please click here>
Here's a video of the phenomenal hip hop music of Windy Indie. She's Chicago's Own. Stand Up!