NEW IN THE ILLINOIS MEDICAL DISTRICT: AUGUST 2018
FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
In recognition of September as National Preparedness Month, we've invited  Dr. David Ibrahim, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Administrative Services at UIC to recap a joint preparedness exercise that UIC's Office of Preparedness & Response recently conducted:
During the week of July 23, UIC's Office of Preparedness & Response, in partnership with the Illinois Fire Safety Institute, the City of Chicago's Office of Emergency Management and Communications, Mutual Aid Box Alarm System Illinois Task Force-1, and the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) Chemical Biological Incident Response Force, hosted a state-wide simulated disaster training exercise.

"This was a unique opportunity for first responders to maximize the use of college campuses as resource providers," explained Dr. Ibrahim. "Interagency coordination is critical to facilitate rapid staging and delivery of essential assets in a disaster. We're able to stage a tremendous volume of pre-positioned personnel and assets."
STAGING AREA AT UIC CAMPUS
The staging area operated non-stop for 5 days, processed more than 200 response personnel, staged over 2 dozen trucks for fire, hazardous material, and technical rescue equipment, and provided lodging for 100 USMC personnel.  

The Office of Preparedness & Response will continue to strengthen UIC's partnerships in order to build a culture of preparedness, not only on campus, but throughout the city, state, and nation.

To learn more about National Preparedness month,  click here

-SUZET MCKINNEY, DRPH, MPH

RUSH RECEIVES $9M GRANT 
Following a two year pilot program that helped patients reverse metabolic syndrome with lifestyle changes, Rush University Medical Center has been awarded a $9 million grant by the William G. McGowan Charitable Fund to expand the program called Eat, Love, Move (ELM) to five cities.

The clinical trial will determine whether this lifestyle program can be scaled up, produce a sustained two-year reversal of metabolic syndrome, improve quality of life and be a cost-effective investment for the healthcare system. To read more about the program, click here.
CAREER OPPORTUNITY: SUPERIOR AMBULANCE
IMD partner Superior Ambulance is accepting applications for its  EMT apprentice program.The 8 week  PAID  Accelerated Apprentice Program (Monday-Friday, 8 AM-5/6 PM) educates candidates and prepares them to successfully complete the National/State Registry and become a licensed Emergency Medical Technician - Basic. 

To complete the application process, click here. You can also visit Superior's Careers page to seek additional employment opportunities within the organization.  
RED CROSS DISASTER PREPAREDNESS SUMMIT
On Thursday, August 16, the Red Cross will host its 9th annual Disaster Preparedness Summit.  This annual event is an opportunity to meet experts in the field of disaster response. Recent topics have been bioterrorism, cyber security and vulnerability reduction. The 9th Annual Disaster Preparedness Summit will take place on Thursday, August, 16 2018 at DePaul University and will focus on resilience and disaster management.
If you have questions about the event, please email Yvette Alexandar-Maxie. If you are interested in sponsorship information, please contact Marty Makowski.
SCHECK & SIRESS RELOCATES IN THE IMD
Scheck & Siress, a prosthetics and orthotics company, has relocated its former UIC office to the IMD. The organization's new offices are located at 2240 W. Ogden. 
"Scheck & Siress IMD location is focused on fulfilling its corporate mission of improving and restoring mobility and helping people achieve their goals," said Lakshmi-Narayan Shandilya, CPO/LPO, and Lab Manager at the IMD office.

To read more about the organization and its new location,  click here.