Emily Hoerner

Emily Hoerner is an investigative reporter who works with data. She covers issues involving public health matters, health care systems and education. She previously covered judges, prisons, policing and criminal justice at Injustice Watch.

Police: 2 teens killed in Back of the Yards drive-by shooting

August 4, 2024 at 3:43 p.m.

Two teenage boys were killed in a shooting Saturday evening in the city's Back of the Yards neighborhood on the South Side, according to Chicago police. The boys, 15 and...

State Rep. Kelly Cassidy chats before a committee meeting at the Illinois Capitol building on Feb. 7, 2024. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

Illinois lawmakers pass bill to expand reporting of sexual abuse in health care settings following Tribune investigation

May 29, 2024 at 5:04 p.m.

Under the bill, doctors’ offices and clinics affiliated with hospitals would have to report allegations of patient abuse to the Illinois Department of Public Health, triggering an investigation by the...

State Rep. Kelly Cassidy, right, chats with State Rep. Steve Reick before the start of a committee meeting in the Capitol on Feb. 7, 2024, in Springfield. Cassidy is behind a measure to increase reporting of patient abuse. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

More Illinois health care facilities would have to report patient abuse under new bill

May 16, 2024 at 5:14 p.m.

Under current law hospitals must report allegations of patient abuse. But abuse that occurs at clinics outside of hospital walls is not subject to the same requirement.

One of more than two dozen people who have filed a lawsuit against former Endeavor Health gynecologist Dr. Fabio Ortega this week. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

Another 26 women sue Endeavor Health and gynecologist Fabio Ortega, convicted of sexual abuse

April 17, 2024 at 5:02 p.m.

A total of 60 former patients have now sued former gynecologist Fabio Ortega, Endeavor and/or Swedish Hospital, where Ortega previously worked.

Ericka Matos, right, and her attorney Tamara Holder listen to questions from the media during a press conference at Romanucci & Blandin Law office in Chicago on Wednesday, April 3, 2024. Matos is suing Dr. Fabio Ortega and Swedish Covenant Health, contending he sexually assaulted her decades ago. Ortega pleaded guilty in 2021 to sexually abusing two former patients. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

Attorneys call on AG’s office to criminally investigate former doctor Fabio Ortega and health systems where he worked

April 3, 2024 at 6:50 p.m.

The request came the same day that one of the women who is suing Ortega and Swedish Covenant Health spoke publicly for the first time.

Dr. Fabio Ortega, shown in March 2023 during a civil proceeding at the Daley Center, pleaded guilty in 2021 to sexually abusing two former patients. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

More patients sue former Endeavor Health gynecologist Fabio Ortega, alleging sexual assault

April 1, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.

A total of 34 former patients have now sued Ortega, Endeavor Health and/or Swedish Hospital alleging inappropriate conduct by the doctor.

Attorneys Parker Stinar, left, and Symone Shinton talk about a lawsuit against former gynecologist Fabio Ortega on March 26, 2024, in Chicago. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

New lawsuit alleges abuse by former Endeavor Health gynecologist Fabio Ortega

March 26, 2024 at 5:53 p.m.

Monday’s lawsuit joins 22 other lawsuits filed against Ortega and Endeavor since 2019.

Cheryl Stevenson, center, a licensed practical nurse and chaperone, watches as Dr. Hepsi Kalapala, right, examines Quying Holmes at Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital in October. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

Keeping watch: Chaperones may offer one way to prevent sexual abuse during medical exams

June 14, 2024 at 6:42 p.m.

The Tribune recently exposed how several large Illinois health systems allowed health care workers accused of sexually abusing patients to continue working. Some medical experts and survivors of sexual abuse...

"Victoria" is one of at least 30 women who have filed lawsuits alleging that Dr. Fabio Ortega sexually assaulted them during exams. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

Former patients of Fabio Ortega say Endeavor Health failed to protect them from an abusive doctor

June 14, 2024 at 6:42 p.m.

Endeavor Health, formerly NorthShore, allowed Dr. Fabio Ortega to keep working with female patients despite complaints of inappropriate behavior, a Chicago Tribune investigation has found.

Lisa Eller stands near the former Yorkville office of Dr. Haohua Yang, who was charged with criminal sexual abuse and criminal sexual assault after she and other patients went to police about his behavior. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

Failure to protect: Flawed state oversight lets doctors accused of abuse continue to see patients

June 14, 2024 at 6:42 p.m.

Doctors accused of sexual misconduct were able to keep practicing – sometimes for years – because of gaps in Illinois laws and a slow-moving regulatory agency, a Chicago Tribune investigation...

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