Dr. Terry Mason, Midwest Regional Chair National Black Leadership Initiative on Cancer

Dr. Mason is a partner and President of Prairie Medical Corporation and recently was instrumental in establishing Health Solutions, Inc., and innovative approach to maintaining and improving health through a highly individualized program of diet and exercise. He is a member of the investigative team for The Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT), a major, international research study to determine if selenium and vitamin E can help prevent prostate cancer. He is the author of a book entitled “Making Love Again, Renewing Intimacy and Helping Your Man Overcome Impotence” and several articles on kidney disease, prostate cancer, and urinary incontinence. He is a much sought after guest lecturer and speaker at major academic institutions and community events throughout the city and nation and gives freely of his time for numerous worthwhile causes.

He served four terms as President of the Cook County Physicians Association (one of the nation’s oldest groups representing African American physicians), currently serves as the Midwest Regional Chair of the National Black Leadership Initiative on Cancer II (a national initiative established in 2000 to create cancer control, prevention, and research and training programs for minority and underserved populations) and recently helped to establish Project COOPERATES (a major effort funded by the Illinois department of Public Health to inform and educate at risk men about prostate and testicular cancer). Yet in spite of all this, he finds time maintains an active and quite busy private practice where he continues to give his patients quality time and the best of medical care. He is our doctor in the house.

Mr. Joseph M. Harrington, Executive Director, Center for African American Health/Vice-Chair African American Healthcare Council

Mr. Harrington is a Project Director in the Department of Preventive Medicine at Rush University Medical Center. He is responsible for oversight and management of the Selenium and Vitamin E Prostate Cancer Prevention Trail (SELECT) and the Women's Hea lth Initiative (WHI), providing administrative and operational support to the Department of Preventive Medicine's Clinical Research Center (CRC), and acting as the community liaison for the CDC funded Illinois Stroke Registry Prototype project. He is a member of the Rush Medical College's Faculty Work Group on International Health and the Rush Institutional Review Board.

He is the Project Director for an international collaboration between the University of the Transkei (South Africa), Frere College of Nursing (South Africa), the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health and Rush University, to implement a Community-Based Infrastructure Development Project (CBIDP). The World Health Organization and UNESCO fund the project. The project focuses on improving the health status of the rural poor living in the Transkei (Eastern Cape Region of South Africa). He also serves as the Executive Director of the Center for African American Health based out of Roseland Community Hospital.

He serves as the Co-chair of the Minority/Medically Underserved Committee for Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial, Chairman of the Advisory Panel on Minority Health for the Illinois Department of Public Health, and member of the Public Health Futures Illinois Steering Committee. He serves on the Board of Directors of the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Africa International House and the Continental Africa Chamber of Commerce. He is a Fellow of the class of 1998-2000 of the International Center for Health Leadership Development, CEO and founding member of the Chicago Network of Black Professional Organizations, and Vice Chairman and founding member of the African American HealthCare Council.

A native Chicagoan who grew up on the city’s south side and still resides there, Mr. Harrington is committed to the issue of social justice which he believes is the underpinning for the disparities in health we face in this country. His views of critical health issues include improved communication and cooperation among health professionals; improved and equitable access to health care for all; and an emphasis on health promotion and healthier lifestyles.

Paul W. Crawford, Chairperson of Medical Affairs for the American Kidney Fund

Paul W. Crawford is in private practice at Associates in Nephrology in Chicago, Ill, and has practiced nephrology for the last 23 years. He is a graduate of the Loyola-Stritch School of Medicine, and he completed an internal medicine residency at St. Joseph Hospital and a fellowship in nephrology at the University of Illinois Medical Center. Dr. Crawford is a diplomate of the American Board of Medicine with subspecialty certification in nephrology.

Dr. Crawford is Adjunct Professor at Northwestern University Medical School, Chairperson of Medical Affairs for the American Kidney Fund and its African American Outreach Program, and President of the Medical Staff at Advocate Trinity Hospital. He is also Medical Director of the Frescenius Medical Care Evergreen Park Dialysis Unit and a board member of the Regional Organ Bank of Illinois.

