Rush and Endeavor Plan Merger to Expand Care and Research

Rush University System for Health and Endeavor Health have announced plans to merge, bringing together two major healthcare providers serving Chicago and the wider Illinois region to create an integrated academic health system spanning 12 hospitals and more than 400 care sites.

The combined organisation will operate under the Rush brand and employ more than 46,000 team members and clinicians, serving more than 2 million patients annually across northern Illinois and Northwest Indiana.

The proposed merger aims to combine Rush's academic, research and clinical expertise with Endeavor's extensive regional care network, creating opportunities to expand access to high-quality care, accelerate medical innovation and strengthen relationships with the communities both organisations serve.

Gerald “J.P.” Gallagher, President and CEO of Endeavor Health, will lead the unified system as President and CEO once the transaction closes. Dr Omar Lateef, President and CEO of Rush University System for Health and Rush University Medical Centre, will remain in his current position until completion, before becoming CEO Emeritus and Strategic Advisor to the CEO.

Governance will be overseen by a 20-member system Board, with equal representation from Rush and Endeavor Health and a chair drawn from the Rush system.

Writing on LinkedIn following the announcement, J.P. says: “Together we will advance our shared mission as an integrated academic health system deeply connected to the communities we serve across greater Chicagoland.”

A vast health network

The merger will unite complementary healthcare capabilities and a substantial regional footprint. Before the proposed transaction, Endeavor Health was Illinois' third-largest health system, serving more than 4.2 million residents across seven counties in northeastern Illinois.

With nine hospitals and approximately 300 care sites, Endeavor brings an extensive clinical network to the combined organisation. Its workforce includes more than 28,800 team members, including over 2,300 employed physicians, providing a broad foundation for delivering care across the region.

Rush, meanwhile, brings an established academic and research base alongside its own hospital and outpatient network. The nonprofit organisation encompasses Rush University Medical Centre, Rush University, Rush Copley Medical Centre and Rush Oak Park Hospital.

“The system will embody and expand the foundational values for which both systems are known: excellence, access and health equity, backed by a leading university that drives research and trains our future healthcare leaders,” says Dr Omar Lateef.

He adds: “As a unified system, we will expand upon the work Rush has done on the West Side of Chicago to strengthen our impact in communities across the region to ensure more patients benefit from the expertise, innovation and compassion that define us.”

A central element of the plans is an additional US$1bn investment, funded by Endeavor Health, to support community impact, academic programmes, research, quality and care innovation.

A significant proportion of the funding will be directed towards community partnerships addressing the social determinants of health, alongside the development of sustainable infrastructure to support underserved populations. The investment is intended to help the combined system tackle barriers to healthcare access while extending its impact beyond hospital walls.

Powering research and innovation

Beyond expanding the combined system's clinical reach, the merger could create new opportunities to accelerate medical discoveries and bring advances in research into patient care.

Rush's academic infrastructure and research capabilities will sit alongside Endeavor's extensive clinical network, creating a platform for connecting scientific discovery with real-world healthcare delivery. 

Justin Brueck, VP of Innovation and Research at Endeavor Health, highlighted the potential of combining the organisations' respective strengths in a LinkedIn post.

“Pairing Endeavor’s clinical reach, including a leading translational genomics program, with Rush’s academic strength could help move discoveries to patients faster,” he writes.

“Backed by a US$1bn investment from Endeavor to advance research, academics, community impact and care, it opens the door to bringing new studies and care models to more patients across the communities we call home.”

The transaction is expected to close in early 2027, subject to regulatory review and approval.

Key partners

University of Chicago

President: Paul Alivisatos | HQ: Chicago, Illinois

The University of Chicago partners with Rush and other regional healthcare and academic institutions through the Institute for Translational Medicine. The collaboration aims to accelerate the translation of research discoveries into improved healthcare, bringing together clinical expertise, scientific resources and community partnerships to advance patient-centred research and health equity.

Google Cloud

CEO: Thomas Kurian | HQ: Sunnyvale, California, US

Google Cloud is working with Endeavor Health to develop one of the world's largest cloud-based digital pathology platforms, applying technology to support advances in diagnostic services. The partnership reflects Endeavor's wider approach to healthcare innovation, using external technology expertise and clinical infrastructure to explore new care solutions and improve how healthcare professionals access and interpret diagnostic information.

Fabric

CEO: Aniq Rahman | HQ: New York

Fabric partners with Rush to power Rush Connect and Rush Connect+, combining AI-assisted patient navigation with virtual care services. Its platform helps patients find appropriate care and access treatment, while supporting clinical teams to expand capacity and streamline workflows. The collaboration demonstrates how digital health technology can complement traditional hospital and outpatient services.