Press Release
For more information about Erie Family Health Center, please contact Valerie Comprelli at 312.432.7463 or vcomprelli@eriefamilyhealth.org
September 21, 2007
Erie Board appoints Dr. Lee Francis
as President and CEO
Erie Family Health Center’s Board of Directors has appointed Lee Francis MD, MPH, as Erie’s permanent President and CEO. After serving Erie Family Health Center for 16 years as in Internist — and as Erie’s Vice President of Medical Services since 2001 — he assumed the position of Interim President and CEO in November 2006. Since then, Dr. Francis has brought his passion and expertise in the field of safety-net community health care to his position, leading Erie with vision, professionalism and genuine enthusiasm.
Over the last 10 months, Dr. Francis has been able to provide Erie with a sense of purpose and direction during Erie’s 50th Anniversary celebration year. As the President and CEO, he will ensure Erie’s mission and legacy lives for many years to come.
When announcing the selection to Erie’s staff, Board of Directors chair Jack Murchie stated, “Those of you who have worked with Lee know that he is an exemplary colleague and personally dedicated to the mission of Erie.”
Dr. Francis received his undergraduate degree in Chemistry from Amherst College, after which he received his medical degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine. Dr. Francis completed his residency in internal medicine at Cook County Hospital. He then served as an Attending Physician at both Cook County and Northwestern Memorial Hospitals. From 1993-1997, he served as the Director of Primary Care Internal Medicine Residency Program at Cook County Hospital. Dr. Francis joined Erie Family Health Center has an Internist in 1991 and in 2000, he received a Masters in Public Health from the University of Illinois. In 2001, Dr. Francis became Erie’s Vice President of Medical Services, a position he held until this recent appointment.
“I am honored to be able to lead Erie at a very challenging time as the number of uninsured increases and as we experience new frontiers in battling chronic diseases and challenges in providing oral health services,” Dr. Francis said.
Erie Family Health Center provides comprehensive primary care services at eight health center sites to over 30,000 low-income patients per year, regardless of ability to pay, in the Chicago community areas of Albany Park, Avondale, Belmont Cragin, Hermosa, Humboldt Park, Irving Park, Lincoln Square, Logan Square, North Lawndale and West Town. Services provided include pediatrics, internal medicine, family medicine and women’s health. In addition, Erie provides HIV/AIDS care, behavioral health, case management services, health education (asthma, diabetes, nutrition, parenting and prenatal) and oral health services. Erie’s patient population is 87% Hispanic; 50% are uninsured; 81% live below 100% of the federal poverty level; and, 82% are best served in Spanish. For further information about Erie Family Health Center, please contact Valerie Boosalis at (312) 432-7463, or email at or visit: www.eriefamilyhealth.org.