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.

Medline CEO Jim Boyle at the company's corporate headquarters on Feb. 25, 2026, in Northfield. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

CEO of Northfield-based Medline talks tariffs, IPO following company’s first earnings call

February 26, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

The CEO of Northfield-based Medline cheered the company’s successful initial public offering late last year following the company’s first earnings call Wednesday.

The AbbVie Contract Manufacturing location along Sheridan Road is seen on Feb. 23, 2026, in North Chicago. Today, AbbVie announced a new $380 million investment to build two new active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing facilities at its current North Chicago location with construction starting this spring.

AbbVie plans to spend $380 million building two new manufacturing facilities in North Chicago

February 23, 2026 at 4:36 p.m.

The expansion is expected to create 300 new jobs, including positions for engineers, scientists, manufacturing operators and lab technicians.

Heartland laying off more than 140 workers, closing several centers for immigrant children

February 23, 2026 at 5:18 p.m.

Heartland Human Care Services plans to lay off more than 140 workers as it prepares to close several Chicago sites that temporarily house children who come to the U.S. without...

People and vehicles pass a Walgreens near the intersection of West Division and North Dearborn streets in Chicago on March 6, 2025. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)

Walgreens laying off 469 Illinois employees, following sale to private equity firm

February 19, 2026 at 5:55 p.m.

The employees work at the company’s offices in Deerfield, at the Old Post Office downtown and in Danville, according to a letter the company sent to the Illinois Department of...

Dusk falls on the Illinois State Capitol, Jan. 7, 2025, in Springfield. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

More than $1.1 billion in medical debt erased in Illinois, with the help of a state program

February 17, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.

More than 500,000 Illinois residents have so far benefited from the program, with average debt relief of about $1,200 a person, according to the governor’s office.

The Springfield headquarters of the Illinois Department of Public Health, along the 500 block of West Jefferson Street, on Feb. 8, 2024. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

Judge temporarily blocks Trump administration cuts to health care grants in Illinois, other states

February 13, 2026 at 1:46 p.m.

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from cutting more than $600 million in health care grants meant for Illinois and three other states.

The Springfield headquarters of the Illinois Department of Public Health, along the 500 block of West Jefferson Street, Feb. 8, 2024. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

Illinois sues Trump administration over more than $100 million in planned cuts to health care grants

February 12, 2026 at 7:22 a.m.

The Trump administration is moving to cut more than $100 million in federal health care grants for Illinois, a step quickly met with a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Kwame...

Dr. Jonathan D. Rich checks on patient Cheryl Andrews while she recovers Feb. 10, 2026, two weeks after her heart transplant at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Billionaire Neil Bluhm donating another $50 million to Northwestern for heart care

February 10, 2026 at 11:00 p.m.

With the new gift, Bluhm will have donated $135 million over the last two decades to the Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute.

Stacy St. Clair has been named as the Chicago Tribune's new managing editor.

Chicago Tribune names newsroom veteran as new managing editor

February 6, 2026 at 1:58 p.m.

The Chicago Tribune named newsroom veteran Stacy St. Clair as the newspaper’s new managing editor Friday.

Medical assistant Loreal Velastegui prepares a flu vaccine to be administered at the Esperanza Health Centers' Brighton Park North Clinic on Dec. 31, 2025. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)

Illinois adopts American Academy of Pediatrics vaccine schedule, shunning federal recommendations

February 5, 2026 at 3:51 p.m.

Illinois' adoption of the American Academy of Pediatrics' childhood vaccine schedule is the latest example of Illinois breaking with the federal government over health care policies.

All Stories