2nd Annual Illinois Weather and Public Health Response Summit 2026

Illinois State Climatologist
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Dr. Trent Ford is the Illinois State Climatologist and has been with the Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois since 2019. He is an expert in climate and climate change and its interactions and impacts, especially as they relate to water. Trent leads climate and drought monitoring, research, and data collection for Illinois. He and his team work with communities, industries, and state agencies on issues related to weather, climate, and climate change in Illinois, and they engage the general public through online, media, and educational outreach. A native of Roanoke, Illinois, Ford earned a bachelor’s in geography from Illinois State University before completing his master’s and Ph.D. at Texas A&M University.

Assistant Professor, CliMAS Department
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Dr. Joseph Trujillo-Falcón is an Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the Department of Climate, Meteorology, and Atmospheric Sciences, with an affiliation in the Department of Communication. He leads the Advancing Language Equity and Resilience in the Atmospheric Sciences ("ALERTAS") Lab, which examines how people receive, understand, and respond to extreme weather information in multiple languages, working alongside communities and practitioners. His research has advanced how the National Weather Service communicates risk in non-English languages, contributing to a recent nationwide translation program. In Illinois, he partners with emergency managers to advance public safety, work recognized with the 2026 Community Impact Award from the Illinois Emergency Services Management Association. An award-winning bilingual multimedia meteorologist, Dr. Trujillo-Falcón has worked in radio and broadcast networks and continues to serve the public as a science contributor through Illinois Public Media/PBS/NPR radio program “Weather Realness.” He holds a B.S. in Meteorology and a B.A. in Spanish from Texas A&M University, and earned his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma. He is from Lima, Perú and therefore his favorite town in Illinois is Peru, Illinois.

Preparedness Field Assignee
Chicago Department of Public Health

Brandon Paetznick is a public health preparedness professional with the CDC, embedded with the Chicago Department of Public Health, where he works to strengthen healthcare and community resilience through emergency planning, response, and partnerships. With more than five years of experience in public health and government, he has supported healthcare preparedness grants, large-scale events and exercises, hospital resource and patient tracking systems, and Chicago’s 2026 CASPER. Outside of work, Brandon coaches a local high school lacrosse team and enjoys catching live music with friends around Chicago.

Career Epidemiology Field Officer, Director of Epidemiology, Epidemiologist IV
Chicago Department of Public Health

Peter DeJonge has an MPH and PhD in Epidemiologic Science from the University of Michigan. After graduation, Peter was stationed as an environmental and occupational health epidemiologist with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services as an officer in the CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service program. Since 2023, Peter has been stationed with the Chicago Department of Public Health as a CDC Career Epidemiology Field Officer (CEFO), where he works with surveillance systems, disease detection algorithms, learning keyboard, and public health preparedness.

Associate Professor
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Josie Rudolphi, PhD, protects the people that produce our food. She is an associate professor and Extension specialist at the University of Illinois. Dr. Rudolphi’s research examines injury and illness among agricultural populations, with specific emphasis on mental health conditions. She considers risk and protective factors for poor mental health among producers, workers, and family members, and evaluates individual and community-level interventions to improve mental health. Dr. Rudolphi's Extension work expands access to mental health resources and services among agricultural populations. She was raised on a corn and soybean farm in eastern Iowa and remains active in the operation.

Anuj Tiwari, Ph.D., is a Senior Research Associate and Lead of the AIxHealth Group at the Discovery Partners Institute, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and an affiliate of the Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute. His work focuses on applying computational and geospatial intelligence to understand how health is shaped by the connections among people, animals, and the environment. He leads the development of the Illinois Monitoring & Analytics Platform (IMAP) for One Health and contributes to wastewater-based public health surveillance initiatives, translating complex datasets into practical tools for researchers, public health agencies, and communities. His research interests include developing data-driven platforms and decision-support portals that integrate health, environmental, infrastructure, and community data, including initiatives such as IMAP, SewerAtlas, and DataCenter.Clinic. He is especially interested in making complex scientific information accessible and useful for real-world public health action. Outside of research, Anuj enjoys mentoring students and supporting young researchers as they explore interdisciplinary approaches to health challenges.

President
Boman Communications

Allie is a science editor, student of public health, and communications professional. Her team of specialists helps mission-driven organizations reach audiences effectively. For the first 15 years of her working life, Allie led a community-based nonprofit. When she moved to Illinois 7 years ago, she began writing and editing research reports on public health. She expanded the business in 2023 to include design, strategy, social media, and websites. To support this work, she began a master's in public health and expects to cross the finish line next year! As a volunteer, Allie participates in and leads community wellness efforts in her now home town of Highwood, Illinois. She has four kids, a rowdy husband, and dog named Indy who tries to keep up.

Lecturer
Illinois State University

Emily Mayer received her Bachelor’s Degree in English Studies from Illinois State University. She then began working in the implementation and delivery of grant funded programs serving adults with substance use disorders, behavioral health disorders, and victims of crime. Emily’s work inspired her to return to ISU and obtain her Master of Public Health degree, where she was recognized as Program Scholar and received an award for leadership. She partnered with Bloomington Fire Department to develop a community health navigator program, which she recently presented at the Illinois Community Risk Reduction Conference. She is looking forward to beginning her work as a lecturer this fall teaching a course on social determinants of health at ISU. She is a mom to two girls, a lifelong learner, and enjoys reading.

