Eric E. Whitaker

Eric E. Whitaker is a prominent African-American physician, public health practitioner, and health policy expert. He is a close friend of President Barack Obama.

This article is about the American physician. For the American diplomat, see Eric P. Whitaker. For the American composer/conductor, see Eric Whitacre. For other people named Eric Whitaker, see Eric Whitaker (disambiguation).

Eric Whitaker
Personal details
BornChicago, Illinois, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationGrinnell College (BS)
Harvard University (MPH)
University of Chicago (MD)

Education and career

Whitaker received his undergraduate degree in Chemistry from Grinnell College in 1987, and in 1993 a master's degree in public health from the Harvard School of Public Health and a medical degree from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine.

Whitaker was most recently the Executive Vice President, Strategic Affiliations and Associate Dean of Community-based Research at the University of Chicago Medical Center (UCMC).[1] He was responsible for leading the UCMC’s Urban Health Initiative, linking the Medical Center’s mission of patient care, teaching and research for the purpose of improving the health of residents of the South Side of Chicago.[2] Until September 2007, he served as Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).[3] In this capacity, Whitaker oversaw an agency with a budget of $450 million with over 1,200 employees statewide, as well as 3 laboratories and seven regional offices. Prior to his appointment at the State, Whitaker was an attending physician in Internal Medicine at Cook County Hospital in Chicago and a member of its Collaborative Research Unit. His research interests include HIV/AIDS prevention and minority health, particularly for black males.

In 2018 and currently in 2019, Whitaker has been co-owner and -operator of Los Angeles-based Pipeline Health, which in January 2019 bought Tenet Healthcare's three remaining Chicago-area for-profit hospitals: Louis A. Weiss Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois; Westlake Hospital, Melrose Park, Illinois; and West Suburban Medical Center, Oak Park, Illinois.[4][5] Then, in February 2019 Whitaker announced that Pipeline Health would close Westlake Hospital within five months, keeping the other two open.[6] On April 9, 2019, the hospital "suspended services."[7]

Recognition and achievements

Whitaker helped found Project Brotherhood: A Black Men’s Clinic, a weekly clinic for African American men housed in Woodlawn Adult Health Center on Chicago's South Side, which is affiliated with the Cook County Bureau of Health Services.[8]

In 2003, he received the Laureate Award from the American College of Physicians.[9] In 2000, the project received the highest award accorded by the National Association of Public Hospital and Health Systems. In 1991, Whitaker represented the 30,000 members of the American Medical Student Association (AMSA) as its president while testifying twice before the U.S. Congress regarding national health insurance and minority health issues.[10] In November 2003, he was named as one of Crain’s Chicago Business’ Forty under Forty, Chicago’s rising stars in business and government.[11] in a 2020 Holiday letter to Subcribers, Dr. Whitaker introduces himself as both Founder & CEO of Chicago-based Zing Health, Medicare Advantage plan.

Whitaker serves on the boards of Partnership for Prevention, Grinnell College, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Council on Gll Affairs (co-chair of Global Health Policy Roundtable), and the Economic Club of Chicago.

Controversy

Whitaker served director of Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) from 2003 until 2007. His chief of staff at the IDPH, Quinshaunta Golden, was subsequently indicted on charges of fraud and theft involving multiple grants made by Whitaker's department.[12][13] After his term at IDPH, he moved to the University of Chicago's School of Medicine, together with Ms. Golden,[14] where he was executive vice president of strategic affiliations and associate dean.[15]

References
  1. "Eric Whitaker, MD, named executive vice president for strategic affiliations and associate dean for community-based research at the University of Chicago Medical Center - The University of Chicago Medicine". Uchospitals.edu. September 17, 2007. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  2. "South Side Health and Vitality Studies". Sshvs.org. Archived from the original on December 17, 2013. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  3. "Stroger Hospital doctor named to top health post - Chicago Tribune". Articles.chicagotribune.com. March 26, 2003. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  4. Schencker, Lisa (July 18, 2018). "'We can ... save these hospitals': Weiss, Westlake, West Suburban sold for $70 million to for-profit firm". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  5. Schencker, Lisa (January 29, 2018). "Weiss, Westlake and West Suburban hospitals to be sold to firm headed by Obama friend". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  6. Schencker, Lisa (February 19, 2018). "The state can't stop the new owners of Westlake Hospital from closing it. That wasn't always the case". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  7. "Judge rules Westlake Hospital must stay open". Crain's Chicago Business. April 9, 2019.
  8. "HMS / Office for Diversity and Community Partnership / Mentations Volume 21 - Spring 2005". Mfdp.med.harvard.edu. March 8, 2005. Archived from the original on July 14, 2010. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  9. "ACP : Illinois Chapter Governors' Newsletter" (PDF). Acponline.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 8, 2012. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  10. "Past Presidents & Executive Directors". Amsa.org. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  11. "Crain's Chicago Business : Subscription Center". Chicagobusiness.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  12. "Former top aide to Obama pal Whitaker indicted in state grant kickback scheme - Chicago Tribune". Articles.chicagotribune.com. August 7, 2013. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  13. James A. Lewis. "USDOJ: US Attorney's Office - Central District of Illinois". Justice.gov. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  14. Carol Felsenthal (August 12, 2013). "Obama's Buddy Eric Whitaker: Is He Clueless or What?". Chicagomag.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  15. "Eric Whitaker". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
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