• Overview
• Community Advisory Review Council
• Urban Health Initiative
• Community Connections
• The Office of Community Affairs
• Community-based Participatory Research
• Practice-Based Research Network
• Knowledge Transfer Unit

Community Advisory Review Council

The Institute for Translational Medicine is guided by a nine-member Community Advisory and Review Council (CARC) made up of members of the 32 neighborhoods whose residents form the primary community of engagement. The group meets monthly to review ITM activities and advise as needed. Two members serve on the panel that reviews ITM pilot applications. The CARC members' photographs and biographical sketches can be found below.

Pamela Bozeman-Evans

Pamela Bozeman-Evans, BA, M.P.A. is Executive Director for Blue Gargoyle Community Services.  Prior to the Gargoyle, Bozeman-Evans was the Senior Program Director for the Gary Comer Youth Center, responsible for program development and daily operations for the Center.  She also served as the Volunteer Coordinator and Chicago Director for Senator Barack Obama, and as the Associate Dean of Students in the University and Director of the Community Service for the University of Chicago.

She is a seasoned economic development practitioner, business management consultant and a provocative motivational speaker. Mrs. Bozeman-Evans possesses over nine years of experience in designing and implementing organizational management strategies.She has also facilitated human resource training and developed community economic development projects for both private and non-profit sectors.Her specific expertise in entrepreneurial training, micro-enterprise development, strategic planning, and capacity building for small to mid-size organizations is nationally recognized. An entrepreneur, Ms. Bozeman owns and operates Professional Planning, a comprehensive service delivery firm that provides human resource management, personal career development and specialized curriculum design services.

Ms. Bozeman-Evans served in key management capacities at the Women's Self-empowerment Project in Chicago and the Institute for Social and Economic Development in Iowa City, Iowa. Other accomplishments include successful internships with the prestigious Chicago Community Trust Foundation and the DuPage County Department of Human Resources, Analysis and Development Division.She has lectured and facilitated an array of high impact workshops/seminars and expositions for trade associations and universities throughout the United States.Serving on several boards, a recipient of several professional awards, and a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

Bryan Echols

Bryan Echols is the Executive Director of MAGIC (Metropolitan Area Group for Igniting Civilization) Inc. MAGIC is a not-for-profit on the south side of Chicago based in the Woodlawn neighborhood. MAGIC’s mission is to organize and mobilize community residents to create and stimulate social change to improve their quality of life. Bryan is also the Chairman of the Woodlawn Social Service Network, a board member of TRAC (Tax Relief Assessment Committee), a founding and current member for SOS (Southside Organizers Summit) an Advisory Board member for North Park University’s Masters of Arts in Community Development; is a member of the Youth and Arts committee for LISC’s (Local Initiative Support Corporation) New Communities Program, a planning committee member of UCCRO(United Congress of Community and Religious Organizations for the Marguerite Casey Foundation and finally is on the local and national steering committee for the 21st Century’s Black Men and Boys Initiative(BMBI)that is focusing on the current state of, the unity and improvement of Black men and boys .

Echols was educated at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale where he majored in Speech Communications, and is completing a Master of Arts in Community Development. His next goal educationally is to enter the Ph.D. program at the University of Illinois Chicago in Urban Planning and Policy.

In May of 2006, Bryan was awarded the Don Michael Randel(Past President of the University of Chicago) Community Service Award from the South East Chicago Commission and in May of 2008 awarded the LISC Community Hero Award.