Fellow of Climate and Health Science Policy

Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine
University of Illinois College of Medicine + UIC SPH

Center for Extreme Conditions and Health Excellence (CECHE)

Dr. Sheetal Rao is a practicing primary care physician and Assistant Professor of Academic Internal Medicine at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), where she leads the development of the College of Medicine’s planetary health curriculum. As a Co-Investigator for UIC’s NIH Center for Extreme Conditions and Health Excellence, her work focuses on youth climate education, heat vulnerability, and the health benefits of nature-based solutions. Driven by a commitment to health equity, Dr. Rao co-founded Nordson Green Earth in 2021, a 501(c)(3) non-profit that partners with historically marginalized Chicagoland communities to expand native greenspaces. The organization is a proud member of the National Academy of Medicine’s Climate Communities Network.Dr. Rao is an active board member of the Illinois Clinicians for Climate Action and has completed fellowships in Climate and Health Organizing (Harvard, 2022) and Climate and Health Science Policy (University of Colorado, 2023). She is also a 2025 OpEd Project Public Voices Fellow. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys running at a local forest preserve, learning guitar, and having family movie nights on the couch.

Associate Dean for Global Health
Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health
University of Illinois Chicago

Professor Babatunde Olowokure is a global health leader with extensive experience directing emergency preparedness, epidemic intelligence, and climate related health response across multiple regions. A faculty member at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health, he previously served as Regional Emergency Director for the WHO Western Pacific Region. He has guided responses to major weather driven emergencies and authored more than 100 scientific publications. Professor Olowokure is also a dedicated mentor committed to developing and strengthening the next generation of public health professionals.

Warning Coordination Meteorologist
National Weather Service – Central Illinois

Ed is currently the Warning Coordination Meteorologist at the National Weather Service (NWS) in Lincoln IL. Ed is in charge of the office's readiness for hazardous weather operations and public education on their hazardous weather safety program. He is also the primary liaison between the office and all their core partners. Ed has been with the NWS since 1994, after serving as an officer in the U.S. Navy during the first Gulf War. His time in the NWS has included stays in Madison WI, Duluth MN, and Lincoln IL. Throughout his career in the National Weather Service, Ed has been very active in severe weather research, training, outreach, and computer administration. In his free time, Ed enjoys playing baritone saxophone and coaching his son's basketball teams.

Warning Coordination Meteorologist
National Weather Service – Chicago

Mike is the Warning Coordination Meteorologist at the Chicago National Weather Service (NWS) Forecast Office in Romeoville, IL where he serves as the primary interface with NWS partners. Mike previously held a senior forecaster position at the office and led the Aviation and Marine programs. Prior to arriving in Chicago in 2010, Mike served as a meteorologist and Aviation Program Leader at the Minneapolis Weather Forecast Office, meteorologist-in-training at the Forecast Office in Davenport, IA and as a student volunteer at the Northern Indiana Forecast Office. Mike enjoys working with partners to better understand their forecast needs and aiding them in their efforts to plan and prepare for weather hazards. Mike earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Meteorology with minors in Broadcast Communications and Mathematics from Valparaiso University in 2003. In his off time, Mike enjoys home projects and traveling with his wife and daughter.

Clinical Associate Professor Emeritus

Center for One Health Illinois
College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Epidemiology and Biostatistics
School of Public Health
University of Illinois Chicago

John A. Herrmann, DVM, MPH, DACT. After 25 years in private dairy and companion animal practice, Dr. John Herrmann joined the faculty of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in 2004 to develop and direct the DVM/MPH joint degree program. He is a Clinical Associate Professor Emeritus (awarded 2022) at both the School of Public Health at the University of Illinois-Chicago and the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Herrmann has extensive experience working in public health and health policy at local, state and national levels, holds an MPH degree in health policy and epidemiology, and is Board certified in the American College of Theriogenologists. From 2003-2004, he served as a Science and Technology Policy Fellow, focusing on public health policy, in the US Senate offices of Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL). During his career in academia, he taught epidemiology in the professional MD and DVM degree curricula as well as in the graduate MPH program. Dr. Herrmann has received numerous awards for his work in policy and education, including two prestigious Silver Circle awards for excellence in teaching from the University of Illinois in 2016 and 2019, the Senator John Melcher Award for Public Policy in 2014 and most recently, the Health Policy and Administration Alumni Award from the School of Public Health in 2019. Dr. Herrmann previously served on the first State Health Improvement Plan Task Force from 2004-2006 and currently serves as the vice-Chairman of the Illinois State Board of Health. His academic interests and published research include the epidemiology of infectious diseases, One Health, science based public policy, and innovative pedagogical techniques.

Assistant Director of Research and Practice Initiatives
UIC Division of Specialized Care for Children

Dr. Ebonie Zielinski is the Assistant Director of Research and Practice Initiatives for the Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC), which administers Illinois’ Title V Children and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs (CYSHCN) program. She leads statewide efforts to strengthen population health strategies, advance evidence-informed programs, and improve outcomes for Illinois CYSHCN. Her professional work has centered on advancing equitable access to care and strengthening community partnerships to improve outcomes. These experiences have reinforced her belief that thoughtful, evidence-based leadership is essential for shaping programs and policies. Her current portfolio includes initiatives in complex care management research, program development and evaluation, and workforce development aimed at supporting professionals, specifically nurses who serve CYSHCN. With more than 21 years of experience in acute care and public health, Dr. Zielinski previously worked as a senior research specialist for the Colbert/Williams v. Pritzker consent decree, supporting safe community transitions for individuals with complex medical, psychiatric, and social needs.Dr. Zielinski is also dedicated to mentorship and advocacy, ending her tenure as the treasurer and former health policy liaison for the Black Nurses Association of Central Illinois. She remains committed to actively mentoring first-generation college students and uplifting others, recognizing the pivotal role her own mentors have had along her journey.

