ISPC 2021 Board of Directors Election Candidates’ Statements
Six candidates are running for five open seats. Click on a name here to jump to the candidate’s statement.
Sobia Ansari
Abla Gharib
Kathryn Kaintz
Winnie Lin
Monica Maalouf
Mary Roberti
Sobia Ansari, Oak Park
How long have you been a member of ISPC?
5 years
Why is single-payer health care important to you?
As a nation, we will never be able to address disparities in healthcare without a single payer healthcare system. It is essential that everyone is in the same system so that we all share comprehensive benefits and avoid the waste and redundancy that the current system creates. Not a single shift in the emergency department goes by without hearing the challenges my patients face with the current insurance system - even those who have private insurance coverage! Healthcare is a human right because without health, we cannot be happy and productive members of society.
How have you been involved in the single-payer movement?
I joined ISPC and PNHP in 2017. Both organizations have helped me to stay informed about the single payer movement and single payer issues. Both organizations have also helped me connect with other single payer advocates, and I have learned so much from them! I have spoken at rallies and organized events to inform community members and physicians about single payer. I have invited Dr. David Ansell and Dr. Ed Weisbart to speak in Oak Park and at Rush University Medical Center. I also worked with a local organization to set up a pre-election panel of single payer advocates to answer questions from community members.
What contribution would you like to make to the ISPC Board?
I believe that moving forward, the single payer movement needs to focus on creating diversity within its ranks and within its supporters. We need to hear from and include the voices of immigrants and minorities so that they are empowered as community advocates for single payer. I would like to work with ISPC to reach out to Black and Brown community groups and organizations and build stronger relationships.
What other aspects of health care justice have you been involved in?
I am co-director of the Social and Global Emergency Medicine track at the Rush University Medical Center residency program. Through this track, I educate our EM residents on social determinants of health, including poverty, lack of insurance, racism, homelessness, and environmental justice. I am also a faculty member of the Diversity and Inclusion committee working toward educating our faculty, staff, and residents on issues of racism and implicit bias in medicine.
What special qualifications, if any, do you have, such as in finance, legal aspect of not-for-profits, fundraising, etc.?
As a working mom, I am pretty organized! Those skills were really tested during the pandemic as my husband and I juggled work with homeschooling our kids. I plan to bring those organizational skills to any opportunities of service to ISPC that I am offered.
Abla Gharib, Chicago
How long have you been a member of ISPC?
I have been a member of ISPC since four years.
Why is single-payer health care important to you?
The importance of Universal Health Care has been highlighted more than ever during the pandemic. COVID-19 has exposed the detrimental effects of the inequity and inequality of our healthcare system in society. As a result of our healthcare system, there were higher rates of COVID-19 related deaths and infections among the minorities and lower income population.
How have you been involved in the single-payer movement?
I have been a Board member of ISPC for two years and a member for four years. I have also been on the People with Disabilities Committee and the Working Group on Long-Term Care. I am also involved with the Diversity Committee. I have taken part in actions organized by Chicago ADAPT and the Alliance for Community Services. Whenever I have an opportunity I educate people about Universal Healthcare and encourage them to sign up to become members of ISPC. I try to help as a Board member whenever there is a need.
What contribution would you like to make to the ISPC Board?
I would like to be a representation and a voice for people with disabilities. As a person with physical disabilities, I have a better understanding pf the struggles and perspectives of people with disabilities. For instance, I have personal experiences fighting my healthcare insurance to get repairs and a new wheelchair. I have also been an advocate for my son who had a stroke. Whenever I have the opportunity, I join actions to support the causes of people with disabilities as well as the disenfranchised in our community.
What other aspects of health care justice have you been involved in?
I have been participating with a program at University of Illinois Chicago, that is called PRIDE. Partners of Refugees in Illinois Disability Employment program, a UIC initiative that connects refugees with disabilities to education and resources on navigating the local job market and the health care system. This program assists people with disabilities who are refugees from war-torn countries. I provide interpretation for Arabic-speaking people, and I am a peer mentor for those who don't know where to find resources that they need, or lose their benefits.
What special qualifications, if any, do you have, such as in finance, legal aspect of not-for-profits, fundraising, etc.?
I have a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Engineering, and a paralegal certificate from Truman College. I speak Arabic. I serve on an advisory board for Shirley Ryan Ability Lab (formerly Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago). I am currently attending Northeastern Illinois University for my graduate degree in Rehabilitation Counseling. I am also a peer mentor for people with disabilities at Shirley Ryan Ability Lab and at Access Living.