Glenda Fulton

Glenda Fulton was diagnosed with Sarcoidosis in 1975 and since then she has helped focus national attention on this disease, through her public and proactive stance toward educating others and through her advocating with Health care providers, professionals and other family members diagnosed with Sarcoidosis. Despite her illness, Ms Fulton has been on the cutting edge of research and efforts to promote education and awareness about Sarcoidosis.  She has spoken on numerous occasions and presented information on many topics relevant to “services” and “educational awareness.”  Ms Fulton is a leader in the training of facilitators for Sarcoidosis education awareness group leaders and educational programs.  She has been a speaker, presenter, and panelist at numerous Sarcoidosis conferences state wide and has been involved in efforts to develop Sarcoidosis support groups.  She has written grants to secure financial support for Sarcoidosis research and awareness issues and assisted with other fundraising activities.  Including the set-up with the JSRC in Houston TX first Walk-A-Thon, grant initiative and live radio show participant.  Ms Fulton submitted an abstract to the WASOG Congress that was accepted for the June 2002 meeting in Stockholm, Sweden.

Jamell Meeks

Jamell Meeks is Director of Women’s Ministries for the Salem Baptist Church of Chicago, under the leadership of her husband, Reverend Senator James T. Meeks.  A shining example of a devoted wife and mother of four children, she is nationally known as a powerful leader with a gentle spirit. Jamell is a graduate of the historic Bishop College in Dallas, Texas.

Jamell Meeks is a visionary. As Director of “Women of Influence”, she directs ministry projects and activities for more than 12,000 women.  In 2002, Jamell developed the nationally recognized A.R.I.S.E Entrepreneur Program, a 6-week training program designed to cultivate entrepreneurs.  In 2006, under her leadership, Salem Baptist Church of Chicago presented its first annual walkathon, “Two Causes, One Walk”, in support of breast cancer and HIV/AIDS awareness and education, which, to date, has raised more than $100,000 to support community agencies.  Jamell’s latest innovation is The “Lite” Club, a one-year women’s health and fitness program. 

Jamell challenges women to become leaders, helping them to discover and cultivate their unique purposes in life.  Her unwavering faith in God continues to fuel her mission---to inspire women of all ages to live a life grounded by faith, guided by purpose, and motivated by infinite possibilities.

Ronald Rembert, Jr, MD

Ronald Rembert M.D. specializes in family medicine at the Family Christian Health Center in Harvey, IL. Dr. Rembert received his medical degree from the Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in Chicago. He completed residency at Rush Medical Center and at Advocate Illinois Masonic and served as chief resident during his last year of residency. He is board-certified by the American Board of Family Practice.

 

 

 

George R. Smith, Jr, MPH

George is a native of Chicago, Illinois. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and a Master of Public Health from the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health. Currently, George serves as the Director of the Office of Community Health of the Healthcare Consortium of Illinois. There he provides administrative and fiscal oversight to programs focusing on infant mortality, pediatric obesity, asthma, work-force development for health careers, emergency preparedness, breast cancer and initiatives focusing on the role of faith in public health.

 

His areas of interest in public health are spirituality/religious beliefs and its affect on health behaviors and health outcomes; psycho-social determinants of infant mortality among African Americans and organizational behavior of health institutions providing services to majority Medicaid populations.

George’s major affiliations include: Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc., Black Caucus of Health Workers, Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health, American Public Health Association, and numerous other civic, religious and philanthropic associations and societies.

 

Bernetta Pearson, RN, BSN                                                

Bernetta Pearson RN, BSN is a nursing consultant with Act Now Health Care Consultants.  She is the Chair of the Public Relations committee of the Chicago Chapter of the National Black Nurses and a lifetime member of the National and Local NBNA.  She is the Chair of the Minority Health Associations, an organization that provides information and assistance on a wide range of health related issues to improve the overall health of minority individuals, families and communities throughout the state of Illinois.  She is dedicated to reducing racial disparities.  This is exhibited in her profession, her community service educational initiatives and her work in the education of future health care professionals.

Bernetta is a graduate of Olive - Harvey college and the University of St. Francis College.

Bernetta hosts a weekly radio show in Chicago, WKKC 89.3FM.  The show focuses on issues of health and disparities in the community.  She teaches certified nursing assistant students and counsels young men and women entering the field of Medicine ant Malcolm X College. 

Bernetta is certified by the State of Illinois as a "train the trainer" and has been a presenter and speaker at numerous health fairs, conferences and workshops.