Assistant Quality Manager
UIC Division of Specialized Care for Children

Kelly Wyman is a nurse with over a decade of experience working with children and youth with special healthcare needs in Illinois. She co-led the Division of Specialized Care for Children Emergency Planning workgroup, developing resources and training for multiple pediatric care coordination programs statewide. In her current role, she supports nursing agencies and facilities serving medically fragile, technology-dependent children and adults with emergency planning. She lives in central Illinois with her family and volunteers for her daughter's Girl Scout troop.

Epidemiologist
Illinois Department of Public Health

Sarah Love MPH, MSW, LSW (any/all) is an epidemiologist at the Illinois Department of Public Health in the Medical Services Division. They work across divisions to provide additional epidemiologic capacity with R, Tableau, AI, and urgent analyses. Prior to working at IDPH, they worked at Chicago DPH in Communicable Disease investigations. Sarah is passionate about data access and accessibility. Feel free to start a conversation about bad graphs.

Public Health Admin
Egyptian Health Department

James (Jamie) Byrd Public Health Administrator - Supervise all public health programs including Emergency Preparedness, Nursing, Environmental Health, Home Health, Health Ed and a School-based Health clinic. I started the PHEP program at Egyptian Health in 2002 and have been intimately involved ever since. I have been an IPHMAS Board member since 2011 serving four terms as President. Member of the Illinois Association of Public Health Administrators, Illinois Environmental Health Association and member and Past President of the Southern Illinois Public Health Consortium

Health Alert Network Admin
Illinois Department of Public Health

Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology

Jennifer Hicks (Formerly Blazis) is the Health Alert Network Section Chief with the Illinois Department of Public Health/ DOIT. Jennifer graduated from the University of Robert Morris College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science. She started working with the State of Illinois in May of 2000 and has worked for the Department of Public Health since July, 2007. Prior to the State of Illinois, Jennifer worked for Karmak Software Company, CDS Office Technologies as the Director of Education Services, and Lincoln Land Community College as a contractor teaching various computer software courses to the general public. Jennifer has over 29 years of training, planning, and coordinating experience with the community, government, and healthcare professionals.

Center for Wildlife Sustainability Research, SIU One Health Initiative
Southern Illinois University Carbondale

I am an avian/community ecologist studying how terrestrial organisms (primarily birds) interact with their environment and the interactions between anthropomorphic impacts on the environment, wildlife, and health. I hold an M.S. and PhD in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. I have been actively conducting research on interactions between animals and the landscape for 35 years during which I have authored or co-authored > 250 presentations at scientific meetings, > 70 scientific publications, and 4 book chapters. I am currently the Director of the Center for Sustainable Wildlife Research and SIU One Health Initiative, and Professor in the School of Biological Sciences at SIUC. I have served as Chair of the College and University Education Working group of The Wildlife Society, Chair of the Research Working Group of the National Bobwhite Grasslands Initiative, and Chair of the Technical Committee of the Upper Mississippi River/Great Lakes Joint Venture. I am an outdoor enthusiast with a wife and 2 sons, 2 dogs, and 2 pet emus. I live in rural southern Illinois and enjoy managing native vegetation on my property.

Epidemiologist
Illinois Department of Public Health

Leslie Wise, PhD is an epidemiologist specializing in opioid related morbidity and mortality.. She analyzes fatal and non fatal overdose trends using multiple state and federal data systems, including syndromic surveillance, EMS records, vital statistics, hospital discharge data, Statewide Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System, and Medicaid/Medicare claims. Her work has resulted in peer reviewed publications, data briefs, and legislatively mandated overdose reports. Leslie has secured federal funding to expand Illinois’ overdose surveillance infrastructure, strengthen harm reduction capacity, and advance prevention programming. She led enhancements to the statewide overdose data dashboard, contributes to statewide overdose response initiatives, and supports cross agency collaboration to improve public health outcomes.

Illinois Violence & Injury Epidemiologist
Illinois Department of Public Health

Megan Koch, MPH, MPA, currently serves as Illinois Violence and Injury Epidemiologist with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), where she works to advance data-driven approaches to violence and injury prevention. Her experience spans injury and violence surveillance, firearm-related injuries, violent death surveillance, syndromic surveillance, and the translation of public health data into actionable insights. Megan is particularly interested in how innovative data science methods can strengthen traditional public health practice and support more effective prevention initiatives. Through the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) Data Science Team Training Program, she collaborated with a multidisciplinary team to explore how predictive modeling using social and environmental variables could support efforts to prevent nonfatal overdoses and firearm injuries. Her work has received both national and local recognition in recent years. Megan is committed to applying rigorous epidemiologic methods, emerging technologies, and collaborative approaches to better understand the factors contributing to violence and injury and inform prevention strategies that can have meaningful impact in communities. Megan is deeply committed to social justice and equity and believes public health data and technology must remain grounded in the experiences and needs of the communities they are intended to serve. She brings this perspective to her work by asking not only what the data can tell us, but how we can ensure that emerging tools ultimately support meaningful, community-centered prevention.

