The Health Equity track was created to address both global and local health equity issues, encompassing the idea that “Global is Local”. The purpose of the track is to empower residents with knowledge, skills, and experiences that they can use to advocate for health equity throughout their careers. The track provides a supportive environment through which residents can collaborate with Rush service initiatives, research, and community partners, both locally and globally.
To train culturally competent and humble physicians to identify health disparities with the goal of improving health outcomes and eliminating health inequities, both locally and globally.
Email invitation to apply to the Track will be sent to incoming PGY-1 categorical medicine residents and to rising PGY-2 Med-Peds residents after Match Day.
The Track experience can be crafted to allow a resident to spend time with several different partners for a broad-based learning experience vs focusing on one specific area.
Rush has a strong commitment to the West Side of Chicago stemming from a deep desire to improve the health and well-being of our surrounding communities. The Rush Anchor Mission Strategy outlines the efforts aimed at reducing the social, economic, and environmental inequities faced by individuals living on the West Side. Inspiration is drawn from this commitment to provide Track residents with the opportunity to engage with our community partners in a meaningful and bidirectional fashion.
Health care providers from Rush have been supporting and assisting local communities in the Dominican Republic to establish and sustain public health and medical services for the past seventeen years. On site work occurs quarterly to foster continuity and sustainability within the communities. Teams are multi-specialty with volunteers from medicine, pediatrics, surgery, nursing, physical therapy, and pharmacy. Trip experiences are one week long in duration with opportunities to participate on both Primary Care and Surgical Trips. Rush partners with the non-governmental organization, Community Empowerment, whose mission is to work with local leadership in underserved communities to provide essential health care, while fostering the development of self-sustaining health care systems.
While we have a strong commitment with our partner communities in the DR, we are continuously exploring other opportunities. Residents interested in working in a different locale, must first have the experience vetted by the Program Director.
We strive to provide yearly scholarships to residents to offset the cost of the trips (logistics and airfare).
For those residents interested in a Global Health experience, but are not looking for a three year commitment, we do offer a Global Health Elective which is a one time, two week experience. Of note, priority is given to Track residents.
Stephanie Crane, MD
Chief, Division of Community and Global Health Equity |
![]() |
Jennifer Towbin, MD Co-Director, Health Equity Track |
![]() |
Octavio A. Vega, MD Co-Director, Health Equity Track |
![]() |
Maggie Topps Program Coordinator |
![]() |
The gallery below includes photos from our recent trips to the Dominican Republic and Haiti.