By William N. Werner C’69, MD, MPH
Member, Board of Trustees
One of the aspirations of North Park University’s strategic plan is “adopting the city as both subject and place of learning as a foundation for academic excellence.” I envision the University expanding further into the city to embrace Chicago as a laboratory.
In my profession of medicine, Chicago is home to world-class hospitals and medical research centers. Even as a pre-med student in the 1960s, I experienced the city as my learning lab. A local hospital gave assistance in analyzing specimens for my senior research project in immunology. Argonne National Laboratories provided me with access to state-of-the-art scientific instrumentation. Imagine our future health professional students continuing to benefit from the city’s extensive resources in medicine, health, and science as their expanded laboratory.
Off-campus access would not supplant the classroom, but enhance it. The concept of the “flipped” classroom incorporates texts and lectures being pushed to students digitally to study outside the classroom. Class time is spent in problem-solving exercises and discussion groups based on didactic material. Chicago as a laboratory provides the potential for students to explore academic and clinical projects in a more expansive, real-world classroom.
Our students already benefit from the collaborative efforts of Professor Jeff Nelson’s work with Rush University. North Park’s extensive network of alumni in healthcare could provide more opportunities for our students to experience firsthand the work of providing care to the diverse populations of Chicago. Mini-internships would give students insights into both the rewards and challenges of a profession in health care in 21st century. Volunteer activities in the city could fulfill our students’ desires to engage in missional outreach as part of a Christian academic community.
North Park will be distinguished as a leading learning center not only for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) students, but also for all students who will explore and embrace our city as their laboratory and classroom.
William N. Werner C’69, MD, MPH, is the retired vice president of clinical transformation at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, which he joined in 1986 and where he also held positions as vice president of medical management and chief medical officer. A graduate of UIC’s College of Medicine and School of Public Health, Bill has been in active private practice since 1976 on Chicago’s Near North Side. He is a past president of the Illinois State Medical Society, 2012–2013, and served as president of the Chicago Medical Society in 2009–2010. Bill is a member of North Park Covenant Church in Chicago.