Mission & History

Mission

Hektoen is a nonprofit organization dedicated to shaping the future through culture and science by promoting education, research, public understanding, and the thoughtful use of resources to support the well-being of our communities. The Institute fosters learning through scientific inquiry, medical humanities, and educational programs that connect knowledge, creativity, and human experience, aiming to inspire a stronger, more informed, and compassionate next generation. 

Our History

The Hektoen Institute was founded in 1943 by a group of prominent Chicago physicians as a venue for funding and conducting medical research and education. Over the years, it has made seminal scientific contributions to the disciplines of liver disease, gastroenterology, urology, cardiology, and renal diseases.  It also has advanced medical education by means of lectures, symposia, and fellowships. Through the Morris Friedell mentorship it helped talented young Chicagoans gain laboratory experience, leading to successful careers in medicine, science, and space exploration.  During the HIV/AIDS epidemic, Hektoen supported research in the treatment of HIV and in the epidemiological aspects of the disease, and through grant administration program implementation, educational programming, and fiscal management has addressed the most pressing health concerns affecting the affected population.  

Through its expertise in managing complex grants, it continues to address adverse issues facing the world, including domestic violence, substance use, and mental health, as well as continuing HIV care and support services; early intervention; particularly in Chicago’s large and diverse underserved population. A major initiative of the Institute is the global COVID-19 Monument of Honor, Remembrance, and Resilience, both a physical monument in Chicago, and a virtual monument website.  

In the realm of education and culture, Hektoen publishes Hektoen International, an award-winning, globally read, free-access on-line medical humanities journal (hekint.org); supports the Nurses and the Humanities program, led by nurses who produce humanities programs focusing on art and healing; and empowers Community College students through an essay writing scholarship contest.