Cancer Vaccines on the Horizon
Cancer vaccines could transform treatment and prevention – but misinformation about mRNA vaccines threatens their potential Above photo: A cancer vaccine would only help patients if they were willing to take it. | Javier Zayas Photography/Moment via Getty Images By Dannell D. Boatman, West Virginia University For the first time, an mRNA cancer vaccine has succeeded […]
UI Health Helps Teens Take Charge of Their Sickle Cell Disease
Ryan Cooper knows firsthand how tough it is to be a teenager with sickle cell disease, a genetic blood disorder that can cause intense pain and organ damage. “Adolescence is already hard enough, and then you are adding a layer of having a chronic illness on top of it,” Cooper says. For more than 15 […]
Mamografías en el parque
Las pruebas gratuitas de detección de cáncer de mama acercan la atención médica a las personas, independientemente de su seguro médico Una madre y su hija viajaron ayer desde su hogar en el South Side de Chicago hasta Humboldt Park; no para pasear en los botes con forma de cisne por la laguna ni para […]
Mammograms at the Park
Free breast cancer screenings bring healthcare access to people, regardless of insurance status A mother and daughter traveled from their home on Chicago’s South Side to Humboldt Park earlier today — not to ride the swan boats in the lagoon or to go bird watching along the trails, but so that the mother could get […]
Power Down
Storm’s aftermath, power outages take a health toll in Northwest Indiana When a storm knocked out her power two weeks ago, Sabrina Scott-Jowers found herself in a stressful situation: figuring out how to get her dialysis treatments on time. “At home, my dialysis machine was out,” Scott-Jowers says. “I had to go into a center […]
The Chicago Room Where Medicine Gets Rebuilt
8th Annual Women in Medicine Summit™ returns to The Drake By Morgan Collier, Executive Director of Women in Medicine™ Most people have lived some version of this. The doctor who knew your whole history, who caught the thing three other people missed, and who you had finally come to trust, is one day just gone […]
Celebrating Our Latest Awards
Read our latest award-winning stories, plus special recognitions, fellowships, and grants We’re excited to share the honors that Caregiving and Chicago Health magazines have received this past year for outstanding work. Congratulations to all! Awards After the Darién By Clavel Rangel and Katie Scarlett Brandt American Psychoanalytic Association’s Special Recognition Award National Association of Hispanic […]
Community Health Worker Pipeline
Partnership between South Side clinic Friend Health and Malcolm X College grows Chicago’s community health workforce from within Victoria Bell of Washington Park, a neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side, was navigating a painful divorce and supporting two children on her own when she resolved to build a better future for her family. “I was focused […]
When Surgery Doesn’t Work
At the Center for Reproductive Care, our mission is to provide you the best opportunity to create the family you dreamed of. Each patient is different and we do our best – using advanced science – to understand the unique circumstances of each patient and develop an individualized treatment plan suited to a patient’s needs.
The Trendiest Non-Diet
Intuitive eating encourages people to trust their bodies — not diet rules As a teenager, Angie Caruso struggled with restrictive eating, avoiding what she considered “fear foods” and underfeeding her body’s needs. In high school and college, she met with doctors and nutritionists who helped her develop daily meal plans and strategies to gain weight. […]
“You Can Smell It Outside Like Something’s Burning.”
