In a recent development, doctors at Stroger Hospital of Cook County have expressed their support for the U.S. surgeon general's declaration of gun violence as a public health crisis. With 771 gunshot victims treated at their trauma center last year, Stroger Hospital stands as one of the busiest in the country.

Dr. Claudia Fegan, the chief medical officer for Stroger Hospital, stated that the declaration came as no surprise, as the hospital has long recognized the devastating impact of gun violence. She emphasized that gun violence affects more than just the direct victims and commended the advisory for recognizing this broader impact.

Dr. Fegan has a personal connection to the issue, having grown up on the city's South Side and witnessed her parents being injured by gun violence during her childhood. Reflecting on the landmark advisory, she believes it is long overdue and a crucial step towards addressing the crisis.

Chicago's gun violence problem is alarming, with more people being shot in the city than in New York City and Los Angeles combined. Dr. Fegan pointed out that even children are not exempt from the violence, highlighting the tragic loss of a 7-year-old due to gun violence just this week. The advisory further reveals that more children between the ages of 1 and 19 die from firearms than any other cause in the United States.

Treatment at Stroger Hospital goes beyond medical attention, recognizing the need for comprehensive support. Andy Wheeler, a clinical social worker with the Healing Hurt People Chicago Team, shared the stories of victims, including grandmothers shot while waiting for the bus and children shot in the backseat of their cars on their way to school. Wheeler's role is to provide emotional support to gunshot victims and their families during their hospitalization.

The advisory issued by the U.S. surgeon general not only calls for immediate action but also outlines specific measures, such as banning automatic rifles, implementing universal background checks, and penalizing individuals who fail to safely store their weapons. Additionally, the advisory emphasizes the need for increased funding for firearms research to better understand how to reduce and prevent firearm violence.

Dr. Fegan believes that proper research has been hindered by lobbying efforts, preventing the identification of effective strategies. To support her claims, CBS 2's investigative team conducted an analysis of over 50 years of data and discovered that although the present-day numbers are alarming, the early 1990s witnessed the worst homicide rates in Chicago.

The endorsement from the doctors at Stroger Hospital highlights the urgency and necessity of addressing gun violence as a public health crisis. As the conversation around gun control and safety intensifies, their personal experiences and professional expertise lend weight to the ongoing efforts to protect communities from the devastating impact of gun violence.

(Note: The generated content is based on the information provided and does not involve any independent verification of facts.