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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE LIFE OF DR. JAIRO B. CRUZ
WHEREAS, Almighty God in His infinite wisdom called from our midst Dr. Jairo Cruz on March 21st, 2023, at the age of 78; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Cruz was a cardiologist in Olympia Fields, Illinois and was affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Franciscan Health Olympia Fields and Advocate South Suburban Hospital; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Cruz received his medical degree from Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro in 1970, and trained at Cook County Health starting in 1971, completing his residency in internal medicine and several fellowships in cardiovascular disease; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Cruz was licensed in Illinois and board certified in internal medicine and cardiology and was a cardiology specialist with a subspecialty in adult congenital heart disease and after his tenure at Cook County Health was on staff at Franciscan Health Olympia Fields from April 26th, 1980 to October 26th, 2020; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Cruz attained Five Star ratings on Healthgrades and Healthgrades Honor Roll; and
WHEREAS, additionally Dr. Cruz was on staff at Bria, a low-income nursing home in Chicago Heights, to assist with the management of their heart failure patients. Many of these patients were Medicaid patients that did not have the resources that they needed to prevent progression of their disease and had frequent hospital readmissions, but he helped manage and direct their care; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Cruz started the heart failure clinic at Franciscan Health Olympia Fields in 2016 serving approximately 700 patients on a continual basis and with the use of evidence-based practices, had about 80% improvement of their left ventricular ejection fraction/heart function measure; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Cruz collaborated with nursing leaders to start a monthly Community Educational program with speakers for the education of the heart failure patients, and on February 27th, 2017, he developed the Heart Failure Center Turnkey Plan for Transitional Care Partnership Group, which mapped out the Center’s Heart Failure Disease Management Program utilizing concepts relating to population health management, integrated program development for heart failure quality of care, utilizing technology, and suggestions for organizing a heart failure team; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Cruz developed a multidisciplinary team of people to work specifically on the management of transitions for heart failure patients that met daily Monday through Friday, and involved nursing leaders, Dr. Cruz, behavioral health social workers, case management, home health care and nursing management from the Telemetry Unit. He coined it “the Command Center for Heart Failure”; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Cruz was very concerned about dealing with all causes of patients’ readmissions and mortality and morbidity reduction, and was involved with many research studies over the years, most recently Duke University’s Connect- Heart Failure study, which dealt with care optimization through patient and hospital engagement utilizing inpatient and outpatient education and utilizing health applications; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Cruz participated in many clinical trials related to medications for hypertension, cardiovascular inflammation, cholesterol, heart failure and Mis to name a few including: ALLHAT, OnTarget, Precision, CIRT, CLEAR, and PROMINENT. These studies were related to medications for Hypertension, Cardiovascular inflammation, cholesterol, MI and Heart Failure prevention and education and transitions of care; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Cruz became very interested in Social Determinants of Health and wanted to organize a community forum regarding such issues in the community, but the Covid-19 pandemic hit and curtailed his plans to have a community forum at our Franciscan Health Olympia Fields; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Cruz noted that work was his hobby and racing yearly in the Mackinaw sailing race was his work. He sailed for a total of 27 races and was named an “old goat” on July 17, 2017, and for each race he took a special San Damiano (Franciscan) cross; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Cruz was a man of great faith, and one who could share his devotion to faith, family, his profession (hobby) and his work (sailing) and fought the fight and ran the race. Well done Dr. Cruz!; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Cruz was the loving husband to Maria Donatela Camaya Cruz; Beloved father to Mary Ann Cruz (Michael Dennis) Dichoso, Rachelle Camaya (Carlos Julian Sison) Centeno and Jairo Bispo (Melinda Sue) Cruz Jr.; Loving grandfather to Josephine Camaya Dichoso, Nora Ellen Dichoso, Luke Modesto Dichoso, Gabriella Claire Centeno, Julie Ann Cruz Centeno, Camaya Elizabeth Cruz, Jairo John Cruz and Dominick Bishop Cruz; Cherished brother to Jader Bispo Cruz; dear uncle to Fernanda Cantalice Cruz, Claudio Cantalice Cruz and Eduardo DeSouza Cruz; Preceded in death by his parents Josaphat Bispo Cruz and Aurelina Ferreira Lopes Cruz;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the President and Members of the Cook County Board of Commissioners does hereby offer its deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathy to the family and loved ones of Dr. Jairo B. Cruz; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, this text be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body and a suitable copy be presented to the family of Dr. Jairo B. Cruz so that his memory may be so honored and ever cherished.
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