For Immediate Release Thursday, May 28, 2015 Contacts: Lauren Kotarski, Public Communications Inc. (PCI), 312/558-1770 ext. 108, LKotarski@pcipr.com

140+ Physicians from State’s Leading Pediatric Health Organization Endorse the Healthy Eating and Active Living

(HEAL) Act

CHICAGO – More than 140 physicians from Illinois’ leading pediatric health organization, the Illinois Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics (ICAAP), announced their endorsement today of the Healthy Eating and Active Living (HEAL) Act. The HEAL Act invests in community prevention and Medicaid, through a small tax on sugary drinks. The group includes pediatric chairs from the state’s academic medical centers, researchers, medical school faculty, subspecialists, pediatricians in training, and primary care physicians who see the adverse health impacts of sugary drinks on patients and their families every day. Nearly one in three children in Illinois is overweight or obese. As Illinois faces a budget crisis, the HEAL Act can raise an estimated $600 million to prevent cuts in Medicaid and invest in healthier kids. “In our view, these revenues should be targeted to critical clinical prevention and treatment services in Medicaid for childhood obesity and oral health that would lower state spending on health care,” said Alejandro Clavier, a Co-Chair of ICAAP’s Health Care Advisory Group on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages. Additionally, funds raised from the HEAL Act should be invested in community prevention. These efforts would include, for example, improving

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access to affordable fruits and vegetables and providing kids more options for safe places to play so that all youth can be active and healthier. “The contribution of sugary drinks to obesity in children is now clearly established,” stated Goutham Rao, a Co-Chair of ICAAP’s Health Care Advisory Group on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages. Sufficient scientific evidence demonstrates that decreasing consumption of these drinks reduces the prevalence of childhood obesity and costly obesity-related diseases, such as type 2 diabetes. Further, sugary drinks cause cavities, behavioral problems, and the risk of poor bone health. The undersigned physicians endorse the Healthy Eating and Active Living Act because it will promote healthier children, families, and communities in Illinois. *Titles and affiliations listed for identification only. Tahmineh Abbasian, MD Attending Physician Pediatrics Dupage Medical Group Elmhurst Michelle Barnes, MD Assistant Professor Pediatrics University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago Ellen Barrios, MD Pediatrician Lawndale Christian Health Center Chicago Barbara Bayldon, MD, FAAP Pediatrician President Illinois Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics Chicago

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Deanna Behrens, MD Attending Physician Pediatric Critical Care Advocate Children’s Hospital Park Ridge Frank Belmonte, DO, MPH, FAAP Attending Physician Pediatrics Advocate Children’s Hospital Park Ridge Holly J. Benjamin, MD, FAAP, FACSM Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Orthopedic Surgery Director of Primary Care Sports Medicine Pediatric Sports Medicine University of Chicago Medicine Chicago Karen Bernstein, MD, MPH, FAAP Director of Adolescent Medicine University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago Amy Blair, MD Associate Professor Family Medicine Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine Maywood Paul Bolton, MD Attending Physician Pediatrics Advocate Lutheran Children’s Hospital Park Ridge Claudia Boucher-Berr, MD Assistant Professor Pediatric Endocrinology University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago Audrey G. Brewer, MD, FAAP Pediatrician Lawndale Christian Health Center Chicago

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Beverly Brown, MD, FAAP Attending Physician Pediatrics Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital La Rabida Children’s Hospital Chicago Judith Brown, MD, FAAP Pediatrician Pediatric Associates of Barrington PediaTrust, LLC Barrington Deborah Burnet, MD, MA Chief of General Internal Medicine Internal Medicine and Pediatrics University of Chicago Medicine Chicago Icy Cade-Bell, MD, FAAP Associate Professor Pediatrics Comer Children’s Hospital University of Chicago Chicago Joseph Cangas, MD Pediatrician Illini Pediatrics Columbia Douglas Carlson, MD, FAAP Professor and Chair Department of Pediatrics Southern Illinois University School of Medicine Springfield Sangili Chandran, MD, MS Director, Primary Sports Medicine Family Medicine Advocate Medical Group Hometown