Stay inside as much as possible, experts warn, as Chicago fills with smoke from Canadian wildfires. Children, senior citizens, and people with preexisting conditions are especially at risk from this week’s air pollution Chicago ranks among the worst air quality in the world today. Skies are hazy, and a smoky scent lingers in the air […]
Illinois’ Cyclosporiasis Surge
As cases of the parasite increase, here’s what Chicagoans need to know Illinois health officials are investigating a sharp increase in cyclosporiasis, a parasitic intestinal illness, as reported cases have climbed in recent weeks. As of July 16, Illinois had 277 cases statewide, including 23 hospitalizations and no deaths. That’s up from the 141 cases […]
World of Sleep
Inside the emerging field of dream engineering In the space between wakefulness and sleep flutters a fragile twilight zone long untouched by science. But new technologies are changing that. In laboratories across the country, including in Chicago, a glove can track your physiological signals while a whisper delivers audio prompts to influence your mind. Your […]
Holes in the Safety Net
The Chicago Area Has Lost Two Safety-Net Hospitals in Less Than a Year. A judge ruled that West Suburban Medical Center may reopen under the same owner, but furloughed employees, community members have doubts In case you missed it, Cook County Judge Patrick Stanton ruled on June 1 that West Suburban Medical Center in Oak […]
Emotional Choices
You can change your emotions – but it’s a 2‑step process that takes some effort Above Photo: You don’t need to be stuck on a negative feeling. | RealPeopleGroup/E+ via Getty Images By Christian Waugh, Wake Forest University Picture Gigi, having a chat with her boss, when the meeting takes a sharp turn. Gigi’s boss tells her […]
Where Have the Primary Care Doctors Gone?
Despite a record number of new doctors, primary care providers remain difficult to find Fact checked by Catherine Gianaro U.S. medical school enrollment hit an all-time high in 2025, topping 100,000 students for the first time, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. Yet difficulty securing appointments with primary care providers persists. The percentage […]
Collaborative Oncogeneralist Training Program Strengthens Cancer Prevention and Survivorship Care
A unique and impactful training program focused on cancer prevention and survivorship, created by the University of Illinois Cancer Center for the next generation of leaders in preventive medicine and primary care, continues to grow in partnership with UI Health and Cook County Health. The Oncogeneralist Training Program equips clinicians to address the complex […]
The Checkup: How Fact Checking Fights Misinformation
Chicago Health and Caregiving have always prioritized fact checking. Our writers appreciate the verification, and our sources share that they do too. And today, with so much health mis- and disinformation flying around, fact checking is absolutely crucial. Here’s a look behind-the-scenes at our process, and discussion around why we value fact checking and what […]
From the Editor’s Desk
One of the best decisions I made for my career happened a few years after graduating from journalism school. At the time, I was writing the biography of a cancer geneticist named Janet Rowley. Writing a book can be lonely, so to counter that, I started freelancing for a local hospital. I didn’t do it […]
Orthopedics Roundtable
Orthopedics is one of the most technologically advanced, rapidly evolving areas of medicine. It also has a major impact on people’s daily lives, affecting how people move, whether they can go up and down stairs, lift a shirt over their head, or even walk. Here, four local experts share their unique perspectives on sports medicine, […]
Legal Updates
Addressing Drug Shortages Illinois Senate Bill 2672 Effective January 2026 Drug shortages have become a long-term problem throughout the United States, including Illinois. Of the 277 shortages reported nationwide in the fourth quarter of 2024, half have been in short supply for more than two years. From primary care to oncology, physicians have scrambled to […]
An Upside of Shorter Appointments?
People are increasingly noticing shorter primary care appointment times. And David Liss, PhD, a researcher at Northwestern University, has been studying the trend. Liss and colleagues compared outcomes among primary care physicians who scheduled 15- and 30-minute appointments with those who scheduled 20- and 40-minute appointments. The researchers found no significant differences in patients’ ability […]
Letter from the Publisher
Many people anticipate their 65th birthday with dread. Not my wife. The reason? Medicare. To be part of this national, single-payer, governmental healthcare system is a blessing and a milestone. In general, Medicare provides broader medical coverage, including mental health services. The cost: less than half of what my wife paid under the Affordable Care Act (including […]
Creating an Illinois Health Insurance Marketplace
