You have been with the University of Chicago Medicine for over 10 years. What are the main changes you have seen in the industry in that time?

I have had the privilege of witnessing waves of changes in the industry in general over the past 10 years. One notable transformation includes the consolidation of healthcare enterprises across the country, which led to larger networks fostering efficiency and resource sharing. Furthermore, we witnessed a shift from fee-for-service payment models to value-based care. This shift pushed for higher-quality services for patients, better health outcomes, and cost effectiveness.

We witnessed a shift from feefor-service payment models to value-based care

On a global level, we all witnessed waves of changes including the increase of international patients seeking care in the US, driven by its reputation in medical excellence, innovation and the high standards of care. Additionally, the Covid-19 pandemic had deep effects on the healthcare industry and travel. This brought significant acceleration in adapting telemedicine and digital health solutions, promoting remote care delivery as an option till this day.

Today, patients are well educated and more empowered than ever. They now have access to information that allows them to make informed decisions. This change is pushing for more patient-centred care, transparency, and collaboration between providers and patients.

The University of Chicago Medicine is at the forefront of research and is renowned for clinical advancement. Can you tell us more about this?

Certainly. As part of the University of Chicago, one of the top universities in the world with over 101 Nobel prize winners including in medicine and physiology, the University of Chicago Medicine is committed to clinical research and advancement.

For example, the Office of Clinical Research is a pioneer in the support and management of hundreds of clinical trials yearly, covering a wide range of diseases. Furthermore, the University of Chicago Department of Medicine is a flagship for biomedical and clinical research with nearly US$168.4 million in funding and well-published research in the best medical journals globally.

Lastly, our therapeutic clinical research programmes, including the Comprehensive Cancer Centre, the Kovler Diabetes Centre, and the MacLean Centre for Clinical Ethics, are beacons for cutting-edge research and clinical trials.

Like many US hospitals, the University of Chicago Medicine is vying for overseas patients. Can you tell us about the customised care you offer international patients?

The University of Chicago Medicine understands that international patients have unique needs. Not only are patients travelling thousands of miles for care, but they need support in navigating the US, let alone different healthcare systems. As such, our programme is dedicated to providing customised clinical and non-clinical care, starting from pre-intake while patients are still in their home country, all the way to post-discharge and care back in their home country. Our philosophy is to continue supporting patients for life.

Additionally, our team assist in non-clinical needs such as transportation arrangements, lodging and cultural orientation. All provided by bilingual and bicultural diverse teams to ensure patients feel at home in Chicago.

Our goal is to make the care journey for our patients comfortable, transparent, and seamless for our patients.

What’s next for the University of Chicago Medicine?

The University of Chicago Medicine has ambitious plans to continue leading healthcare research, innovation, and patient care.

Our Vision 2035 focuses on excelling in patient and clinical experience, growing signature specialty programmes, expanding our health system network, enhancing the health of our local community, and delivering high-quality, cost-effective care.

Furthermore, our upcoming significant establishment of Chicago’s first freestanding cancer centre in 2027 will be a game changer in patient care. With over $850m in investment, the University of Chicago Medicine is focused on increasing access to cutting-edge treatments while combining research, clinical trial and support services for patients and their families in one space.