2023 Hou Award
2023 Dr. Susan Hou Awardee
by Naomi Gitlin
“Your zip code can influence your health more than your genetic code,” said Jannie Bolotnikov, Stritch class of 2023 and this year’s Susan Hou Humanitarian Award recipient. Dr. Hou dedicated her life to patient care for global communities that are vulnerable. She exemplified compassion, altruism, and service through her founding and support of a free clinic in the Bolivian rain forest.
“Giving back” from an early age
Bolotnikov has been involved in service since she was a teen. She appreciated the supportive community in Chicago’s northern suburbs in which she was raised and wanted to “give back” to it. At that time, she did not imagine pursuing a career in medicine. At age 14, she started working as a secretary at a Medicare billing agency and continued to work throughout high school and college -- from tutoring to working as a Certified Nurse Aid at a nursing home.
“I saw how many systems did not work for my parents,” said Bolotnikov, whose parents sought and were granted asylum in the U.S., after fleeing Russian anti-Semitism. Bolotnikov, who was born in Evanston, translated for her parents when they attended her parent/teacher conferences at school, when they went to the bank, and in multiple other “everyday” situations.
In her sophomore year at University of Illinois at Chicago, Bolotnikov met a professor who introduced her to the field of Public Health. Bolotnikov conducted research and worked in healthcare and hospital systems, where she learned about the impact of social determinants of health (such as how where a person lives can impact their health).
Treating the whole person
After graduating with a BS in Biological Science and an MPH from Northwestern University, Bolotnikov came to Stritch. One of the aspects of Stritch that really spoke to her was the concept of “treating the whole person.” Stritch’s commitment to service, care, and learning about the power of human connections, were other attributes that attracted her. “If you have a love of learning and curiosity, that’s one of the best parts of being here,” said Bolotnikov. “Stritch teaches us how to become physicians who really care.”
Through her earlier research and as she began her medical training, Bolotnikov realized that if a person does not have decent housing and nutrition, it will be difficult to achieve or even maintain good health.
Opportunities at Stritch
At Stritch, Bolotnikov recalled some “really incredible opportunities,” where she worked in and with communities both near and far. At the Access to Care Clinic, Bolotnikov provided health coaching to individuals who lacked health insurance. She helped them access fresh produce and other basic needs. An eye-opening trip to El Salvador through Loyola’s Ignatian Service Immersion (ISI) program gave Bolotnikov first-hand opportunities to hear from members of communities there. That March 2020 ISI trip (right before the COVID-19 pandemic began to hit and force close-downs), coincided with the end of Bolotnikov’s first year at Stritch.
“I had all of these things that I wanted to do between my M1 and M2 year,” she recalled, “but that became complicated in those early days of COVID-19,” said Bolotnikov.
Mentorship leads to new beginnings and service
She talked with one of her mentors, Dr. Amy Blair, MD, associate professor, Family Medicine at Stritch, who was working with and on behalf of asylum seekers, to write medical declarations and provide expert testimony for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainees. As she described it, Bolotnikov became “incredibly passionate” about this work and after working on a medical declaration with Vikrant Garg, MA, MPH and Sofia Sami, MD from UIC College of Medicine, they created the Chicago People’s Rights Collaborative. Establishing this 501(c)(3) non-profit organization allowed them to reach more people within their community, providing medical declarations and affidavits to serve as written expert physician testimony to support physical exam findings to an individual’s asylum case – and more. Bolotnikov is transitioning out of her co-executive director role and training Maya McCoy, a Stritch M3, who will assume that role. Recently, the organization transitioned 16 staff positions and expanded to provide services to people who are incarcerated.
“Our Chicago People’s Rights Collaborative team is passionate and driven,” said Bolotnikov. “And it’s easy to work when you are excited about it,” she said. One of the organization’s first “to do” items was to ensure its sustainability, given that students comprise its entire staff. Bolotnikov and her colleagues created and activated policies to help with transitions and training the incoming “class” of leaders. While Bolotnikov no longer has a formal role with the organization, she hopes to be an advisor going forward. Following her graduation from Stritch, Bolotnikov will pursue an Emergency Medicine residency at Denver Health this summer, where she will look for opportunities to “give back” to her new community.
About the Susan Hou Humanitarian Scholarship
To be eligible for this award, Stritch fourth year physicians-in-training must be in good standing and have a demonstrated interest in global health, including local and/or international service with populations that are vulnerable. The award committee accepts peer and self-nominations. Learn more about Dr. Susan Hou’s life and the award process.