Fact checked by Jim Lacy When news came out that the federal government would terminate Marketplace tax credits for 2026, millions of people panicked — including me, a freelance writer. I was already paying about $500 per month for health insurance; my premium would have skyrocketed to $1,600 monthly. Then, in November 2025, Illinois transitioned […]
5 Books on the Business of Healthcare
Fact checked by Jim Lacy From racism to the Magic Kingdom, these five books explore some of healthcare’s most pressing issues — including compassion, reproductive rights, and consolidation — while challenging the status quo. Each offers unique insights from the author’s lived experience. And one thing on which they all agree: Change is needed […]
Ask the Doc
Nervous Laughter By Esther Yoon, PhD Interview by Stephanie Bouchard Fact checked by Shannon Sparks Q: I snicker when I talk and when I feel nervous. I’m super embarrassed by it. How do I stop doing something that happens automatically? A: First, I want to emphasize that there’s nothing inherently wrong with nervous laughter. In […]
Your Health, Your Business
Fact checked by Jim Lacy Most of the world’s constitutions — 74%, according to the WORLD Policy Analysis Center — explicitly protect their citizens’ right to health. The U.S. Constitution does not. As it stands today, you — not the U.S. government — are the one who must prioritize and care for your health. Have […]
Train Like the Pros
Fitness tips from local orthopedic specialists Fact checked by Derick Wilder Whether you’re a serious weekend warrior or count a stroll around the block as exercise (no judgment — it is!), chances are your fitness routine could use some tweaking. And there are few better sources for advice than the doctors who help professional athletes […]
Rethinking Chemotherapy
New tools treat complex, late-stage cancers in targeted ways Fact checked by Jim Lacy When Dave Tolchin, then 39, began experiencing abdominal pain in 2024, he thought he had diverticulitis. As his symptoms worsened, he visited the emergency room, where a CT scan confirmed the condition and showed a perforation in his colon. His medical […]
Parkinson’s Care Coverage Gap
Despite the benefits of early, targeted exercise, insurance coverage lags behind the evidence Fact checked by Jim Lacy Three mornings a week, Lakeview resident Bob Stevenson (not his real name) joins a Parkinson’s-specific group exercise class at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab’s Adaptive Sports and Fitness Center. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2010. He remained active […]
Out of Beat
What your heart rhythm is telling you about your health Fact checked by Shannon Sparks Arrhythmias — abnormal heart rhythms — are commonly associated with atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition that increases the risk of stroke. But AFib is just one of many arrhythmias that the heart can experience. In the United States, arrhythmias affect […]
Fertility and GLP-1 Medications
What to know about weight-loss drugs before trying to conceive Fact checked by Jim Lacy Many women are turning to popular injectable medications, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists, to control blood sugar and body weight. But can they help with fertility, too? When an individual or couple struggles to conceive, the challenge can seep into all aspects of […]
Picky Eating or Eating Disorder?
When selective eating signals something more Fact checked by Derick Wilder For years, Julia Ramirez (not her real name), who lives in Chicago’s Hermosa neighborhood, suspected something was wrong with her daughter’s eating habits. As a baby, her daughter struggled with food, eating only a few baby food flavors and refusing mixed varieties. The selectivity […]
How to Navigate Medical Debt
Fact checked by Shannon Sparks When chest pains sent 30-year-old Kaylee Ament of Sandwich, Illinois, to the emergency room, she expected care, not financial turmoil. Four hours of blood work, an EKG, and what doctors ultimately determined was heartburn left her with a bill she never anticipated. “I just didn’t think about it,” Ament says. […]
How To Decipher Hospital Ratings and Find Real Quality
Fact checked by Derick Wilder Walk past any major medical center or scroll through a health system’s website, and you’ll see a barrage of badges: “Top 100 Hospital,” “Magnet Recognized,” “U.S. News Best Hospitals Honor Roll,” and “CMS 5-Star.” For someone seeking a hip replacement or a place to give birth, these gold-leaf logos can […]
Private Equity in Healthcare
The expanding role of business in patient care Fact checked by Derick Wilder Private equity firms are increasingly investing in U.S. healthcare, acquiring physician practices, specialty groups, and hospital systems. Supporters say these investments bring vital capital and operational expertise at a time when independent practices face declining reimbursements and rising costs. Critics, however, link […]
Research in Retreat
