Public health expert, civil rights activist and longtime medical contributor to WBEZ has died. 

A family friend says Dr. Quentin Young died yesterday in California of natural causes. He was 92.

Young dedicated his life to fighting for patient rights. He once told a reporter that he started believing in a single payer health care system when he was 13 years old. He stuck to that principle and made it an important part of his activism throughout his life.

Young treated Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. when the civil rights leader was in Chicago pushing for better housing policies. He cared for Dr. King when he was struck in the head during the infamous march in Marquette Park. He also served as personal physician to Chicago Mayor Harold Washington and author Studs Terkel.

In 2001, former Governor Quinn joined Dr. Young in that fight and they walked across the state pushing for a better health care system. Quinn joins us to talk about their friendship Young’s influence on Chicago.

Guest: Pat Quinn, former Illnois Governor