Dr. Crawford is a fellow of the American College of Physicians and is the recipient of many awards, including the first Daniel Hail Williams Award of the American Heart Association of Metropolitan Chicago and the Lewis B. Russell Memorial Award of the American Heart Association for outstanding contributions to minority communities. He is a former president of the American Heart Association of Metropolitan Chicago.

Dr. Crawford founded the church-based hypertension program of the American Heart Association of Metropolitan Chicago, which led to the development of the national American Heart Association "Search Your Heart" program. In July 2001, he redirected the focus of his practice to the prevention of chronic kidney disease. He has coauthored many publications and presentations and has conducted many local and national media interviews.

Dr. Eric Whitaker, Director, Illinois Department of Public Health

As director of the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Eric E. Whitaker, M.D., M.P.H., oversees an agency comprising more than 1,200 employees. Working out of the Chicago and Springfield headquarters, three laboratories and seven regional offices, this staff shares responsibility for improving the health of the 12 million citizens of Illinois.

Prior to his appointment in 2003, Whitaker was an attending physician in internal medicine at Cook County Hospital in Chicago and a member of its Collaborative Research Unit, where his interests included HIV/AIDS prevention and minority health, particularly for black males. He helped found Project Brotherhood: A Black Men's Clinic in Woodlawn where Whitaker spent his youth. Housed in Woodlawn Adult Health Center, which is affiliated with the Cook County Bureau of Health Services, this innovative weekly clinic uses free haircuts to entice African-American man, many of whom die prematurely from preventable diseases, to visit. The clinic promotes a holistic approach to health and wellness that addresses physical as well as mental, vocational and spiritual needs. In 2000, the project received the National Association of Public Hospital and Health Systems' highest award.

In 1991, while serving as national president of the American Medical Student Association (AMSA), Whitaker testified before the U.S. Congress on national health insurance and minority health issues, and helped to found in Brussels an organization similar to AMSA for the European Union's medical schools.

Whitaker received his undergraduate degree in chemistry from Grinnell College in 1987 and, in 1993, his master's degree in public health from the Harvard School of Public Health and a medical degree from the University of Chicago. He is an assistant professor at Rush Medical College's Department of Medicine and Preventive Medicine and remains clinically active at Project Brotherhood.

Rupert M. Evans, Sr., MPA, DHA, FACHE

Dr. Rupert M. Evans Sr. is an Assistant Professor of Healthcare Management at Governors State University, University Park Illinois.  He is also the Principal in his own healthcare management and diversity consulting company, Trepur LLC.  He is a Senior Vice President with the Desir Group Executive Search and is the Executive Director of the Thapelo Institute.  Dr. Evans is the immediate past President of the Institute for Diversity in Health Management (IFD) a 501c (3) corporation affiliated with the American Hospital Association, American College of Health Care Executives, National Association of Health Services Executives the Association of Hispanic Health Executives and the Catholic Health Association.  From 1995 until February 1999, Evans was the President and CEO of the Erie Family Health Center.  Erie is one of the largest Federally Qualified Community Health Centers in Chicago.

Dr. Evans is a Fellow in the UIC Public Health Leadership Institute and a Fellow in the American College of Health Care Executives, which is the highest honor for American and Canadian Health Care Executives. He is the past President of the Chicago/Mid-west Chapter of the National Association of Health Services Executives (NAHSE).  He has written articles for Hospitals and Health Systems Magazine, Modern Healthcare and Journal of the American College of Health Care Executives.  He served as faculty for Rush University, Health Systems Management Department, the Governance Institute, American College of Health Care Executives, National Association of Health Services Executives, AONE, the American Governance and Leadership Group, and The International and Quality and Productivity Center. 

Major Evans is a highly decorated veteran and holds many honors and awards. He was recognized in the August 2002 and August 2004 Modern Healthcare Magazine as one of the top 100 “Most Powerful People in Healthcare.”  He serves on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Facilities Fund, the African American Healthcare Council and is a Life Member of Kappa Alpha Psi, Fraternity, Inc.  He holds a master degree in Public Administration/Health Services Management and BA in Environmental Studies.  He is married to Cynthia Griffith Evans, has a son, Rupert Jr., daughter, Angelette M., daughter-in-law Alicia and grandsons; Marcus (9) and David (8)