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Amy Christison, MD, FAAP Assistant Professor Pediatrics University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria Peoria Alejandro Clavier, MD, MPH, FAAP Pediatrician Esperanza Health Centers Vida Pediatrics Chicago Leslie Cordes, MD, FAAP Assistant Professor Pediatrics Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital Northwestern University Chicago John M. Cunningham, MD Interim Chair, Department of Pediatrics University of Chicago Medicine Chicago Ann Cutler, MD Illinois LEND Training Director Developmental Pediatrics University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago Vanessa Davis, MD Attending Physician Pediatric Endocrinology John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County Chicago David Deutsch, MD Head, Department of Pediatrics University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford

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Kimberley Dilley, MD, MPH, FAAP Attending Physician Pediatrics Advocate Children’s Hospital Oak Lawn Aaron Donnell, MD Physician Allergy/Immunology Chicago Family Asthma and Allergy Chicago David Dungan, MD, FACP, FAAP Board of Directors Internal Medicine and Pediatrics DuPage Medical Group Lombard/Downers Grove Gary Fernando, MD, FAAP Chair of Pediatrics Crusader Community Health Rockford Wayne Franklin, MD, MPH, MMM, FAAP CEO/President Pediatric Cardiology SafeCG Oak Park Nancy Fritz, MD, FAAP Assistant Professor Adolescent Medicine University of Chicago Chicago Helen Fromme, MD, FAAP Associate Professor Pediatrics University of Chicago Chicago Marjorie Fujara, MD, FAAP Attending Physician Child Abuse Pediatrics John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County Chicago

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Kamala Ghaey, MD, FAAP Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics Community Based Primary Care Advocate Illinois Masonic Health Center Chicago Lisa Giordano, MD Interim System Chair Pediatric Hematology/Oncology John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County Chicago Minal Giri, MD Medical Director Melrose Park Pediatrics Melrose Park Mariana Glusman, MD, FAAP Pediatrician Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital Northwestern University Chicago David Gozal, MD Attending Physician Pediatric Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine University of Chicago Chicago Larry Gray, MD Assistant Professor Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics University of Chicago Chicago Andrew Griffin, MD, FAAP, FACC Director of Pediatric Cardiology University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago Joseph Hageman, MD, FAAP Neonatologist Comer Children’s Hospital Chicago

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Lisa Henry-Reid, MD Chair, Division Adolescent Medicine John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County Chicago Michael Hobaugh, MD, PhD Assistant Professor Pediatrics La Rabida Children’s Hospital Chicago Leslie Jabine, MD Assistant Clinical Professor Pediatrics and Internal Medicine University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago Christopher Jamerson, MD, FAAP Attending Physician Pediatrics Advocate Children’s Hospital Park Ridge Stephanie Jennings, MD Division Director Pediatrics Hospitalists Advocate Children’s Hospital Oak Lawn Daniel Johnson, MD, FAAP Associate Professor Pediatric Infectious Disease Comer Children’s Hospital University of Chicago Medicine Chicago Cathy Joyce, MD, PhD Director Section of Adolescent Medicine Rush University Medical Center Chicago Stacy Kahn, MD Assisting Professor Pediatric Gastroenterology University of Chicago Chicago

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Miriam Kalishman, MD, FAAP Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Chicago Jonathan Kaufman, MD, FAAP Pediatrician Pediatric Associates of Barrington PediaTrust, LLC Crystal Lake Mary Keen, MD Medical Director, Pediatric Program Marianjoy Rehabilitaion Hospital and Clinics Wheaton Paul Kent, MD, FAAP Assistant Professor Pediatrics Rush University Medical Center Chicago Anita Kewalramani, MD, FAAP Assistant Professor Pediatrics Rush University Medical Center Chicago Saba Khalid, MD Attending Physician Hiba Pediatrics Chicago Katherine Kirley, MD, MS Attending Physician Family Medicine NorthShore University HealthSystem Highland Park Jane Kramer, MD, FAAP Residency Program Director Pediatrics Rush University Medical Center Chicago

