Chief Medical Officer of Cook County Health & Hospitals System receives CARES Award

Chief Medical Officer of the Cook County Health & Hospitals System Receives Award for Service to Community

Terry Mason, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of the Cook County Health & Hospitals System, received the first annual Resurrection Health Care C.A.R.E.S. Award July 12 for his many contributions to the community.

Resurrection Health Care President and Chief Executive Officer Sandra Bruce presented Dr. Mason with the award, which is bestowed upon community leaders who embody the spirit of the hospital's core values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Excellence, and Service, and who has made a significant impact on improving the lives of others in the community.

Dr. Mason became the Chief Medical Officer of the Cook County Health & Hospitals System in September 2009. Prior to his appointment, Dr. Mason was Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health. In 2005, he embarked on a mission to transform the department and make Chicago one of America's healthiest cities. He led the Chicago Department of Public Health in co-founding Building a Healthier Chicago, the nation's first citywide health partnership. Building a Healthier Chicago is dedicated to mobilizing a wide range of stakeholders to combat the obesity epidemic and promote healthy living. Dr. Mason is a nationally known health educator and inspirational speaker who champions holistic approaches to health management and the invaluable role of families in building healthier communities.

Hospital CARES Award recipients include:

• Holy Family Medical Center
  Sister Cathy Ryan, Executive Director, Maryville Academy
• Saints Mary & Elizabeth Medical Center
  Magdalena Martinez, President & Executive Director, The Block Club Federation
• Saint Francis Hospital
  Lorraine Morton, Former Mayor, City of Evanston
• Our Lady of the Resurrection Medical Center
  Alderman Tom Allen, of the 38th Ward
• Saint Joseph Hospital
  Christine Brown, Distinguished Community Activist
• West Suburban Medical Center
  Marty Noll, Founder of the Oak Park Development Corporation
• Westlake Hospital
  Father Claudio Holzer, Pastor, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church
• Resurrection Medical Center
  The late Earl Field, former President of the Village of Norridge & Founder of Paramedic Services of Illinois

More than 150 people, including the hospital CARES Award winners, attended the breakfast at Maggiano's Restaurant on Clark Street in Chicago. Phil Ponce, host of WTTW's Chicago Tonight emceed the event.