The Future of Public Health: A Strategic Look Toward the Future (NPHW Distinguished Lecture)
National Public Health Week
April 9, 2026
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Location
Herman Auditorium (MBRB 1017)
Address
900 S Ashland Ave., Chicago, IL 60612
Calendar
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Join the UIC School of Public Health for an important discussion about the current and future state of public health to honor National Public Health Week.
Dr. Karen Hacker will present her lecture: "The Future of Public Health: A Strategic Look Toward the Future." Dr. Hacker will walk us through what has happened to public health work and research, what stressors currently exist for local and state public health, the shifts we are seeing with regionalization, and the strategic way forward including the questions we need to be asking ourselves.
Dr. Hacker will conclude her discussion with an audience Q&A. A reception in the MBRB Lobby will immediately follow the presentation.
This is a free event open to the UIC and surrounding community. Registration is required.
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Karen Hacker, MD, MPH is the former Director of the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at the CDC where she served from 2019-2025. Her position was removed after a sweeping restructuring by the current administration. The Center housed 9 divisions, a staff of 1000 and a budget of $1.4B of which almost 80% funded chronic disease prevention in the field. During her tenure, she spearheaded groundbreaking social determinants of health activities, expanded maternal mortality programming nationwide, oversaw a continued decrease in cigarette smoking, and shepherded the Center through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Date posted
Mar 5, 2026
Date updated
Mar 27, 2026
Speakers
Karen Hacker, MD | Former Director | Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
Event Details
Speaker Bio
Karen Hacker, MD, MPH, is the former Director of the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at the CDC where she served from 2019 to 2025. The Center housed 9 divisions, a staff of 1000 and a budget of $1.4B of which almost 80% funded chronic disease prevention in the field. During her tenure, she spearheaded groundbreaking social determinants of health activities, expanded maternal mortality programming nationwide, oversaw a continued decrease in cigarette smoking, and shepherded the Center through the COVID-19 pandemic.
With over two decades of progressive leadership, Dr. Hacker’s expertise spans healthcare systems, academia, chronic disease prevention, adolescent health, and health equity. Prior to CDC, she was the Director of the Allegheny County Health Department in PA where she achieved national accreditation, addressed the opioid epidemic, reduced air pollution, and launched the Live Well Allegheny initiative. Dr. Hacker uniquely bridges critical community needs with national health policy. She is recognized for her practical, solutions-focused approach to complex challenges, consistently delivering real-world impact through strategic vision and collaborative action. She is also widely published with over 100 peer-reviewed articles and an expert in community-based participatory research.
Dr. Hacker received her Bachelor of Arts (BA) from Yale University, her medical degree (MD) from Northwestern University School of Medicine, and a Master of Public Health (MPH) with Honors from Boston University School of Public Health. She completed her internship and residency in primary care internal medicine at Boston City Hospital, followed by an adolescent medicine fellowship at Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles, and is board-certified in internal medicine. She is currently an Adjunct Professor at the Emory School of Medicine and Morehouse School of Medicine.
Parking & Transportation
Parking:
Parking is available in the Paulina Street Parking Structure across Taylor St. between Paulina St. and Marshfield Ave. (enter on Paulina). Parking rates are based on number of hours parked. There is also a limited number of street parking spots in the area. Please pay attention to posted signage with parking restrictions and instructions.
Public Transportation:
To reach the Molecular Biology Research Building (MBRB) via CTA train system, take the Pink Line “El” to the Polk stop. The Pink Line connects the campus with downtown, O’Hare International Airport, northwest and west side neighborhoods of Chicago, and the western suburbs of Oak Park, Forest Park, and Cicero.
There are multiple CTA bus lines nearby include the #9 Ashland, #12 Roosevelt and #50 Damen