OVERVIEW
The Institute of Medicine of Chicago launched the Behavioral Health Workgroup in late 2024 to address behavioral health needs across Chicago, nearby counties, and the State of Illinois. The group’s goal is to support and strengthen access to coordinated care throughout the region. Workgroup members include Fellows of IOMC dedicated to advancing behavioral health, improving access to care, promoting health equity, and reducing healthcare disparities.
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Purpose
The Behavioral Health Workgroup is dedicated to supporting equitable access to quality behavioral healthcare for people across Illinois.
Objectives
- Promoting integrative care that considers the whole person
- Encouraging collaborative approaches to connect behavioral and physical health services
- Addressing challenges facing the behavioral healthcare workforce in Illinois, while sharing best practices and learning from national trends
- Advancing health equity by considering factors such as geography and access to care
Behavioral Health Workgroup
Jud DeLoss, Chair, IOMC Behavioral Health Workgroup, Fellow, IOMC
Chief Executive Officer/General Legal Counsel, Illinois Association for Behavioral Health
Tom Allen, MD, Fellow, IOMC
Executive Medical Director of Behavioral Health, Health Service Corporation, and Chief Psychiatrist, BCBS Medicaid- Illinois
Gloria E. Barrera, MSN, RN, PEL-CSN, PLNC, Fellow, IOMC
Director, RN-BSN Program, University of Illinois Chicago
Kathleen R. Delaney, PhD, APRN, PMH-NP, FAAN, Fellow, IOMC
Professor Emeritus, Rush College of Nursing
Department of Community, Systems and Mental Health
Tara Gill, PhD, Fellow, IOMC
Clinical Community Psychologist, The Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Child and Adolescent Psychiatry), Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Kaleem Malik, MD, MS, Fellow, IOMC
Chief Executive Officer, TriLab Health, Clinical Professor, Chicago Medical School, and Director of Medical Disaster Response for Humanity First, USA
Shastri Swaminathan, MD, Fellow, IOMC
Former Chair, Department of Psychiatry Advocate Healthcare
Ron Vlasaty, Fellow, IOMC
Chief Operating Officer, Family Guidance Centers, Inc.
Illinois Substance Use Disorder Advisory Council
Related Links
IOMC Programmatic Focus - visit this page>
1.28.2025 Webinar: Cook County Health’s Office of Behavioral Health: Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going. 60 minutes.
3.8.2024 Webinar: IOMC Youth Mental Health-- Identification and Access to Care. 60 minutes.
Video Library: Check IOMC's Video Library for more information related to Behavioral Health and other issues, visit this page>
Calendar and Events: Check the IOMC Calendar and Programs for upcoming events, visit this page.
Blog: Check IOMC's Blog for more information on Behavioral Health and other relevant topics, visit this page>
Mailing List: If you would like to join this workgroup or obtain more information and news, send an email to info@iomc.org.
Questions? Call the IOMC office at 312.709.2685 or send an email to contactus@iomc.org.
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