As the third most populous city in the United States, Chicago is a thriving world-class metropolis known for its architecture and vibrant art scene. While the Windy City is a wonderful place to reside and a popular tourist destination, life is tough for many new immigrants and undocumented workers, and for the more than 10% of the population that survives below the poverty line.
In order to attend to the healthcare needs of these vulnerable populations, Tzu Chi International Medical Association has been offering free clinic hours in low-income neighborhoods, knowing many people lack medical insurance or a legal immigration status; often don’t speak English; and tend to avoid seeking medical attention out of fear of incurring a large bill.
While Tzu Chi Medical Foundation and volunteers from Tzu Chi’s Midwest Region Chapter, which is based in Chicago, yearned to offer a large-scale medical outreach event here, they lacked the requisite manpower, until now.
Once the clinic opened, 15 doctors from Tzu Chi International Medical Association, and 7 medical students from Illinois Medical School who were there to assist them, provided consultations in specializations that included Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Family Practice, Dermatology, Gynecology, Orthopedics, Dentistry, and traditional Chinese Medicine.
