Dr. Alisa Velonis Named as the New Director of SPH Center of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health
The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) School of Public Health is excited to announce the appointment of Dr. Alisa Velonis, MPH, PHD, as the new Director of UIC’s Center of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health (CoE-MCH). With over a decade of faculty experience at the CoE-MCH and field experience as a public health leader, Dr. Velonis is uniquely positioned to lead the MCH Center into its next phase of growth and community impact.
The CoE-MCH builds and strengthens the maternal and child health workforce by training graduate and undergraduate public health students and working professionals in MCH and by advancing MCH science, research, practice, and policy. CoE-MCH emphasizes multi-level approaches to understanding and addressing the complex factors that affect the health and well-being of women, children, and families. An essential ingredient is the partnerships with public and private sector agencies serving the MCH population and the communities in which MCH problems are prevalent.
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Dr. Velonis brings a wealth of experience to her new role. Before transitioning to academia, she had a diverse and impactful career in local public health. Her journey began as a VISTA volunteer, where she helped to build a teen pregnancy prevention program in a community of Seattle. Later, she worked for a variety of programs aimed at improving public health outcomes, including HIV/AIDS services planning, and domestic violence prevention at city and county health departments. This hands-on experience in the field shaped Dr. Velonis’ deep commitment to addressing the social determinants of health and advancing health equity.
“My background as part of the workforce makes me passionate about helping the next generation of public health professionals build the expertise and flexibility to address evolving health challenges,” said Dr. Velonis.
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“It’s important that our students not only learn the technical aspects of public health but also develop the creativity and flexibility to be successful in an ever-changing environment.”
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As Director of the CoE-MCH, Dr. Velonis is committed to upholding and enhancing the high standards of the Center’s work held by her predecessor Dr. Arden Handler, who Dr. Velonis describes as “one of the most influential leaders of maternal and child health epidemiology and science.” UIC’s CoE-MCH has been a cornerstone of maternal and child health research, training, and advocacy both within Chicago and beyond, influencing public health policy across the state of Illinois and nationally.
A key focus of the Center is strengthening workforce development. Its leadership believes in providing students with a strong foundation in public health fundamentals, as well as the critical thinking, problem-solving, and leadership skills they need to thrive in the field.
“It’s important that our students not only learn the technical aspects of public health but also develop the creativity and flexibility to be successful in an ever-changing environment,” Dr. Velonis explained.
The COE-MCH aims to cultivate leaders who will leave the CoE-MCH not just with knowledge, but with the confidence and leadership skills necessary to make a real impact in the world.
How will Dr. Velonis and the entire CoE-MCH team ensure students are ready to make that impact? In part through rigorous training, and in part through exposure to community engagement and collaboration. The Center has long worked in tandem with local community-based organizations to provide the resources, scientific support, and tools needed to enhance their work. The CoE-MCH will continue to strengthen these partnerships, ensuring that local organizations have the resources they need to succeed.
The Center is also planning to enhance its community-based teaching efforts. Dr. Velonis is excited to build on the community-engaged teaching efforts that have been a strong part of SPH’s Community Health Sciences Division, providing students with real-world experience and strengthening their connection to the communities they will serve.
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As Dr. Velonis steps into her new role, she is excited about the future of the CoE-MCH and the opportunity to continue building on the outstanding work already underway. Her leadership will ensure that the CoE-MCH continues to play a pivotal role in training the next generation of public health professionals and advancing vital research and services that address the needs of underserved populations. When asked what impact she hopes to have on her students, Dr. Velonis shared, “I hope they have a sense of passion about public health…that they will feel passionate about the importance of fighting for health equity.”
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Alisa Velonis as the new Director of the CoE-MCH at UIC.
To learn more about UIC’s Center of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health, visit the center website.