Community & Health Equity

At the University of Illinois Cancer Center, we work in the communities we serve to prevent cancer, discover effective new treatments for patients, and create new understanding about the disease.

Patients from diverse communities are involved in every aspect of our work, informing our research and helping us understand barriers to cancer prevention and effective treatment. We connect people with the resources to understand their cancer risk, detect it early, get comprehensive treatment, and support the survivorship journey.

Our catchment area is Cook County, Illinois, which encompasses the City of Chicago and surrounding areas. Home to more than 40% of Illinois residents, Cook Cook is federally designated as a Medically Underserved Area (MUA). Its racially and ethnically diverse population experiences higher rates of air pollution, violent crime, and poverty than other counties. A lack of affordable housing and adequate health insurance add to an unequal cancer burden.