Community Outreach
Disaster Management & Community Emergency Preparedness
The Disaster Management & Community Emergency Preparedness Initiative (DMCEPI) focuses on mass event and disaster management, emergency preparedness and community safety. Under the direction of faculty member George Chiampas, DO, DMCEPI collaborates with private and public sector partners to enhance community preparedness capabilities and improve emergency response outcomes.
CCARES
The Chicago Cardiac Arrest Resuscitation Education Service (CCARES) is a community outreach organization started by two Department of Emergency Medicine faculty members. The service partners with city agencies, communities, schools and businesses to educate and raise awareness of the importance of bystander CPR and AED use.
High School Engagement
Since 2018, we have partnered with local high school Catalyst Maria to expose students to careers in healthcare. Located in the southwest part of the city, the predominantly Black and Latino students spend a day at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The day includes a tour of the emergency department and simulation center, a career panel (including nursing, pharmacy, ED techs, physical therapy and physicians) and a presentation on basic skills to help bleeding patients in everyday settings. The goal of the day is meant to get students interested in healthcare careers and allow residents to connect with students in the community. The hope is to build upon this relationship in order to pique the interest of students who may have never considered health careers.
Homelessness Initiative
We remain an active partner in improving the lives and outcomes of patients in our community. The department has supported and encouraged resident and faculty participation in youth outreach and violence prevention. We are also leading an exciting initiative to improve our care of homeless and behavioral health patients. Working with community-based agencies, we are hoping to establish a citywide effort to help our most vulnerable patient populations find the resources they need to live healthy lives.