Senior Policy Advisor
Illinois Department of Public Health

Eugenia Olison, M.Ed., LPC is a Housing Stability Senior Policy Advisor with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), working in partnership with the Illinois Office to Prevent and End Homelessness (OPEH) to advance public health strategies that address the health inequities experienced by people experiencing homelessness. In her role, Eugenia works at the intersection of homelessness, housing, health, and policy, collaborating with various state agencies, healthcare systems, academic institutions, and community partners to strengthen systems of care, inform policy, and improve health outcomes. Her work includes advancing the Illinois Homelessness Mortality and Morbidity Report, expanding medical respite and healthcare access, and developing cross-sector strategies to address the disproportionate health risks and premature mortality experienced by people experiencing homelessness. Eugenia brings a perspective grounded in collaboration, equity, and a commitment to creating healthier communities. She is a passionate advocate for recognizing housing stability as a fundamental social determinant of health and for integrating housing into broader public health strategies. With a diverse background in public service, Eugenia is dedicated to fostering strategic collaborations and advancing initiatives that promote housing stability, health equity, and social justice.

UIC School of Public Health

Dana Madigan is a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health in the Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences. There, she works on several projects related to homelessness and occupational health, including the Illinois Homelessness Mortality and Morbidity Report.

Triptych Brewing
1703 Woodfield Dr, Savoy, IL 61874
Visit Triptych Brewing

Join fellow summit attendees for an informal networking opportunity at Triptych Brewing in Savoy. Connect with colleagues, exchange ideas, and build new relationships in a relaxed atmosphere. Light snacks will be provided, and food and beverages will be available for individual purchase.

Featured Food Option

The German Food Truck will be on-site from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., for additional dining option for purchase.
View The German Food Truck

Parking is free and available to attendees. Please refer to the parking image for additional details on parking locations and available lots.

Administrator
Kankakee County Health Department

My name is John Bevis, I have been the Administrator for Kankakee Health Department for 10 years, have worked there for 39.5 years starting as a health inspector, then supervising sanitarian, completed my MPH and became the Director of Environmental Health for 16 years and now Administrator of 35ish incredibly passionate for public health staff. I consider myself a servant leader, and feel my lifetime experiences allows for me to share my (our) experiences with you to help you in the event you go through something similar. We have experienced an Amtrak train crash in the late 90s, H1N5 outbreak, floods, numerous other issues and this tornado on March 10, 2026.I enjoy running, golf, reading and coached junior high cross country for 20 years helping to mold you lives to be there best and being blessed to have won 7 trophies from IESA including a State Championship for girls in 2015 as well as 2nd place for the boys. I try to lead by example and would never ask staff to do a task i am not willing to do as well.

Health Promotion Coordinator
Kankakee County Health Department

In my role, I conduct public health emergency preparedness trainings, drills and exercises for staff and other community leaders. I also keep the maintenance of the KCHD emergency response inventory of all supplies such as medical countermeasures, radios, etc. I was directly involved in the initial response to the March 10, 2026 EF3 tornado and supported the community throughout the recovery process. This firsthand experience provided insight into the public health needs, challenges, and coordination required during disaster response and recovery. I have also completed the Professional Development Series through the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA), providing formal training in emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation. I graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 2020 and am a Child Passenger Safety Technician, Special Healthcare Technician, BLS CPR Instructor, and a Lemonista and Certified Breast Health Educator. Outside of work, I’m a wife of five years and a proud mom to a busy 2-year-old. My experiences as both a professional and a parent have shaped my passion for serving and supporting my community, especially during challenging times.

Planning Section Chief
Illinois Department of Public Health

Tyler M. Woodard, CEM®, is an emergency management and public health preparedness professional who specializes in turning complex, large-scale threats into practical plans for protecting communities and sustaining essential health and medical services. He serves with the Illinois Department of Public Health’s Office of Preparedness and Response as the Planning Section Chief. Tyler holds a B.S. in Emergency Management and Homeland Security from Saint Louis University and a Master of Applied Science in Spatial Analysis for Public Health from Johns Hopkins University. He is also a Certified Emergency Manager (CEM®) and has served in leadership and coordination roles supporting Illinois’ State Emergency Operations Center as an ESF-8 representative. Outside of work, Tyler is a husband and new father who enjoys applying the same curiosity and problem-solving mindset to home projects, 3D printing, and woodworking.

Deputy Chief Medical Examiner
Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office

Kristin Escobar Alvarenga, M.D., is originally from Texas where she received her undergraduate degree from Baylor University and her medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. She then completed her Anatomic and Clinical Pathology Residency at Montefiore Medical Center and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, New York, followed by a one-year forensic pathology fellowship training program at the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences in Houston, Texas. She has over 13 years of experience as a forensic pathologist and has performed over 3000 autopsies. Currently, she works as the Deputy Chief Medical Examiner at the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office in Chicago, Illinois.Dr. Escobar Alvarenga is board certified by the American Board of Pathology in Anatomic, Clinical, and Forensic Pathology and is a member of multiple professional organizations including the National Association of Medical Examiners.

