Rush and Endeavor Health announce plans to merge into a 12-hospital Illinois network
The proposed nonprofit combination would command nearly $11 billion in revenue and serve over 2 million patients across Northern Illinois and Northwest Indiana.
15 Oct 2026 0 reads Compiled with AI
#Rush #Endeavor Health #Illinois #Chicago
Rush University System for Health and Endeavor Health announced plans to merge into a single nonprofit health system with nearly $11 billion in annual revenue. The combined organization would operate 12 hospitals and more than 400 care sites across Northern Illinois and Northwest Indiana. Together, the systems employ more than 46,000 workers, including over 3,400 clinicians, and serve more than 2 million patients each year.
The merged organization will operate under the Rush name, drawing on the academic medical center's brand and national reputation. Endeavor president and chief executive Gerald "J.P." Gallagher will serve as president and chief executive of the combined system. Omar Lateef, the president and chief executive of Rush, will step into roles as chief executive emeritus and strategic advisor. A 20-member governing board will be split evenly between representatives from both organizations and led by a board chair from Rush.
A billion-dollar regional investment
As part of the transaction, Endeavor has committed $1 billion in funding for regional initiatives. That total allocates $500 million for academics and research, $300 million for community impact partnerships, and $200 million for care quality and innovation. The systems did not release an exact timeline for distributing the investment, but noted that community funds will focus on health infrastructure and social determinants of health.
The agreement unites two financially stable operators looking to expand their presence in the crowded Chicagoland healthcare market. Endeavor, created in 2022 from the merger of NorthShore University HealthSystem and Edward-Elmhurst Health, operates nine hospitals and reported $663.3 million in final net income for 2025. Rush runs three hospitals and three affiliated health colleges, posting $293.9 million in excess revenue over expenses for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2026. By hospital count, the combined group would narrowly outpace regional rivals such as Northwestern Medicine and Advocate Health.
The systems announced an expected closing in early 2027, subject to customary regulatory approvals. However, Fierce Healthcare reported that a concurrent regulatory filing listed plans to complete the transaction during the fourth quarter of 2026.