Kathryn Kaintz, Chicago
How long have you been a member of ISPC?
1.5 years
Why is single-payer health care important to you?
As a nurse I see my patients and providers alike struggling to justify the healthcare they need/need to provide to insurance corporations. I believe a single-payer system is the only equitable option and fighting for it is essential to my role as a nurse.
How have you been involved in the single-payer movement?
Illinois Single Payer Coalition (ISPC) has been my first involvement within the single-payer movement. I have learned a lot from those that have been in the movement for their entire careers and I hope to both continue to learn and recruit new members into the movement.
What contribution would you like to make to the ISPC Board?
I would like to contribute to planning the future of ISPC through new membership recruitment and the development of a structured leadership program for new members. I would also like to focus on recruitment of additional nurses who may be new to healthcare advocacy.
What special qualifications, if any, do you have, such as in finance, legal aspect of not-for-profits, fundraising, etc.?
Stories and first hand accounts as a nurse.
Winnie Lin, Chicago
How long have you been a member of ISPC?
1 year
Why is single-payer health care important to you?
As a primary care pediatrician on the South Side of Chicago, I constantly witness the consequences of our fragmented health care system. I take care of babies whose vaccines have been delayed because their families had gaps in insurance coverage, and children with asthma who end up in the hospital because of lack of insurance coverage for their inhalers. After countless hours on the phone with insurance companies and pharmacies to figure out which therapies are covered, I realized that the system does not have to be this way. Single payer would be a critical first step in achieving optimal care for my patients, and for all Americans.
How have you been involved in the single-payer movement?
As a member of ISPC, I have delivered presentations and taken part in panel discussions about single payer, the COVID-19 pandemic, and racial inequities in healthcare. I am also a member of Physicians for a National Health Program, and led a group of local PNHP members to discuss single payer with our congressmember's health policy advisor last year. Prior to this, I led the Chicago chapter of Doctors for Bernie and organized volunteers to spread the word about Medicare for All to voters.
What contribution would you like to make to the ISPC Board?
I would like to promote increased member engagement by providing concrete action items on a regular basis that members can choose to perform (e.g., calling representatives, signing petitions, writing/speaking opportunities). I would also like to help build bridges between ISPC and other advocacy groups related to health care justice, so that our message can reach more communities.
What other aspects of health care justice have you been involved in?
I have been involved in the movement for police-free schools to promote the mental health and safety of Chicago's youth. I have partnered with a group of physicians to co-write an op-ed on this topic, and provided public comment at a Chicago City Council committee meeting to advocate for removing police from schools and providing more funding for youth mental health services.
What special qualifications, if any, do you have, such as in finance, legal aspect of not-for-profits, fundraising, etc.?
As a physician I have first-hand experience in providing health care, billing for health care services and interfacing with insurance companies (unfortunately). I have completed the ISPC speaker training and letters to the editor training, and recently participated in the PNHP Virtual Leadership Training.
Monica Maalouf, Oak Park
How long have you been a member of ISPC?
I have been an official member for a few months but have attended events, meetings and speaking events for 2-3 years.
Why is single-payer health care important to you?
As a practicing primary care doctor, there is not a day that goes by where finances dont influence the decisions I make in the exam room. Every day I see the toll that our current for-profit system takes on patients and it is a tragedy. I have been an active member of PNHP for more than 5 years and would like to continue my work at the local level with the ISPC.
How have you been involved in the single-payer movement?
I have been a member of SNaHP and PNHP for more than 5 years. Recently I became the Co President of the IL chapter of PNHP. I am also one of the ISPC speakers and have done advocacy and speaking events both regionally and nationally.
What contribution would you like to make to the ISPC Board?
I have two broad goals I would like to work on this coming year. The first would be to continue to raise awareness of the ethical, social justice and financial benefits of a single payer health system. This is a topic that I feel very comfortable speaking on. The second goal would be to work towards more legislative advocacy, ensuring we can do our best to get our local congress members to support the single payer legislation currently in the House.
What other aspects of health care justice have you been involved in?
I have also worked extensively on racial bias and racism in medicine. This is a topic I have spoken on regionally and nationally. The fight for single payer health care is just one way we can work towards improving equity in medicine but there is a lot more work to be done and, as a physician, I believe strongly in ally-ship and mentorship to help address this crisis.
What special qualifications, if any, do you have, such as in finance, legal aspect of not-for-profits, fundraising, etc.?
Outside of my roles as a physician and public speaker, I have also run and organized several successful fundraising events.
Mary Roberti, Elgin
Mary Roberti has withdrawn as a candidate.