In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Julie Morita, former Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health and currently the Executive Vice President at the RWJF (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation)"overseeing all programming, policy, research, and communications activities in support of its vision of building a Culture of Health in America in which everyone has a fair and just opportunity for health and well-being."

In our interview, we discuss Dr. Morita's past accomplishments, her views on health equity and what motivated her to get into public health. We also touch upon e-cigarettes, vaccinations, Healthy Chicago 2.0, working with diverse stakeholders and what's next for Dr. Morita.

Contact us:

- [email protected]

-twitter.com/skinnytrees312

Links and mentions (in order of appearance):

• West Side United westsideunited.org/

• Elevate Chicago www.elevatedchicago.org/

• Nurse Nancy Golden Books www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/85921…0375832628/

• RWJF (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation)www.rwjf.org/en/how-we-work/bui…ure-of-health.html

• Flu Pandemic 2009 www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/…0_PandemicFlu.pdf

• Ebola virus and coordinated response academic.oup.com/cid/article/61/10/1554/301627

• Immunizations work - HPV vaccine campaign www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/cdp…et-hpv-vacci.html

• Tobacco 21+ policy advocacy work www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/may…nerTestifies.html

• Chicago Health Atlas www.chicagohealthatlas.org/

• Plan to End Homelessness www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/fss…homelessness.html

• Jonathan Fielding former LA County health commissioner ph.ucla.edu/faculty/fielding

• Seeing White Series podcast www.sceneonradio.org/

• Building Healthy Places Community Development buildhealthyplaces.org/principles-fo…-communities/

• Healthy Chicago 2.0 www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/cdp…althychicago.html

Books/Podcast Recommendations:

- Building Healthy Places Making the Case for linking community development and health www.buildhealthyplaces.org/resources/m…and-health/

- The Very Persistent Gappers of Frip by George Saunders www.georgesaundersbooks.com/the-very-pe…ers-of-frip

- Freakonomics Radio Podcast freakonomics.com/

- Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver www.animalvegetablemiracle.com/book.htm

- Decomposed Podcast with Jade Simmons podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/deco…ns/id1458565545

- Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn www.amazon.com/Sharp-Objects-Gil…ynn/dp/0307341550

- Latino USA podcast by NPR www.npr.org/podcasts/510016/latino-usa

Welcome back! SkinnyTrees is happy to return with its second season. In this first episode of season two we bring back Dr. Melissa Simon to discuss what we have been up to since you last heard from us. Dr. Simon introduces an exciting new center launched this year -- the Center for Health Equity Transformation (CHET). She explains the work this center aims to do and how it is taking a different approach. Dr. Simon stresses why health equity is important and required to lift health for all. We review a few key terms that might be helpful in future episodes and understanding the work we want to highlight along the way. Stay tuned for the next episode with the former Commissioner of the Department of Public Health -- Dr. Julie Morita!

Links:

- https://feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/chet/

-https://twitter.com/DrMelissaSimon

Contact us:

- [email protected]

-https://twitter.com/skinnytrees312

Books mentioned:

-Zoom by Istvan Banyai

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/324143/zoom-by-istvan-banyai/9780140557749/

-Finding my Voice by Valerie Jarrett https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/566230/finding-my-voice-by-valerie-jarrett/9780525558132/

- Becoming by Michelle Obama https://becomingmichelleobama.com/

- The Moment of Lift by Melinda Gates https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250313560

Join Skinny Trees on their first Mini-Episode led by Anika Jagasia, a rising high school Senior. Anika speaks with Dr. Joe Feinglass on his long-time career as a historian, social activist, former factory machinist, community college professor, and now a full professor and health services researcher at Northwestern University.

SkinnyTrees Interviews Howard Brown COO by Center for Health Equity Transformation at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

When you think of health inequities our visions are not automatically brought to a person in a wheelchair, but people with disabilities experience many barriers to care, are often living on public aid, and have - as you might imagine - general issues maneuvering - at times - an inaccessible world. Being one of the first ten centers for independent living established in the country, Access Living's model includes over half of the board and the staff as people with disabilities. Nothing about us, without us.

EPISODE 2 | On ‘Breaking the Rules’ with one of Chicago’s most prominent Social Activists, Dr. Linda Rae Murray.

www.skinnytreespodcast.com

CHARGED. HAPPY. HOSTILE. ENRAGED. HOPEFUL. DISAPPOINTED.

How do you feel about the last month?

We have a new {future} President. We have a changing America.

On Episode 2, we dive a little deeper into this…

Dr. Murray is one of the largest personalities we will most likely ever to have grace Skinny Trees and is quick to have an unfiltered, real-talk, open conversation about things that are on her heart. A social activist, educator, clinician, and self-proclaimed revolutionary, Dr. Murray has spent her long career giving a voice to the medically undeserved.

Having graduated from UIC medical school, Dr. Murray started her medical career at Cook County Hospital, where she ultimately went on to become the Chief Medical Officer of Primary Care & Community Health. Throughout her career, she held high-level positions at community-based clinics throughout Chicago, such as Near North and Woodlawn Health Center, held an appointment as the Medical Director of the Manitoba Federation of Labour in Canada, and became the President of the American Public Health Association (APHA). Throughout it all, she has stood as a strong voice for patient care of the uninsured and underinsured, for students – specifically those of color, and for the justice of marginalized populations.

We sat down with Dr. Murray on a cold, Friday morning in her home to discuss her take on politics, education, healthcare, breaking the rules, and the overall changing climate of America.

We’d like to especially thank Da In Lee who interviewed students to get their reaction regarding the election- this was played in the intro of this podcast, to Kurt Swan Jr. for a student music submission (outro music) from Black Swan Productions, and to Tone Jonez.

Intro:

Rage Donate

Trump and the Affordable Care Act (ACA)

The Illinois ACA Marketplace

Frustrations with the ACA

Uninsured individuals gaining healthcare coverage via the ACA

Benefits of the ACA – specifically for people of color

Medicaid Expansion

Chicago as a Sanctuary City: here, here & here

Interview with Dr. Linda Rae Murray:

“Sometimes it pays to break the rules” – Dr. Murray

Fee for Service

Canada’s Healthcare System

Pipeline Programs

Under-funding education in IL

Dr. Steve Whitman: here & here

Project Brotherhood

Cook County Trauma Unit

Woodlawn Health Center

Black Reconstruction by W.E.B Du Bois: here & here

In the Shadow of the Poorhouse by Michael Katz

The Philadelphia Negro by W.E.B Du Bois: here & here

Outro:

ChicagoCHEC 2017 Summer Research Fellows Program

Kurt Swan Jr.

Tone Jonez – Song title: Freedom

www.skinnytreespodcast.com

Episode 1 was created to set the scene for the content of Skinny Trees and the reoccurring themes we will discuss over the next 6 months of season 1. We interview Dr. Melissa Simon to better understand the landscape of health equity and to learn more about the varying terms of health disparities/inequality/inequities.

Intro Music:

Artist: Elizabeth Breen and Band

Album: Havin' Stuff and Bein' Pretty

Song Title: The Heat

5 in 5 Music:

Tone Jonez

www.tonejonez.com

Outro Music:

Tone Jonez

www.tonejonez.com