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Asthma has become an important public concern for urban areas across the world. Our lack of understanding of this condition limits its early prevention, but nationally available practice care guidelines give us the tools for minimizing the morbidity and mortality associated with this disease. During the early 1990s, we in Chicago became aware of this new and emerging public health concern. The public health sector, including the municipal Board of Health, has been central to efforts in identifying and controlling such problems. However, they cannot by themselves reduce the rates of asthma morbidity and mortality. It was therefore a great moment when the Otho S.A. Sprague Memorial Institute decided to intensify our community's response to...