Chief Forensic Pathologist
DuPage County Coroner’s Office

Hilary McElligott, MDDr. McElligott has served as the Chief forensic Pathologist for DuPage County since 2013 and is board certified in forensic, anatomic, and clinical pathology. She is a member of the Region V federal Disaster Mortuary Response Team (DMORT) and was deployed to assist local authorities with processing and identification of human remains during the Maui wildfires in 2023. She served as the most recent past president of the DuPage County Medical Society and has been a member of the national Association of Medical Examiners and American Academy Forensic Sciences (AAFS) since 2009. Dr.McElligott is also a proud mother of three insightful and always entertaining children and has somehow also acquired two very odd but lovable rescue dogs.

DuPage County Coroner
DuPage County Coroner’s Office

Judith Lukas is a registered nurse and the DuPage County Coroner. Before that, she was a safety officer for the United States Postal Service. She draws upon her years of experience in these fields, coordinating emergency management, safety, and human lives to manage crises efficiently with the best possible outcomes. Judith is a member of the DuPage Rail Safety Council and is committed to spreading the 988 Lifeline phone/call/chat number so people will know they do not need to struggle alone.

Investigator for the Lake County Coroner’s Office for just under 24 yrs & Sr Investigator for the last 13 yrs which includes Evidence Manager & Indigent Coordinator. I’m an Active member of the Lake County EMA holding the Operations seat for the Coroner section since 2009 & acting Mass Fatality Coordinator. DMORT region 5 member for 13 yrs as an investigator and was Deployed to Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico. I have maintained my IL Funeral Director License since 2005, prior to that was licensed & practicing in WI for 4 yrs. I continue to create using my art degree as what I call my free stress therapy & recently rescued a 5yo Bull Terrier named Tyberius.

Central Region Manager & Training Exercise Manager
Arizona Coalition for Healthcare Emergency Response (AzCHER)

Jamie A. Beauvais is the Central Region Manager and Statewide Training and Exercise Manager for the Arizona Coalition for Healthcare Emergency Response (AzCHER), where he leads healthcare preparedness, training, and exercise initiatives across Arizona. With more than 30 years of emergency management and public safety experience, Jamie has served as a firefighter, paramedic, emergency manager, and incident management professional. He is a qualified Type 3 All-Hazards Incident Management Team member and an experienced HSEEP, ICS, and healthcare preparedness instructor. Jamie specializes in healthcare emergency preparedness, exercise design, incident management, and building collaborative partnerships that strengthen community resilience and disaster readiness.

Senior Emergency Management Coordinator
Chicago Department of Public Health

Mark McCarville is a Senior Emergency Management Coordinator with the Chicago Department of Public Health, serving as the primary liaison to more than 136 long-term care facilities across Chicago. In this role, he supports healthcare facilities in strengthening emergency preparedness, planning, coordination, response, and recovery capabilities. Mark brings more than 15 years of emergency management and public safety leadership experience. Prior to joining CDPH, he spent more than 12 years at a 53-story Continuing Care Retirement Community in downtown Chicago, where he served as Director of Security, Emergency Medical Services Coordinator, and Emergency Manager. His experience includes emergency operations, healthcare preparedness, public safety, crisis response, continuity planning, and coordination with public- and private-sector partners. Before beginning his career in emergency management and public safety, Mark spent 20 years in the film and television industry, working on commercials, feature films, and episodic television productions. He is also an award-winning documentarian, bringing a background in storytelling, communication, and complex production environments to his emergency management work.

Infection Preventionist
Skokie Hospital

Mona Shah, MPH, CIC, FAPIC, is an Infection Prevention Practitioner and subject matter expert in healthcare construction infection prevention, with more than 15 years of experience in infection prevention and control. At Endeavor Health, she specializes in integrating infection prevention into healthcare construction, renovation, and infrastructure projects, with expertise in ICRA, water management, environmental risk mitigation, and multidisciplinary collaboration. Mona is a Fellow of APIC and a past President of APIC Chicago. She is passionate about translating complex infection prevention challenges into practical, actionable strategies that protect patients, healthcare workers, and communities. Outside of work, she enjoys running, traveling, and creative projects.

Senior Research Scientist
University of Illinois Chicago

Melissa Fiffer is Senior Research Scientist at the UIC Children's Environmental Health Initiative (CEHI) and Adjunct Research Assistant Professor in the UIC School of Public Health, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences. Her role at CEHI includes leading epidemiologic studies, fostering a nationwide network of GIS-trained health departments, managing research translation and communication efforts, and co-leading the Geospatial Data Analytics Core of the UIC Center for Extreme Conditions and Health Excellence (CECHE). She brings 11 years of experience working for the federal government, primarily in the U.S. EPA’s Office of Atmospheric Programs. She is passionate about using science to tackle complex environmental challenges and inform evidence-based programs and policies to protect public health. Melissa holds a PhD in Environmental Epidemiology from the Harvard School of Public Health and a Master's degree in Environmental Health from the Duke Nicholas School of the Environment. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, book club, and long walks with her husband and their rescue dog, Molly.

Research Specialist
University of Illinois Chicago

Rafiga Gasymova serves as a Research Specialist for the Children’s Environmental Health Initiative at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). As part of her role in UIC’s P20 Center for Extreme Conditions and Health Excellence, she serves as the data steward and the coordinator for the center’s Data Core. Rafiga holds a Master's degree in Civic Analytics from UIC and is passionate about secure data management, sharing and quality control practices.

