Reach Out and Read

The UCM Department of Pediatrics is a leader in addressing child health disparities through its support of Reach Out and Read (ROR). This evidence-based program is endorsed by the AAP and was featured in its 2021 Policy Statement on Preventing Childhood Toxic Stress. ROR promotes two critical early literacy goals: kindergarten readiness and reading proficiency by third grade. It is simple to implement and, to date, we have distributed over 20,000 books to children in our primary care clinics.

"2019 National Academy of Medicine report showed that the duration of education is a more important predictor of overall health and long life than either cigarette smoking or obesity."  Johnston, R.B.JR. 2019 Poor Education Predicts Poor Health. NAM Perspectives.

The Reach Out and Read program at our children’s hospital was initially launched through a seed grant from the Comer Development Board. Today, it continues to thrive thanks to the generous support of private donors and philanthropic partners.

Pediatric trainees engage with Reach Out and Read (ROR) as part of their continuity clinic experience at Friend Health and Comer General Pediatrics, learning the pediatrician’s role in promoting early literacy and language development. ROR is also integrated into the Primary Care Lecture Series, reinforcing the impact of physician advocacy on child health and policy. As part of the Community Engagement and Advocacy Block, coordinated by Dr. Julia Rosebush, pediatric interns collaborate with Dr. Anthony Douglas, a UCM surgical resident whose research links poor academic performance and negative attitudes toward education with youth gun violence. Interns volunteer at the South Side YMCA, supporting a tutoring program and educating families on the importance of establishing a medical home for their children.

Since 2022, medical students, residents, and faculty have actively participated in the annual ICAAP ROR-IL Conference and Fundraiser at the Harold Washington Library, with residents Dr. Bako Orionzi (2022) and Dr. Melanie Parziale (2023) featured as panelists. In January 2024, the Pediatric Interest Group and Pritzker ROR Club hosted their first social event to foster connections between students, residents, and faculty. By March 2024, the Pritzker ROR Club helped create literacy-rich waiting rooms at Comer General Pediatrics and Cottage Grove clinics by collecting donated books and constructing a take-home book box. In August 2024, Comer pediatric faculty, residents, and students supported a ROR table at the REMOC Safety Fair, distributing new books, promoting early reading, and sharing local literacy resources with families. Additionally, first- and second-year medical students are offered the opportunity to shadow Dr. Mahidhara in clinic through the Pediatric Interest Group (PInG) program.