WHAT: Dr. Ngozi Ezike, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, will explore health equity, not only in definition, but also how equity looks in practice. She will also highlight the state’s health improvement plan to identify key issues and action steps to address health equity in Illinois as well as discuss the impacts of COVID-19 related to health care access, health disparities and building trust in Illinois communities.

The University of Illinois Springfield’s Center for State Policy & Leadership and College of Public Affairs & Administration are co-hosting  this presentation with Illinois State University’s Center for Civic Engagement and Department of Health Sciences.

WHEN: 6 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 19

DETAILS: This is a free, virtual presentation that is open to the public, but registration is required. You can register at: uis.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Ac6Rpqo0QjSzbTevEEYKlg

Ezike is the first Black woman appointed to lead the 143-year old state agency. She is a board-certified internist and pediatrician who graduated with honors from Harvard University with a concentration in chemistry. Her medical degree is from University of California at San Diego. Ezike is also an assistant professor of pediatrics at Rush Medical College in Chicago.

For more information, contact Molly Lamb, executive director of the UIS Center of State Policy & Leadership, at 217-206-8622 or mehle01s@uis.edu.