Levy and Tomasek Professor of Biostatistics
University of Illinois Chicago

Sanjib Basu is a Distinguished Professor of University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) and co-leads the data core of the NIH P20 Center for Extreme Conditions and Health Excellence (CECHE) at UIC. He also co-leads the Population Health Analytics Metrics and Evaluation (PHAME) Center at UIC

Allergy Service Director
Associate Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics
University of Illinois Chicago

Dr. Pappalardo Wlochowicz is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at the University of Illinois Chicago. She is an allergist-immunologist, internal medicine and pediatrics which she practices clinically. She is a physician scientist who helps infuse evidence-based practice within communities to support the health of Illinois citizens through community-engaged implementation science research.

Reed Timmer

800 tornadoes, 100 hurricanes, and a lot more

Dr. Reed Timmer loves all things atmospheric science. He chases blizzards, hurricanes, flash floods, and more, but he is best known for his work with tornadoes. The secrets of tornadoes have been a source of endless fascination for him for as long as he can remember. Reed chased his first one when he was a freshman at the University of Oklahoma, only a year later recording the historic Moore EF5 tornado. He has since sought them at every opportunity.

Real-world observations are invaluable opportunities. Scientific models can only tell us so much. First-hand observations are necessary to either validate or provide feedback for them. Reed’s recent drone footage of the Andover tornado is a great example of this.

Dr. Timmer developed the Dominator to allow his team to get close enough to conduct their own research. They have deployed probes into tornadoes using drones, small aircraft, and even rockets - gathering measurements never-before-recorded on earth (yes, just like in 'Twister'). For more, see our DomLabs page.

He looks to educate & inspire the next gen of meteorologists. Reed uses every social post to teach and inform about severe weather, but his first step into formal education was serving as a Lab T.A. for METR1004 in 2003. Since then, He has taught classes for Discovery Education, Varsity Tutors, and more. Dr. Timmer has done over 400 speaking events and has spread his message of severe weather awareness and research as both a morning and late-night talk show guest.

Focusing on one's passion is what he is all about. His mother, who's also an educator, taught him that if he followed his dreams, he would never work a day in my life. She may have regretted those words once she saw that Reed’s passion was getting up close and personal with the most powerful forces on the planet, but she still supports his goals to this day. Reed tries to pass that lesson of focus and passion on to others every chance he gets, so whatever your dreams are...

“NEVER Stop Chasing” is not just a motto for Reed Timmer, but a way of life.

Graduate Assistant
University of Illinois Chicago

Alice Cusick is a masters student at UIC's School of Public Health, where she is concentrating in Community Health Sciences. She is a graduate assistant at UIC's Center for Extreme Heat and Health Excellence, where she has worked on projects including a youth summer program and a community-based soil health project. She is also an extern at the Chicago Asthma Consortium, where she is collaborating on a project about extreme heat and asthma exacerbation. Alice previously worked as a farmer and educator on farms in Maine, Vermont, and Chicago, where she developed and taught farm-based educational programs for students in 1st-12th grade. Outside of work and school, Alice enjoys spending time on the lakefront.

Graduate Researcher
University of Illinois Chicago

Abigail Hernandez is a Graduate Researcher at the University of Illinois, Chicago Center for Extreme Conditions and Health Excellence (CECHE). She is studying Civic Analytics with a concentration on geospatial information systems.

PhD Student
University of Illinois Chicago

Sarah Dietzen is a Ph.D. student at the University of Illinois at Chicago where she studies the connection between urban tree health and human health in the Chicago region. By measuring tree water dynamics and utilizing modern tree health assessment tools, she is able to quantify ecosystem services and disservices of neighborhood trees that result in measurable effects to the environment and human health of Chicago residents. As a developer and facilitator of the second cohort of the G.R.O.W Institute through the Center of Extreme Conditions and Health Excellence (CECHE) at UIC, she worked closely with healthcare professionals and community leadership to engage youth in regions that are underserved by health resources to promote implementation of nature-based solutions to address local health-related concerns. She has a strong belief that everyone deserves access to safe and healthful outdoor spaces.

Director of Nationwide Health Systems Improvement
American Lung Association

Dr. Mimi Guiracocha is a public health nurse and certified asthma educator passionate about ensuring accessibility and equity in healthcare for all. Her doctorate in nursing practice has brought her to the American Lung Association where she works with primary care clinics and healthcare professionals nationwide to ensure high-quality, guidelines-based respiratory care for all as the director of nationwide health systems improvement. She proudly sits on the board of directors for the Chicago Asthma Consortium and the Rush Nurses Alumni Association. Dr. Guiracocha is Ecuadorian-American, a life-long resident of Chicago, passionate about environmental justice and community organizing, and her first language is Spanish.

Public Health Program Manager
AllianceChicago

Kyra VanDoren is a Public Health Program Manager at AllianceChicago with experience in clinical research, public health informatics and program management. In her role, she is responsible for managing several initiatives that bridge community healthcare with public health. Her main topic areas include youth suicide prevention, health informatics, and chronic disease. Kyra is also a MPH candidate in her final semester at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health. In her free time, she enjoys travel, spending time with loved ones, and clumsily rollerblading by Lake Michigan with her friends.