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Nidhi Kukreja, MD, FAAP Pediatrician Mercy Hospital and Medical Center Chicago Carissa Lee Holmes, MD, FAAP Pediatrician Pediatrics Solutions, SC Arlington Heights Josh Levin, MD Pediatrician Pediatrust, LLC Winnetka Laura Levin, DO, FAAP Pediatric Endocrinologist Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital La Rabida Children’s Hospital Chicago Joanna Lewis, MD, FAAP Associate Program Director Pediatrics Advocate Children’s Hospital Park Ridge Anagha Loharikar, MD Medical Director Chicago Department of Public Health Chicago Michele Lorand, MD, FAAP Chair, Division of Child Protective Services John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County Chicago Karen Lui, MD, FAAP Assistant Professor Pediatrics Rush University Medical Center Chicago

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Carol Macmillan, MD, MA Associate Professor of Pediatrics Pediatric Neurology Comer Children’s Hospital Chicago Stelios Mantis, MD, MPH Assistant Professor Pediatric Endocrinology Rush University Medical Center Chicago William Meadow, MD, PhD Attending Physician Pediatrics University of Chicago Chicago Cynthia Mears, DO, FAAP Clinical Professor of Pediatrics Adolescent Medicine Advocate Children’s Hospital Oak Lawn Sandra Mikulin, DO, FAAP Attending Physician Advanced Pediatric Care Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital Bolingbrook Jennifer Miller, MD, FAAP Attending Physician Pediatric Endocrinology Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital La Rabida Children’s Hospital Chicago Kathryn Miller, MD Family Practice Pediatrics Lawndale Christian Health Center Chicago

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Mark Minier, MD, FAAP Assistant Professor Pediatrics University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago Carla Minutti, MD Associate Professor Pediatrics Rush University Medical Center Chicago Thomas Moore, MD Pediatrician Meridian Medical Group Joliet Area Community Hospital Joliet Julie Morita, MD, FAAP Commissioner Chicago Department of Public Health Chicago Michael Msall, MD, FAAP Professor Developmental Pediatrics Comer Children’s Hospital University of Chicago Medicine Chicago Megan Muscia, DO, FAAAP Pediatric Faculty Advocate Children’s Hospital Oak Lawn Cesar Ochoa, MD Director, Developmental Behavior Developmental Pediatrics Rush University Medical Center Chicago Todd Ochs, MD Pediatrician Ravenswood Pediatrics Illinois Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics Chicago

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Lauren Oshman, MD, MPH, FAAP Attending Physician Family Medicine Northshore University HealthSystem Glenview Amanda Osta, MD, FAAP Program Director Pediatrics University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago C. Lucy Park, MD, FAAP Associate Professor Allergy & Immunology/Pediatrics University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago Sara Parvinian, MD Pediatrician The Children’s Health Center Gurnee Pallavi Patwari, MD, FAAP Director, Pediatric Sleep Medicine Program Pediatrics Critical Care University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago Eddie Pont, MD, FAAP Pediatrician Elmhurst Pediatrics Dupage Medical Group Elmhurst Maheen Quadri, MD Attending Physician Pediatrics Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital Chicago

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Goutham Rao, MD Vice Chair, Department of Family Medicine NorthShore University HealthSystem and University of Chicago Chair, Obesity Committee, American Heart Association Clinical Associate Professor University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine Chicago Krystal Revai, MD, FAAP Medical Director Aetna Chicago Kathy Ritger, MD, FAAP Medical Director Chicago Department of Public Health Chicago Beverley Robin, MD, FAAP Assistant Professor Pediatrics Rush University Medical Center Chicago Lainie Friedman Ross, MD, PhD Professor Department of Pediatrics, Medicine, and Surgery University of Chicago Chicago Susan Roth, MD Attending Physician Pediatrics NorthShore University HealthSystems Evanston Moazzam Saeed, MD Pediatrician Advanced Pediatric Care Bolingbrook Susan Scherer, MD Attending Physician Pediatric Psychiatry La Rabida Children’s Hospital Chicago

