Blase Polite, MD, has been appointed as Chief Physician for the University of Chicago Medicine's forthcoming multispecialty care facility in Crown Point, Indiana. UCM recently broke ground on the new facility, which is expected to open in spring of 2024. With the projected volume of approximately 110,000 patients per year, UCM will expand its physician practices in Northwest Indiana to meet the demand. This will involve a combination of existing faculty establishing practices there, recruiting physicians who will spend most of their time in Crown Point and partnering with physicians who currently practice in the area.
As Chief Physician, Dr. Polite will work to ensure world-class medical care is provided on a consistent basis by establishing strong clinical services and through the execution of key strategic and operational priorities. He is also charged with synchronizing the expansion of the Care Network in Northwest Indiana with the activities of the Medical Center and Biological Science Division in Hyde Park. Additionally, he will work closely with Department Chairs and Section Chiefs to develop the growth strategy for the new center while also partnering with local providers and healthcare systems to strengthen relationships and identify opportunities for future collaboration.
Dr. Polite currently serves as a Professor of Medicine, Deputy Section Chief for Strategy and Network Development, and Executive Medical Director for Cancer Accountable Care. He has led the development of the UChicago Cancer Network, which now includes five practices and 16 oncologists, over the past five years. He is a national expert in cancer health policy, having served numerous leadership roles in the American Society of Clinical Oncology and American Cancer Society, and he is the Associate Editor of the Journal of Clinical Oncology: Oncology Practice.