Federal funding cuts continue to rattle Chicago’s scientific community Fact checked by Jim Lacy Michelle Birkett, PhD, a Northwestern University psychologist, wanted to find out how infectious diseases spread through under-resourced communities. Her vision was grand: She’d need to interview thousands of people across multiple cities to get a true picture of their realities. It’s not […]
From Discovery to Delivery
How drugs for rare diseases make it to the people who need them Fact checked by Shannon Sparks Known as “butterfly children,” their skin is so delicate it tears at the slightest friction. Everyday tasks — dressing, walking, even eating — can cause blisters and cuts. These children have a rare disorder called epidermolysis bullosa, […]
The Primary Care Divide
How direct and concierge care are reshaping American primary care Fact checked by Shannon Sparks Millions of Americans struggle to afford, let alone access, healthcare. In Illinois, individual plans through Get Covered Illinois were 28.8% more expensive than last year, with unpredictable out-of-pocket costs that can run into the thousands — an average of $1,514 […]
Healthcare Across Borders
How the U.S. health system compares to others around the world Fact checked by Jim Lacy More than half of the world’s countries guarantee a right to healthcare in their constitutions. The United States does not. No federal or state law explicitly safeguards citizens’ health or well-being as a guaranteed right. Countries worldwide take varying […]
When the Savers Need Saving
With federal Medicaid and SNAP cuts looming, safety-net hospitals brace for an uncertain future Fact checked by Jim Lacy Mount Sinai Hospital on Chicago’s West Side is bright and busy early on a Thursday morning. People stream through the entrance. Security guards greet regulars and hand out badges to visitors. This is not the Sinai that […]
A Lifetime of Medical Debt
Fact checked by Derick Wilder If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that healthcare costs too much, and something must be done about it. Okay, not all of us. Insurance companies would disagree, despite what their marketing campaigns tell us. Out-of-pocket healthcare spending per person reached $1,514 in 2023, according to health […]
Warm Up. Recover. Repeat.
The importance of movement and stretching before and after your workout Fact checked by Shannon Sparks There’s an adage that if you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated. Although you may not truly be dehydrated, thirst signals that your body needs fluids. As a personal trainer and corrective exercise specialist, I use a modified version of this […]
More Than Flowers
How community gardens build community and fight food insecurity Fact checked by Shannon Sparks Behind nondescript county buildings in Wheaton, a “secret garden” blooms. The garden — a quality-of-lifeprogram for residents of the DuPage Care Center — is more than a place to gather. It highlights how gardens can offer therapy and provide healthy food. […]
Between Remission and Rent
Fact checked by Jim Lacy “Can I afford this”? I asked myself the question before dialing my oncologist’s office. Less than a year ago, my doctor told me I was “cancer-free” based oninitial blood work, but I needed to schedule a follow-up appointment. For many cancer patients, remission does not begin once they learn the […]
We Asked: What’s working or what isn’t working in healthcare
We asked readers on social media and in our weekly newsletter to share their thoughts about what’s working or what isn’t working in healthcare. Here’s what they said. “From my experience in the last 10 years of healthcare in the U.S., what’s working is the incredible level of medical innovation and expertise available, but what […]
The Women’s Board
How women’s volunteer work and fundraising have long supported hospitals Fact checked by Shannon Sparks Most hospitals rely on a fundraising board with an unassuming name that does powerful work: the Women’s Board. The title may sound quaint, but it masks generations of influence, energy, and financial impact. At Rush University Medical Center, Woman’s Board President […]
Smartwatches and Stroke Prevention
How wearable tech helps people monitor atrial fibrillation and other stroke risk factors Fact checked by Jim Lacy Picture this: You’re walking or jogging when your Fitbit buzzes on your wrist, your heart rhythm has gone irregular. Or maybe you’re grocery shopping after work, and your Apple Watch gives a similar warning. When your watch […]
Cranberry Overnight Oats
Fact checked by Derick Wilder When you have a busy day ahead or need to get down to business, having a quick, nutritious breakfast ready to go helps you set up for success. Enter: overnight oats. They have all the nutrition of regular oatmeal, but because you make them the night before, they’re ready to […]
Health Workers: Please Take Our Survey
I’m asking patient-facing health workers to share their perspectives about their own mental health. This survey is completely anonymous, unless you choose to leave your contact information at the end. If you indicate that you are open to an interview about your experience, I’ll be in touch soon. And because of the sensitivity of […]