How do you improve the health of an entire city? Provide access to care, information and healthy choices, says one physician and city public health commissioner.
In his role as commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, Bechara Choucair, MD, leverages his experience as an internal medicine physician to empower patients to make the right choices.
In an AMA “Innovations in Medicine” talk—a brief, informal presentation in the style of TED Talks—Dr. Choucair shares how his experience treating the “poorest of the poor” patients in his native Lebanon and in Houston, Texas, have informed his vision for Chicago.
From replacing junk food in vending machines with healthy options to expanding bike lanes and access to a bike-sharing program, Dr. Choucair is helping transform what it means to be healthy in Chicago.
A recent citywide campaign to reduce teen pregnancy sparked conversations throughout the city, nation and world, featuring a photo of a pregnant teenage boy with the caption, “Unexpected? Most teen pregnancies are.”
Dr. Choucair encourages other physicians to spark conversations in their own communities by examining access to care, information and healthy choices. "You can make a difference," he said.
Get inspired and hear about new approaches, ideas and creativity in medicine by viewing this talk and others in the AMA’s Innovations in Medicine series.
Want more inspiration? Get a first-hand look at what’s driving health and medical progress today with TEDMED 2014, the annual health and medicine edition of the world-renowned TED Talks, held Sept. 10-12 simultaneously in Washington, D.C., and San Francisco.
A special courtesy rate is available for AMA members as a result of the AMA’s support of TEDMED. AMA members can attend this exclusive three-day event with a guest of their choice for the price of a single attendee.
Register to attend live, using code “CRAMA14,” or participate in live streaming the week of the event. Visit the TEDMED 2014 website and use invitation code “TMLicAMA14” to watch talks on demand, or view portions of the event in real-time. You also can gather a group of your colleagues and staff to view presenters of interest.
