The Henry P. Russe, MD Citation

The Institute of Medicine of Chicago and Rush University Medical Center annually award the Henry P. Russe, MD, Citation for Exemplary Compassion in Healthcare. Henry P. Russe, MD served as Dean of Rush Medical College of Rush University Medical Center. He served five terms as President of The Institute of Medicine of Chicago during an extraordinary decade of personal and professional commitment to the advancement of medicine. In recognition of his contributions, the Trustees of Rush University Medical Center and The Institute of Medicine of Chicago have established the Henry P. Russe, MD Citation for Exemplary Compassion in Healthcare. This ongoing award demonstrates, as Dr. Russe exemplified, that humanitarianism must characterize the practice of medicine and medical education beyond the science, technology, and personal skillfulness essential in caring for the health of our fellow citizens.

Maria I. Brown, DO, 2008 Recipient

Dr. Maria I. Brown has been the Volunteer Medical Director for Pilsen Homeless Services since its founding in 1994.  Pilsen Homeless Services provides healthcare to uninsured individuals, specifically the homeless who cannot access public aid because they have no mailing address.  This free clinic provides primary care and health education services to thousands of homeless men, women and children with illnesses ranging from the common cold to life-threatening disease. The ultimate goal of Pilsen Homeless Services is to reduce homelessness and its adverse effects on health by creating a consistent and non-threatening environment that patients can navigate without difficulty.

Dr. Brown does not use the phrase “the homeless,” preferring “homeless people or homeless clients,” and is known for saying, “we are giving people their nouns back.”  She believes in the power of language to restore some measure of dignity to disadvantaged individuals who are normally shunned and ignored.

Dr. Brown’s main goal is to move people out of homelessness -- a tall order.  Clients derive long-term benefits from the discipline of having to show up at the clinic for medical care on a regular basis.  Over time, she says, trust is built and a story unfolds that often holds the key to what is really ailing the person.  The clinic has its success stories, with a number of “graduates” who get sober, healthy, medicated, domiciled, employed and insured.

Dr. Brown was the 2003 recipient of national American Osteopathic Foundation Eli Lilly Spirit of Humanity Award which recognizes those who best demonstrate the highest standard of compassion and sensitivity when treating the indigent and underserved.  In 2005, she was the recipient of the Gold National Honor Society for Humanism in Medicine Award.  She has been recognized for her work with a number of other prestigious honors and awards.

We are honored to name Dr. Maria Brown the 2008 recipient of the Russe Citation for Exemplary Compassion in Health Care.

Past Recipients of the Henry P. Russe, MD Citation

• 2007 Mardge Hillary Cohen, MD
• 2006 Dharmapuri Vidyasagar, MD
• 2005 Warren W. Furey, MD
• 2004 Angelos P. Creticos, MD
• 2004 David W. Cugell, MD
• 2003 Arthur G. Jones, MD
• 2002 Arnold L. Widen, MD
• 2001 Henry Betts, MD
• 2001 Joanne G. Schwartzberg, MD
• 2000 Edward A. Lichter, MD
• 1999 Sister Sheila Lyne, RSM
• 1998 Quentin D. Young, MD
• 1997 James R. Webster, Jr., MD
• 1996 Dudley Childress, PhD
• 1996 Serafino Garella, MD
• 1995 Whitney W. Addington, MD
• 1994 Ruth M. Rothstein
• 1993 Harry J. Miller, MD