Dr. Arden Handler: A Legacy of Advocacy, Education, and Public Health Practice
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After a distinguished career that has spanned over almost four decades at UIC, Dr. Arden Handler, former Director of the Center of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health and Professor Emeritus of Community Health Sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) School of Public Health, retired on October 31, 2024.
Dr. Handler’s work in maternal and child health (MCH) has not only advanced research and policy but also deeply influenced the lives of countless students, colleagues, and communities. Dr. Handler’s journey began in activist circles as a Cornell undergraduate where she was involved in women’s health initiatives. After obtaining her MPH at the University of North Carolina School of Public Health in 1980, she was given the opportunity to implement a universal prenatal care program for uninsured women in Lake County, Indiana. This early experience further sparked her commitment to improving the health and well-being of women, pregnant persons, children, and families.
Her introduction to UIC came about through a leadership program in radical urban healthcare, eventually leading her to return to UIC School of Public Health when she wanted to pursue a DrPH. After completing the DrPH and a twoyear experience coordinating perinatal databases for UIC and Cook County Hospitals, Dr. Handler joined the UICSPH faculty and became a leader in MCH epidemiology and MCH policy and advocacy, focusing on reducing health inequities and improving access to quality healthcare for low-income women, pregnant persons, and infants. In particular, her research and practice explored the role of the public sector in access to and utilization of healthcare.
When asked about her most notable accomplishment while at SPH, without pause Dr. Handler said, “Of course it’s the students!” She has been a long-time active mentor and advocate for her students, many of whom have gone on to work in public health practice, imbued with her values of advocacy, community engagement, and data-driven public health practice. Outside of academia, Dr. Handler has always been a fierce advocate for the field of MCH. She directly shaped MCH policy and practice, notably including leading the development of the 1990 Illinois Infant Mortality Strategic Plan, and more recently, co-leading the Illinois Maternal Health Task Force. She helped to found EverThrive Illinois, the Chicago Abortion Fund, and the Gary Teenage Caucus on Pregnancy – always tying advocacy to public health practice. Her work with local health departments and public health systems consistently focused on the intersection of the structural and social determinants of health with the healthcare delivery system.
As Dr. Handler transitions into retirement, she looks forward to spending more time relaxing in and outside her home— reading, biking, kayaking and traveling—but she remains deeply committed to MCH work. She plans to continue guest lecturing and mentoring, serving on the Family Connects International (FCI) board, and continuing her unofficial role as a historian of MCH in Illinois and Chicago.
Looking ahead, Dr. Handler is optimistic about the future of the School of Public Health, noting that the new generation of students is diverse, community-oriented, and ready to tackle the challenges of today’s public health landscape. She encourages the next generation to take risks and be creative in their approaches to public health.
Dr. Handler’s retirement may mark the end of a chapter, but her contributions to maternal and child health will undoubtedly echo for years to come.