Tesa Anewishki, the first African and Native-American CEO of Loretto Hospital, is spearheading initiatives to address health disparities in Chicago’s West Side. As leader of this safety-net institution where over 70% of patients receive Medicaid, Anewishki is implementing programs aimed at promoting community wellness and ensuring equitable access to healthcare.
Key initiatives include the Community Cupboard, providing meals to those in need and plans for a free hospital-based grocery store to combat food insecurity. Anewishki is also advocating for a physician fellowship program to recruit diverse medical practitioners, recognizing that health outcomes improve when Black and Brown patients are treated by doctors who look like them.
The hospital is developing specialized care centers, including a Diabetic Total Lifestyle Center and a Women’s Clinic to address maternal health issues, particularly among Black women. Anewishki emphasizes eliminating barriers to funding for healthcare providers and envisions creating a wellness village on the hospital campus.
“We can’t really talk about really making meaningful change in those disparities and talk about closing services in the same sentence,” Anewishki stated, underlining her commitment to addressing the social drivers of health in the community.
See “Tesa Anewishki: Championing Equity and Transformation in Healthcare” (May 19, 2024)
