As part of its goal to leverage strategic partnerships to empower physicians and communities, the AMA collaborates with West Side United (WSU) to advance optimal health outcomes in 10 neighborhoods on Chicago’s west side. WSU’s primary goal is to reduce the life expectancy gap between Chicago’s downtown and these west side communities.
In June 2026, the AMA made an additional $3 million multi-year investment in Chicago’s west side neighborhoods. This investment builds on the AMA’s initial $2 million investment in 2020 and subsequent $3 million investment in 2022 to forge alliances with organizations, groups and neighborhoods that have experienced historic disinvestment.
Measuring impact
In 2026, the AMA, in collaboration with Kearney and West Side United, published the report, “Investing in community health: Measuring social return of the American Medical Association’s investment in West Side United's impact portfolio," summarizing how AMA-supported investments into WSU translated capital into measurable socioeconomic and health-related value. The report evaluated the social return on investment (SROI) of three selected loans within the West Side United investing portfolio. The evaluation suggests that social impact investing may help address some of the root causes of poor health while strengthening the broader community ecosystem and generating measurable social value and complementary health-related benefits.
This investment reflects the AMA’s commitment as a WSU anchor mission partner, joining other WSU institutional partners, including Rush University Medical Center, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, AMITA Health, Cook County Health, Sinai Health System, and University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System. With the Illinois Medical District and financial partner Northern Trust, more investments have been made in affordable housing, healthy food options, job creation projects and educational programs.
Partnering with west side communities
- September 2026: The AMA formalizes a multi-year partnership with Live Healthy Chicago to address hypertension and heart disease disparities in Chicago’s west and south side neighborhoods.
- June 2026: The AMA makes an additional $3 million multi-year investment in west side neighborhoods through WSU.
- October 2022: The AMA makes a $3 million multi-year investment in west side neighborhoods through WSU.
- April 2021: Project N95, national clearinghouse for personal protective equipment (PPE), approaches the AMA to help facilitate the distribution of 180,000 masks to Chicago-area non-profits, including WSU, to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
- November 2020: The American Medical Association Foundation (AMAF) makes a $100,000 donation to support patients and care teams working together to manage blood pressure in west side communities.
- February 2020: WSU announces a $6 million investment made by six Chicago hospital systems and partners, including $2 million from the AMA, the collaborative’s newest member. In addition to financial investment, the AMA also commits to other efforts aimed at making a positive impact on the health and well-being of west side residents. This includes working with more local health care institutions and organizations to improve blood pressure control rates, hiring interns from west side neighborhoods to further youth career development, and participating in and sponsoring local volunteer events, such as wellness walks.
- 2017: WSU forms. Its mission is to improve social, economic and structural determinants of health by improving access to care and community resources, improving mental and behavioral health, and preventing and reducing chronic disease.
