CTC OVERVIEW • 2026 RECIPIENT• IDEAS BANK • MEET THE ADVISORS
2026 Chicago Talent Challenge Recipient
HealthCatalyst Chicago
HealthCatalyst Chicago, a transformational partnership between City Colleges of Chicago and Cook County Health, is designed to create thousands of those opportunities.
Selected as the inaugural recipient of the Chicago Talent Challenge, HealthCatalyst Chicago will receive $5 million to expand training, accelerate hiring and strengthen retention in critical health care roles.
The partnership is expected to:
Train and place more than 1,000 Chicagoans in health care jobs over three years
Continue up to 400 placements annually thereafter
Reduce chronic frontline staffing shortages at Cook County Health
“The Chicago Talent Challenge sought bold ideas with the potential for real impact, recognizing both the urgent demand for talent and the need for greater access to good first jobs across our city. As a physician, I’ve seen firsthand how important these jobs are for care delivery and how entry-level roles can open the door to lasting careers that change a family’s trajectory. This is why we are so proud to support HealthCatalyst.”
— Bryan Traubert, cofounder and trustee of the Pritzker Traubert Foundation
Built on a successful model
HealthCatalyst Chicago will focus on high-demand roles including medical assistants, patient care technicians, medical laboratory technicians and nurses. This work builds on a successful pilot between City Colleges and University of Chicago Medicine that placed more than 200 medical assistants over two years with nearly 100% retention. HealthCatalyst scales that model citywide, aligning training and hiring at scale.
Designed for decades
By reducing reliance on temporary staffing agencies, Cook County Health expects to save approximately $500,000 annually — savings that can be reinvested to grow the training program. As enrollment increases, City Colleges will reinvest tuition revenue to expand capacity.
“Chicago’s future depends on investing in its people. Helping more Chicagoans access on-ramps to economic mobility has been a passion and focus of mine for decades. We are proud to support this innovative project, which can create real opportunities for residents, help address employer pain points, and, importantly, show what’s possible when major institutions collaborate to solve the city’s workforce challenges.”
— Penny Pritzker, cofounder and trustee of the Pritzker Traubert Foundation
Join us
While the investment is a beginning, long-term success will depend on sustained partnership across Chicago. HealthCatalyst Chicago invites additional health care employers, civic leaders, and community supporters to join this collaboration.
Together our work can expand training capacity, create more on-ramps to quality jobs and ensure students have the resources they need to complete their programs and thrive in the health care workforce.