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Margaret Scotellaro, MD FAAP Assistant Professor Pediatrics Rush University Medical Center Chicago Alisa Seo-Lee, MD, FAAP Attending Physician Pediatrics/Internal Medicine John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County Chicago Maria Serratto, MD, FAAP Professor Pediatric Cardiology University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago Zohra Shad, MD, FACMG Assistant Professor Clinical Geneticist University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago Parag Shah, MD, MPH Attending Physician Pediatrics Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital La Rabida Children’s Hospital Chicago Sofia Shakir, MD Pediatrician Pediatric Health Associates Chicago Garry Sigman, MD Pediatric Vice Chair for Education Pediatrics Loyola University Medical Center Maywood

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Lisa Simmons, MD Attending Physician Adolescent Medicine Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital Chicago Susan Sirota, MD, FAAP Chair PediaTrust, LLC Highland Park Renee Slade, MD Attending Physician Pediatrics Rush University Medical Center Chicago Matthew W. Smiley, DO, FAAP General Pediatrician Advocate Children’s Hospital Park Ridge Peter Smith, MD, MA, FAAP Associate Professor Pediatrics University of Chicago Chicago David Soglin, MD, FAAP Chief Medical Officer La Rabida Children’s Hospital Chicago Alka Srivastava, MD, FAAP Attending Physician Pediatrics MacNeal Hospital Berwyn Jerold Stirling, MD, FAAP Chairman of Pediatrics Loyola University Medical Center Maywood

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Anna Volerman, MD Assistant Professor Pediatrics/Internal Medicine University of Chicago Chicago Beth Volin, MD Vice-Chair for Innovation Pediatrics Rush University Medical Center Chicago Karen Walker, MD, FAAP Pediatrician PediaGroup Associates, S.C. Oak Park Timothy Wall, MD, FAAP Pediatrician Pediatric Health Associates Naperville Tabatha Wells, MD Assistant Professor Family Medicine Southern Illinois University School of Medicine Springfield George Weyer, MD Assistant Professor Medicine/Pediatrics University of Chicago Chicago Amy Whalen, MD Attending Physician Pediatrics Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital Chicago

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Pediatricians in Training: AnnaMarie Arias, MD Resident Physician Pediatrics John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County Chicago Kimberly Au, MD Resident Physician Pediatrics University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago Priscilla Carvalho, MD Resident Physician Pediatrics University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago Sae-Rom Chae, MD, MPH Resident Physician Pediatrics and Internal Medicine University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago Xochil Galeano, MD Resident Physician Pediatrics University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago Juan David Gonzalez, MD Resident Physician Pediatrics University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago Nisha Hakhu, DO, FAAP Pediatric Chief Resident Advocate Children’s Hospital Park Ridge

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Sameeia Iqbal, MD Resident Physician Pediatrics John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County Chicago Niloufer Khan, MD Resident Physician Pediatrics University of Chicago Chicago Jacqueline Korpics, MD Resident Physician Pediatrics Rush University Medical Center Chicago Agnieszka Kowalczyk, MD Resident Physician Pediatrics John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County Chicago Stacy Laurent, DO Resident Physician Pediatrics University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago Lauren Lindie, MD Resident Physician Pediatrics Advocate Children’s Hospital Park Ridge Matt Magyar, MD Resident Physician Pediatrics University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago Rupa Mahadevan, MD Resident Physician Pediatrics Advocate Children’s Hospital Park Ridge

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Claudia Nevarez Flores, MD Resident Physician Pediatrics John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County Chicago Nurcicek Padem, MD Resident Physician Pediatrics University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago Jorge Ramallo, MD, MPH Resident Physician Medical Pediatrics University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago Fabiola D’Ambrosio Rodriguez, MD Resident Physician Pediatrics University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago James Ronayne, MD Resident Physician Pediatrics University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago Melissa Ruiz, MD, MPH Pediatric Chief Resident University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago Kavitha Selvaraj, MD Resident Physician Pediatrics Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital Northwestern University Chicago Shrawani Soorneela, MD Resident Physician Pediatrics John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County Chicago

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Pei-Yuan Tsou, MD, MA Resident Physician Pediatrics University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago Shrinal Vyas, MD Resident Physician Pediatrics Advocate Children’s Hospital Park Ridge Jonathan Weber, MD Resident Physician Pediatrics Rush University Medical Center Chicago Meera Wiseman, MD Resident Physician Pediatrics Advocate Lutheran Children's Hospital Park Ridge