College of Public Health

October Alumni Spotlight with Alan H. Channing

Alan H. Channing, is the president and CEO of Sinai Health System in Chicago. He leads a team of 3,000 caregivers in an underserved community on the west side of Chicago, where about 750,000 people live.

Channing, originally from Harrisburg, Pa., received a master of science in health care management from The Ohio State University in 1971, and a bachelor of science in industrial management from the University of Cincinnati. He was one of six students in the health care management program at Ohio State, then directed by Donald W. Dunn.

"He took a personal interest in each of his students," Channing said of Dunn. "The training I received at OSU has returned many rewards. I have enjoyed a rich career that has given me many unique challenges. I wouldn't trade it for anything."

What do you enjoy about your work?
As a young OSU grad student, Don Dunn talked about how one person could make a difference. In my current role, I orchestrate how many caregivers working for a single mission can make a difference to a broad and diverse community. And, if we are successful, we can also influence national health policy.

What's challenging about it?
The Sinai Health System is a financially challenged organization with a compelling mission and vision. My challenge is to keep it viable while continuing to provide care that is in the top decile as measured against national standards.

What's one thing you learned at the College of Public Health that's helped you in the "real world"?
The most important learning applies to everyone and every profession. That is, do your homework. Nothing is ever what it appears to be, so you have to have prepared completely for whatever comes your way.

In August, Alan Channing (left) joined Vice President Biden and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in a roundtable discussion to address the nation's health care system. (Photo by Heather Charles/Chicago Tribune)

What public health issues concern you the most?
I believe the country is on the cusp of making a major advance in caring for its citizens, if we can get past the rhetoric and focus on the real issues of caring for the under- and uninsured. This can be accomplished in ways that I have characterized as "pre-primary care," an echo of public health. That is, creating interventions in the community around diseases that we know are controllable with the right education and support. At the Sinai Health System, we have developed a community-based asthma intervention program that keeps kids out of the ER and in school with a return on investment of 13 to 1. Who wouldn't invest in that kind of return if you were on Wall Street? Only in our health care system would we ignore this data.

What advice do you have for others interested in pursuing a career in public health?
It's a field that allows for many unique and challenging opportunities to make a difference. But, it comes with the burden of demanding a high tolerance for frustration and ambiguity.

Do you have a fond OSU memory to share?
While it isn't necessarily a fond memory, I was a grad student in the spring of 1970 during the Vietnam War and the tragic Kent State shootings. My hobby at that time was black and white photography. I was able to document for myself the student protests, the National Guard takeover of the campus and the subsequent closing of the university. This was an amazing time in the country and on the OSU campus.