Board of Health
The Chicago Board of Health
The Chicago Board of Health advises the Mayor and the Commissioner of Public Health on all issues affecting the health of the residents of Chicago.
The Chicago Department of Public Health is excited to welcome the following new members to the Chicago Board of Health, who were appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson, with approval of the City Council on April 16, 2025:
- Bishop Horace Smith, MD – Board President
- Kathryn Bocanegra, PhD, LCSW
- Travis Gayles, MD, PhD, MPH
- Aida Giachello, PhD
- Hong Liu, PhD, MA
- Chinyere Okwu, MPH
- Jerrard Walker, RN, LCSW
- Stephanie Willding, MPA
The new Board of Health will hold a meeting on Tuesday, June 10. Future dates and times will be determined by the Board at this first meeting.
Membership And Organization
The board is made up of nine members, one of whom serves as president. The Mayor appoints the members with the approval of the City Council. City law requires that the board be diverse with respect to demographics, skill set, and professional background. The board also needs to have at least five members with a public health background, one member representing a federally qualified health center, and one member representing a hospital. A given board member could meet more than one of these requirements.
Terms Of Service
Members serve three-year, staggered terms. However, the mayor may remove a member and fill vacancies at any time.
Meetings
2025 Board of Health meetings will be held on the following dates:
- Tuesday, June 10
- Wednesday, August 13
- Wednesday, October 15
- Wednesday, December 17
All meetings will take place from 9:00–10:30 am at 111 W. Washington St., Floor 12, Room 1212. Hybrid format will be offered as well; a Zoom link will be made available in each meeting's agenda.
Click the button below to view the 2025 Board of Health meeting schedule and agendas:
Previous Chicago Board of Health Meetings
