South Sider unfurls Bear Down flag in Chicago Bears pregame ceremony

Chicago South Sider Samuel Marshall, a patient at Advocate Medical Group-Evergreen, was recognized as the Chicago Bears’ special guest during the Bear Down Flag Ceremony on January 9.

In partnership with Advocate Health Care, the Chicago Bears invited Marshall to help unfurl the Bear Down flag and participate in pregame activities at Soldier Field. He was joined on the field by his wife, Tori, before returning to the stands to watch the Bears face the Minnesota Vikings.

The experience “was so amazing,” Marshall said.

However, Marshall’s game day experience pales in comparison to the way he feels since joining Advocate Health Care’s blood pressure control program in 2022.

Last year, Advocate Health launched the Ambulatory Care Management Hypertension Remote Patient Monitoring Program to cut the gap in uncontrolled hypertension in communities of color. And that it has. To date, the program — which offers free blood pressure cuffs, regularly scheduled coaching sessions led by a pharmacist and registered nurse, access to online healthy eating and exercise resources, and physician check-ups every three months — has reduced uncontrolled high blood pressure among Black and Hispanic patients by 13%.

“In the short time patients [including Marshall] have been able to access this new program, it’s been quite effective,” says Dr. Waverly Clanton, Marshall’s primary care physician. “A lot of the time, patients who self-monitor blood pressure are more compliant with their medication and diet because they can see their numbers. They can see how their efforts are making a difference.”

After about four months in the program, Marshall says he began to feel more motivated to reclaim his health by checking his blood pressure daily, taking 45-minute walks after work, eating whole foods found on the perimeter of grocery store aisles and finding more time to relax, cheering on the Chicago Bears, with his wife.

“I’m grateful for this program. I can see the change in the numbers, which feels really good. It’s encouraging,” Marshall says. “I feel much better.”