Letter To Governor Pritzker

March 20, 2020

Office of Governor JB Pritzker
207 State House
Springfield, IL 62706

Dear Governor Pritzker:

In response to the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and rapidly increasing number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, the Chicago Medical Society urges you to consider an executive order that would allow retired or inactive physicians in Illinois the opportunity to return to service under the licensure categories available under current law. Given the expected surge of patients in the coming days and weeks, we believe this to be a reasonable precautionary measure necessary to prepare for a pandemic situation.

We propose that your office take action to waive the regular licensure process for any physician who retired within the past two years and has a clear disciplinary record.

The Chicago Medical Society would also like to set up a means of communicating directly with your office and for the sharing of information.

As one of the oldest and largest professional medical societies in the U.S., the Chicago Medical Society serves the region’s 17,000 physicians. We were founded in 1850 specifically for the purpose of advancing public health in the local community, and that remains a bedrock mission.

We are here to assist your office during this critical time to protect the health of our nation and we thank you for considering our proposal.

Sincerely,

A. Jay Chauhan, DO, FAOCO
President, Chicago Medical Society

Tariq Butt, MD
President Elect, Chicago Medical Society

Vemuri Murthy, MD
Chairman of the Board, Chicago Medical Society