Focus on Health Equity & Community Medicine
Health Equity
Delnor is committed to advancing health equity by fostering a workforce and resident community that reflects and serves the diverse populations in our region. We believe that an inclusive environment, where varied lived experiences and perspectives are valued, strengthens our ability to deliver equitable, compassionate care.
Health equity is integrated throughout the residency curriculum and didactic education. Residents participate in discussions and learning opportunities focused on health disparities, social determinants of health, cultural humility, and the impact of structural barriers on patient care. In addition, the Department sponsors a dedicated Health Equity Series during didactics, providing opportunities for ongoing education, reflection, and dialogue on topics that promote equitable healthcare delivery.
Residents play an important role in shaping our culture by providing monthly opportunities that create a safe, respectful space for discussion and learning.
We recognize the deeply rooted and persistent presence of oppression, racism, discrimination, and inequality. These challenges exist not only within medicine but throughout our nation, disproportionately affecting vulnerable and historically marginalized communities.
Our "Equity For All" committee was created with the goal of helping dismantle these inequities. The committee provides a forum for meaningful and respectful conversations about racism, inequity, oppression, privilege, and allyship. It cultivates an environment of purposeful learning, thoughtful exploration, and deeper understanding. Our goal is to be part of the solution and to promote a culture that advances equity, inclusion, and belonging for our patients, residents, faculty, and community.
Gender Pathway
The Northwestern Gender Pathway Program (GPP) was created in 2020 to provide comprehensive gender-affirming care to patients seeking these services. Multiple subspecialty groups are represented, but the true core of the program is primary care. By joining the GPP, residents provide care comprehensive care for transgender and non-binary patients, including hormone therapy. This program continues to grow into a national model for providing care for the LGBTQ+ community. To learn more about the Gender Pathway Program, visit Northwestern Medicine Gender Pathways Program | Northwestern Medicine. Our residency team are part of this network and provide comprehensive, patient-centered care for the LGBTQ+ community and their families, including gender-affirming care, while also caring for individuals and families across the lifespan and managing a diverse range of acute and chronic medical conditions.
Tri City Health Partnership Medical Clinic
During the Community Medicine rotation, residents work at Tri City Health Partnership, the only free medical clinic serving uninsured individuals in Central Kane County. This experience provides residents with the opportunity to care for this patient population while gaining a deeper understanding of community health needs and barriers to care. To further support the community, Delnor Family Medicine residents and faculty volunteer on the first Wednesday evening of every month expanding access to the clinic's patients.