Susan Crown, chairman of the Rush University System for Health and RUSH University Medical Center boards of trustees, is among Crain’s Chicago Business’ 2022 Notable Nonprofit Board Leaders. The honor was announced online Nov. 18.
“Good board members support nonprofits with their time, talents and treasures,” the publication noted in characterizing the recipients. “They create and champion DEI efforts, help their chosen organizations deal with the aftereffects of the pandemic, create new fundraisers and breathe new life into existing ones, and mentor other board members. Their efforts, described here, strengthen all manner of area nonprofits, from social-service agencies to theater companies.”
Crown’s decades of involvement with RUSH aligns with that description, according to Dr. Omar Lateef, president and CEO of RUSH.
“Attitude reflects leadership, and Susan’s leadership created the foundation for everything good we have accomplished,” Lateef said. “Her warmth, thoughtfulness and impeccable head for business is a key element of this organization’s success. In fact, this list would be incomplete without her.”
To be recognized, Crain’s wrote that nominees “must have advanced the cause of the nonprofit in a meaningful way, mentored other board members and helped the organization operate more efficiently.”
About Crown, Crain’s wrote:
“Susan Crown’s involvement at Rush spans decades. She became a trustee in 1986 and helped define its future on the steering committee for The Campaign for Rush. She chaired the facilities committee from 2006 to 2014, during which the Rush signature tower was designed. When the pandemic hit, Crown empowered Rush to commit significant resources to bring testing, care and vaccines to Black and Brown communities first, a proactive health-equity approach that saved countless lives. Crown also worked closely with a task force to counter the pandemic’s financial impact, seeking out alternative funding sources that kept community programs in place. She also championed the Incident Command Structure for operational efficiency. Crown is chair of Owl Creek Partners.”
