Dr. Heather Prendergast Named One of the Top 50 Women Leaders in Medicine for 2024
UIC Emergency Medicine proudly congratulates Dr. Heather Prendergast on being recognized as one of the Top 50 Women Leaders in Medicine for 2024 by Women We Admire. This prestigious recognition highlights Dr. Prendergast’s exceptional leadership, dedication to patient care, and significant contributions to medicine.
As the Executive Director of the University of Illinois Physician Group at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, Dr. Prendergast has played a pivotal role in expanding healthcare access and enhancing patient outcomes. Her leadership was instrumental in establishing the first off-site University of Illinois Multispecialty Ambulatory Clinic in 2020, bringing essential services closer to the community. Furthermore, her efforts led to a successful $17.2 million award from the Illinois Department of Health and Family Services, enabling the creation of the 55th and Pulaski Healthcare Collaborative, another off-site clinic that continues to serve underserved populations.
Dr. Prendergast is a distinguished leader and dedicated physician-scientist whose research focuses on cardiovascular health disparities, particularly among patients from historically underserved or underrepresented persons seeking care in emergency settings. Her work has been continuously funded since 2007, including her role as the principal investigator of the first Randomized Clinical Trial funded by the NHLBI to address hypertension in a predominantly minoritized population.
Her commitment to excellence extends beyond clinical care and research; she is a recognized mentor dedicated to fostering the growth and development of staff, faculty, and students. Dr. Prendergast’s impact on medicine is a testament to her vision, expertise, and unwavering dedication to improving health outcomes for all.
Please join us in celebrating Dr. Prendergast’s remarkable achievement and continued contributions to our department, the university, and the medical community. Her recognition as one of the Top 50 Women Leaders in Medicine is well-deserved and reflects the outstanding leadership and innovation she brings to UIC Emergency Medicine daily.