Public Health Program Manager
AllianceChicago

Tyson Kirsch-Holtz received his Master of Public Health in Sociomedical Sciences with a graduate certificate in research methods from Columbia University. He has over five years of experience managing public health projects ranging from substance use disorder communications to disaster preparedness curriculum dissemination. Currently, he manages a number of community health center programs at AllianceChicago. Much of his work focuses on preventing suicide, improving maternal health outcomes among patients with preeclampsia, preventing heart attacks and strokes, and treating/preventing high cholesterol and hypertension. In his free time he likes to cook, run outside by Lake Michigan, and speak Spanish with his friends.

Graduate Research Assistant
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

I'm a PhD student in Informatics at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, focused on health and medical informatics. I study where noncommunicable diseases like obesity and hypertension cluster geographically, and how EHR systems, telemedicine, and mobile health tools can improve chronic disease care especially in rural settings. Before my PhD, I coordinated health services for a rural health program in Nepal, overseeing one hospital and 17 clinics. I started my career as a research assistant on the Dhulikhel Heart Study at Dhulikhel Hospital–Kathmandu University Hospital. I earned my MPH at the University of Washington through the Fogarty-funded Cardiometabolic Research and Training Program. My research spans noncommunicable disease epidemiology, geospatial analysis, digital health, and rural healthcare delivery, using informatics tools to identify populations at risk, improve how health data is managed and shared, and support better public health decisions. I'm a member of the American Public Health Association. Outside of work, I trek and hike whenever I can a habit/way of life from Nepal.

Doctoral Student
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Duaa leverages information technology and data science to measure Emergency Department (ED) visits across Illinois, uncovering how factors like social vulnerability and extreme weather impact population health. Her work focuses on designing inclusive, user-centered health technologies that ensure vulnerable communities receive equitable care. Duaa is a third-year PhD student and Graduate Research Assistant in Information Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Prior to her doctoral studies, she spent 11 years with UN agencies and international NGOs leading humanitarian and development initiatives, where she specialized in building sustainable sociotechnical systems for refugees and marginalized populations. Outside of research, Duaa finds balance in creative outlets, enjoying coloring, listening to piano music, and baking homemade sweets.

Graduate Research Assistant
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Mahjabin Kabir Adrita is a health geographer who works with spatial and community data relating to environmental and social impacts of health outcomes. She is currently doing her PhD at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Aside from all this data wrangling, she likes to paint and travel.

Panel Moderator: James Leach
Public Information Officer
Illinois Department of Public Health

Melissa Hahn, MD
Deputy Public Information Officer
Illinois Emergency Management Agency
Office of Homeland Security

John Bevis
Administrator
Kankakee County Health Department

My name is John Bevis, I have been the Administrator for Kankakee Health Department for 10 years, have worked there for 39.5 years starting as a health inspector, then supervising sanitarian, completed my MPH and became the Director of Environmental Health for 16 years and now Administrator of 35ish incredibly passionate for public health staff. I consider myself a servant leader, and feel my lifetime experiences allows for me to share my (our) experiences with you to help you in the event you go through something similar. We have experienced an Amtrak train crash in the late 90s, H1N5 outbreak, floods, numerous other issues and this tornado on March 10, 2026.I enjoy running, golf, reading and coached junior high cross country for 20 years helping to mold you lives to be there best and being blessed to have won 7 trophies from IESA including a State Championship for girls in 2015 as well as 2nd place for the boys. I try to lead by example and would never ask staff to do a task i am not willing to do as well.

Dr. Joseph Trujillo-Falcón
Assistant Professor, CliMAS Department
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Dr. Joseph Trujillo-Falcón is an Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the Department of Climate, Meteorology, and Atmospheric Sciences, with an affiliation in the Department of Communication. He leads the Advancing Language Equity and Resilience in the Atmospheric Sciences ("ALERTAS") Lab, which examines how people receive, understand, and respond to extreme weather information in multiple languages, working alongside communities and practitioners. His research has advanced how the National Weather Service communicates risk in non-English languages, contributing to a recent nationwide translation program. In Illinois, he partners with emergency managers to advance public safety, work recognized with the 2026 Community Impact Award from the Illinois Emergency Services Management Association. An award-winning bilingual multimedia meteorologist, Dr. Trujillo-Falcón has worked in radio and broadcast networks and continues to serve the public as a science contributor through Illinois Public Media/PBS/NPR radio program “Weather Realness.” He holds a B.S. in Meteorology and a B.A. in Spanish from Texas A&M University, and earned his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma. He is from Lima, Perú and therefore his favorite town in Illinois is Peru, Illinois.

Allie Boman
President
Boman Communications

Allie is a science editor, student of public health, and communications professional. Her team of specialists helps mission-driven organizations reach audiences effectively. For the first 15 years of her working life, Allie led a community-based nonprofit. When she moved to Illinois 7 years ago, she began writing and editing research reports on public health. She expanded the business in 2023 to include design, strategy, social media, and websites. To support this work, she began a master's in public health and expects to cross the finish line next year! As a volunteer, Allie participates in and leads community wellness efforts in her now home town of Highwood, Illinois. She has four kids, a rowdy husband, and dog named Indy who tries to keep up.

Alice Cusick
Graduate Assistant
University of Illinois Chicago

Alice Cusick is a masters student at UIC's School of Public Health, where she is concentrating in Community Health Sciences. She is a graduate assistant at UIC's Center for Extreme Heat and Health Excellence, where she has worked on projects including a youth summer program and a community-based soil health project. She is also an extern at the Chicago Asthma Consortium, where she is collaborating on a project about extreme heat and asthma exacerbation. Alice previously worked as a farmer and educator on farms in Maine, Vermont, and Chicago, where she developed and taught farm-based educational programs for students in 1st-12th grade. Outside of work and school, Alice enjoys spending time on the lakefront.

