Governor Blagojevich honors nurse, health advocate with first PATH Award of 2007

Recipient is also a member of the Adequate Health Care Task Force

CHICAGO, Ill. – Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today named Margaret A. Davis as the latest recipient of the PATH (Peoples Are Today’s Heroes) Award, and first recipient of 2007, for her years of work as a registered nurse and health advocate helping to ensure quality health care for thousands of residents in Illinois.

The Governor’s PATH Award recognizes those groups or individuals who, through their hard work and commitment, have improved the lives of those in their community and have helped Illinois move forward in the areas of health care, public safety, education and economic development.

“Margaret is an example of what makes a hero. She has worked tirelessly as a nurse to help patients and has done even more to ensure that people have access to health care. She saw the need to improve the health care system and has worked very hard for a change,” said the Governor.

Davis is the Executive Director of the Healthcare Consortium of Illinois, a non-profit community-based health and human service organization that works to improve and enhance the quality of life in Illinois. The Healthcare Consortium of Illinois, and Margaret’s work with the agency, began in 1991 to address the health care needs of residents on the south side of Chicago, who were receiving fragmented and inadequate medical services.

Margaret Davis is also a member of the Adequate Health Care Task Force, a 29 voting member Board that was established by the Health Care Justice Act. The legislation, which passed in 2004, encourages Illinois to implement a health care plan that provides access to a full range of preventive, acute and long-term health care services, and maintains and improves the quality of health care services. She was appointed by Senate President Emil Jones, Jr.

“I am pleased to present this PATH Award on behalf of the Governor,” said state public health director Dr. Eric E. Whitaker. “Margaret Davis is the ultimate advocate for health care and human services. Her energy and commitment amaze me. Aside from her full daily schedule, she mentors, teaches, participates on Boards and advisory committees, and volunteers. She showed up to almost all the Adequate Health Care Task Force Meetings, public hearings and worked tirelessly on behalf of the all Illinois residents.”

“I am truly grateful to Governor Blagojevich and the Illinois Department of Public Health for giving me this recognition,” said Ms. Davis. “I have been a nurse for more than 30 years. Helping patients led me to take on a new role, as an activist. I believe everyone should have access to quality, affordable healthcare. And I will continue to work for health reform and assist with coming up with a timetable for a health care access plan.”

Governor Blagojevich has made expanding access to affordable health care his top priority since taking office in 2003. Earlier this month, The Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, one of the nation’s most respected independent health policy research organizations, released a report crediting Governor Blagojevich’s administration for sparking a national movement to provide health care to all children. The Kaiser Commission also found that Illinois, for the third year in a row, ranks #1 in the nation for providing health care to working parents who need it.