Lisa Schencker

Lisa Schencker is a Tribune business reporter covering health care. She writes about patients, hospitals, health insurers and pharmaceutical companies. Before joining the Tribune in 2016, she worked at Modern Healthcare and at daily newspapers across the country, including the Salt Lake Tribune for seven years.

Nurses and supporters hold a one-day strike on June 11, 2026, outside St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital, a Prime Healthcare hospital, in Chicago’s Ukrainian Village neighborhood. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Strike averted after skilled maintenance workers at Prime’s Illinois hospitals reach contract agreements

July 2, 2026 at 4:07 p.m.

A union of skilled hospital maintenance workers and Prime Healthcare have reached contract agreements, averting a strike that had been planned for Thursday.

Northwestern Medicine’s Orland Park campus, June 30, 2026, in Orland Park. (Vincent D. Johnson / for the Chicago Tribune)

With $225 million donation, Northwestern Medicine hopes to construct new cancer care facility in Orland Park

July 1, 2026 at 4:03 p.m.

Northwestern Medicine plans to use a whopping $225 million donation to help build a new medical office building for cancer care in Orland Park.

The president and CEO of Rush University System for Health, Dr. Omar Lateef, plans to retire from his post. (Rush University System for Health)

Rush University System for Health CEO announces plans to retire

June 25, 2026 at 12:44 p.m.

The president and CEO of Rush University System for Health, Dr. Omar Lateef, announced plans to retire in a note to employees Thursday morning.

Travelers walk through Terminal 5 at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport on April 2, 2026. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)

Chicago health officials warn of potential measles exposure at O’Hare airport

June 23, 2026 at 7:02 p.m.

Chicago health officials are investigating a case of measles in a traveler who arrived at O'Hare International Airport on June 17.

Workers plan to strike at 6 Illinois Prime Healthcare hospitals

June 23, 2026 at 7:06 p.m.

Skilled maintenance workers at six Prime Healthcare hospitals in Illinois plan to go on strike July 2, with their union alleging that Prime has interfered with their right to organize...

Case manager Louise Joseph, left, speaks to pulmonary and critical care physician Dr. Rakesh Salgia at Roseland Community Hospital on May 19, 2026. (Josh Boland/Chicago Tribune)

Illinois hospitals owe the state more than $700M, sparking questions and calls for change

June 21, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Across Illinois, 19 hospitals — mostly safety net hospitals like West Suburban and Weiss — owed the state nearly $705 million in taxes, penalties and advance payments, as of earlier...

Northwestern Memorial Hospital in the Streeterville neighborhood on Nov. 12, 2025. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)

Chicago philanthropists John and Kathy Schreiber donate $35 million to Northwestern Medicine

June 17, 2026 at 10:10 a.m.

The foundation of Chicago philanthropists John and Kathy Schreiber is donating $35 million to Northwestern Medicine to create a new institute to support healthcare for vulnerable patients and communities.

A parking lot in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood sits across from a mostly vacant West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park on June 1, 2026. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

After last elevator fails, Oak Park closes West Suburban hospital building

June 12, 2026 at 6:01 p.m.

The village of Oak Park shut down the West Suburban Medical Center building Thursday, after the hospital's last functioning elevator stopped working — forcing the remaining patients there to find...

State Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, shown outside her Rogers Park office on June 10, 2026, sponsored legislation seeking to strengthen Illinois laws related to sexual abuse in healthcare settings. (Josh Boland/Chicago Tribune)

New protections on the way for patients against sexual abuse, misconduct by healthcare workers

June 12, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

A 2024 Chicago Tribune investigation exposed how healthcare systems failed to protect patients from abuse and state government failed to hold them accountable.

Healthcare coverage information is provided by Get Covered Illinois in 2017 at Chicago City Hall. (Phil Velasquez/Chicago Tribune)

More than 92,000 Illinois consumers lost or dropped Obamacare health insurance in recent months

June 9, 2026 at 5:33 p.m.

More than 92,000 Illinois consumers lost or dropped their Affordable Care Act health insurance in recent months following the expiration of generous tax credits.

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