Abigail Hernandez
Graduate Researcher
University of Illinois Chicago

Abigail Hernandez is a Graduate Researcher at the University of Illinois, Chicago Center for Extreme Conditions and Health Excellence (CECHE). She is studying Civic Analytics with a concentration on geospatial information systems.

Kristin Chenille Escobar Alvarenga, MD
Deputy Chief Medical Examiner
Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office

Kristin Escobar Alvarenga, M.D., is originally from Texas where she received her undergraduate degree from Baylor University and her medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. She then completed her Anatomic and Clinical Pathology Residency at Montefiore Medical Center and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, New York, followed by a one-year forensic pathology fellowship training program at the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences in Houston, Texas. She has over 13 years of experience as a forensic pathologist and has performed over 3000 autopsies. Currently, she works as the Deputy Chief Medical Examiner at the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office in Chicago, Illinois.Dr. Escobar Alvarenga is board certified by the American Board of Pathology in Anatomic, Clinical, and Forensic Pathology and is a member of multiple professional organizations including the National Association of Medical Examiners.

Hilary S. McElligott, M.D.
Chief Forensic Pathologist
DuPage County Coroner’s Office

Hilary McElligott, MDDr. McElligott has served as the Chief forensic Pathologist for DuPage County since 2013 and is board certified in forensic, anatomic, and clinical pathology. She is a member of the Region V federal Disaster Mortuary Response Team (DMORT) and was deployed to assist local authorities with processing and identification of human remains during the Maui wildfires in 2023. She served as the most recent past president of the DuPage County Medical Society and has been a member of the national Association of Medical Examiners and American Academy Forensic Sciences (AAFS) since 2009. Dr.McElligott is also a proud mother of three insightful and always entertaining children and has somehow also acquired two very odd but lovable rescue dogs.

Judith M. Lukas, RN
DuPage County Coroner
DuPage County Coroner’s Office

Judith Lukas is a registered nurse and the DuPage County Coroner. Before that, she was a safety officer for the United States Postal Service. She draws upon her years of experience in these fields, coordinating emergency management, safety, and human lives to manage crises efficiently with the best possible outcomes. Judith is a member of the DuPage Rail Safety Council and is committed to spreading the 988 Lifeline phone/call/chat number so people will know they do not need to struggle alone.

Tammy Mayer, D-ABMDI
Sr. Deputy Coroner
Lake County Coroner’s Office

Investigator for the Lake County Coroner’s Office for just under 24 yrs & Sr Investigator for the last 13 yrs which includes Evidence Manager & Indigent Coordinator. I’m an Active member of the Lake County EMA holding the Operations seat for the Coroner section since 2009 & acting Mass Fatality Coordinator. DMORT region 5 member for 13 yrs as an investigator and was Deployed to Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico. I have maintained my IL Funeral Director License since 2005, prior to that was licensed & practicing in WI for 4 yrs. I continue to create using my art degree as what I call my free stress therapy & recently rescued a 5yo Bull Terrier named Tyberius.

Wendell W. Brewer, MPA, CEM®, IPEM
Staff Development Specialist – Region 4
Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security

Wendell Brewer, MPA, CEM®, IPEM is a Staff Development Specialist with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS), supporting emergency preparedness, training, exercises, and interagency collaboration throughout northeastern Illinois. A military veteran with service in the United States Marine Corps, Army Reserve, and Navy Reserve, Brewer brings a strong commitment to public service and community resilience. He holds a Master of Public Administration and is credentialed as a Certified Emergency Manager (CEM®) and Illinois Professional Emergency Manager (IPEM). His work focuses on strengthening partnerships among government, public safety, emergency management, faith-based organizations, volunteers, and community stakeholders. Brewer believes resilient communities are built before disasters occur through preparedness, strong relationships, shared responsibility, and a commitment to serving others.

Mike Eichholz
Center for Wildlife Sustainability Research, SIU One Health Initiative
Southern Illinois University Carbondale

I am an avian/community ecologist studying how terrestrial organisms (primarily birds) interact with their environment and the interactions between anthropomorphic impacts on the environment, wildlife, and health. I hold an M.S. and PhD in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. I have been actively conducting research on interactions between animals and the landscape for 35 years during which I have authored or co-authored > 250 presentations at scientific meetings, > 70 scientific publications, and 4 book chapters. I am currently the Director of the Center for Sustainable Wildlife Research and SIU One Health Initiative, and Professor in the School of Biological Sciences at SIUC. I have served as Chair of the College and University Education Working group of The Wildlife Society, Chair of the Research Working Group of the National Bobwhite Grasslands Initiative, and Chair of the Technical Committee of the Upper Mississippi River/Great Lakes Joint Venture. I am an outdoor enthusiast with a wife and 2 sons, 2 dogs, and 2 pet emus. I live in rural southern Illinois and enjoy managing native vegetation on my property.

Iris Holmes
School of Biological Sciences, SIU One Health
Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Guillaume Bastille-Rousseau
Center for Wildlife Sustainability Research, SIU One Health Initiative
Southern Illinois University Carbondale