April 2023
by Naomi Gitlin
“Your zip code can influence your health more than your genetic code,” said Jannie Bolotnikov, Stritch class of 2023 and this year’s Susan Hou Humanitarian Award recipient. Dr. Hou dedicated her life to patient care for global communities that are vulnerable. She exemplified compassion, altruism, and service through her founding and support of a free clinic in the Bolivian rain forest.
“Giving back” from an early age
Bolotnikov has been involved in service since she was a teen. She appreciated the supportive community in Chicago’s northern suburbs in which she was raised and wanted to “give back” to it. At that time, she did not imagine pursuing a career in medicine. At age 14, she started working as a secretary at a Medicare billing agency and continued to work throughout high school and college -- from tutoring to working as a Certified Nurse Aid at a nursing home.
“I saw how many systems did not work for my parents,” said Bolotnikov, whose parents sought and were granted asylum in the U.S., after fleeing Russian anti-Semitism. Bolotnikov, who was born in Evanston, translated for her parents when they attended her parent/teacher conferences at school, when they went to the bank, and in multiple other “everyday” situations.
In her sophomore year at University of Illinois at Chicago, Bolotnikov met a professor who introduced her to the field of Public Health. Bolotnikov conducted research and worked in healthcare and hospital systems, where she learned about the impact of social determinants of health (such as how where a person lives can impact their health).
Treating the whole person
After graduating with a BS in Biological Science and an MPH from Northwestern University, Bolotnikov came to Stritch. One of the aspects of Stritch that really spoke to her was the concept of “treating the whole person.” Stritch’s commitment to service, care, and learning about the power of human connections, were other attributes that attracted her. “If you have a love of learning and curiosity, that’s one of the best parts of being here,” said Bolotnikov. “Stritch teaches us how to become physicians who really care.”
Through her earlier research and as she began her medical training, Bolotnikov realized that if a person does not have decent housing and nutrition, it will be difficult to achieve or even maintain good health.
Opportunities at Stritch
At Stritch, Bolotnikov recalled some “really incredible opportunities,” where she worked in and with communities both near and far. At the Access to Care Clinic, Bolotnikov provided health coaching to individuals who lacked health insurance. She helped them access fresh produce and other basic needs. An eye-opening trip to El Salvador through Loyola’s Ignatian Service Immersion (ISI) program gave Bolotnikov first-hand opportunities to hear from members of communities there. That March 2020 ISI trip (right before the COVID-19 pandemic began to hit and force close-downs), coincided with the end of Bolotnikov’s first year at Stritch.
“I had all of these things that I wanted to do between my M1 and M2 year,” she recalled, “but that became complicated in those early days of COVID-19,” said Bolotnikov.
Mentorship leads to new beginnings and service
She talked with one of her mentors, Dr. Amy Blair, MD, associate professor, Family Medicine at Stritch, who was working with and on behalf of asylum seekers, to write medical declarations and provide expert testimony for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainees. As she described it, Bolotnikov became “incredibly passionate” about this work and after working on a medical declaration with Vikrant Garg, MA, MPH and Sofia Sami, MD from UIC College of Medicine, they created the Chicago People’s Rights Collaborative. Establishing this 501(c)(3) non-profit organization allowed them to reach more people within their community, providing medical declarations and affidavits to serve as written expert physician testimony to support physical exam findings to an individual’s asylum case – and more. Bolotnikov is transitioning out of her co-executive director role and training Maya McCoy, a Stritch M3, who will assume that role. Recently, the organization transitioned 16 staff positions and expanded to provide services to people who are incarcerated.
“Our Chicago People’s Rights Collaborative team is passionate and driven,” said Bolotnikov. “And it’s easy to work when you are excited about it,” she said. One of the organization’s first “to do” items was to ensure its sustainability, given that students comprise its entire staff. Bolotnikov and her colleagues created and activated policies to help with transitions and training the incoming “class” of leaders. While Bolotnikov no longer has a formal role with the organization, she hopes to be an advisor going forward. Following her graduation from Stritch, Bolotnikov will pursue an Emergency Medicine residency at Denver Health this summer, where she will look for opportunities to “give back” to her new community.
About the Susan Hou Humanitarian Scholarship
To be eligible for this award, Stritch fourth year physicians-in-training must be in good standing and have a demonstrated interest in global health, including local and/or international service with populations that are vulnerable. The award committee accepts peer and self-nominations. Learn more about Dr. Susan Hou’s life and the award process.
April 2023