Illinois Weather and Public Health Response Summit 2025

Sunshine Clemons

Illinois Department of Public Health

Sunshine Clemons joined IDPH in 2019. She currently serves as the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer. She also leads the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice committee, is co-chair of the Diversity, anti-Racism & Equity (DaRE) Campaign and serves on the Heartland Housed Continuum of Care Strategy Board representing the IDPH. Sunshine is also very active in the community and a member of Black Lives Matter SPI, Springfield Call to Action, Springfield’s Police Review Commission, and The Massey Commission among other groups. Sunshine's main objective whether at the office or in the community, is to create a more equitable environment for those who historically, have been intentionally disregarded due to their marginalized identities. Sunshine has received many recognitions and awards such as the Dr. Kenniebrew Health Equity Trailblazer and Advocate for Social Justice Community award both in 2025, being named one of Gamechangers “Introverts to Watch-2024,” and receiving the 2022 Bridge Builder Award from the Coalition of Rainbow Alliances among others. Sunshine is the mother of one adult daughter who also has a passion for social justice.

Elizabeth Scrafford

Sierra Club

Paulina Vaca (she/her)

Associate, Urban Resilience,

Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT)

Conducts qualitative research, designs advocacy materials, & advocates for environmental justice. Employed at Center for Neighborhood Technology for the past 4 years; B.A. in Environmental Studies. 2024 certificate from Delft University of Technology in Sustainable Urban Freight Transportation. Grew indoor microgreens for the first time this summer-- I love finding ways to eat more superfoods!

Moderator: Lubia Suterwala, MPH

Manager of Community Public Health Outreach

Illinois Department of Public Health

Lubia Suterwala is a public health leader known for her work in advancing health equity, multilingual communication, and culturally responsive outreach across Illinois. She serves as the Manager of Community Public Health Outreach at the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), where she oversees statewide initiatives that center community voice, expand public health access, and build trust in underserved populations. With over a decade of experience in public health and policy, Suterwala leads collaborative projects that integrate community engagement, health education, and strategic partnerships. She has co-chaired the IDPH Health Equity Council, contributed to the National Academy of Medicine’s Climate Change & Health Initiative, and played a key role in revamping IDPH’s Community Ambassadors Program. She is a recent Fellow of the 2025 Public Health Leadership Institute for Systems Change (PHLISC).In addition to her public sector work, Suterwala is an active member of the Illinois Association of Hispanic State Employees (IAHSE), where she supports workforce development, conference planning, and advocacy for bilingual and bicultural staff. She brings a deep understanding of community needs and government systems—and is passionate about translating policy into practice that improves lives. Outside of work, she enjoys mentoring early-career Latine professionals, building bridges between government and community, volunteering her time to charitable initiatives, and spending time with her family.

Michael Lenzi

Strategic Sourcing Manager

Rush University Medical Center

Michael Lenzi is a Strategic Sourcing Manager at RUSH in Chicago, where they lead sourcing strategy and vendor relationships for the Lab and Diagnostic categories. With a deep understanding of healthcare supply chains and a focus on cost optimization without compromising clinical quality, they play a critical role in supporting patient care through operational excellence. Their credibility comes from a strong track record of navigating complex procurement landscapes, building cross-functional partnerships with clinicians and suppliers, and delivering sustainable sourcing solutions in a high-stakes environment. Before joining RUSH, I held roles in supply chain at UChicago Medicine, where they honed their expertise in healthcare sourcing and strategic negotiations. They are an active participant in professional sourcing and supply chain networks and stay current on industry trends shaping the future of healthcare procurement. Outside of work, I am an avid ice hockey player, bringing the same competitive spirit and team-first mindset from the rink into their professional life.

University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health

My name is Lisset Perez Carapia. I graduated with my MPH in 2023 and have been working at UIC since April 2025. I am currently a research specialist at the Center for Climate and Health Excellence. My primary role within the community engagement core has been to support the implementation of The GROW Institute, which focuses on understanding the impacts of climate and health, addressing key challenges, and generating sustainable ideas for community organizations. Outside of my work, I serve as a community advisory board member for ICAN, an organization that helps make birth control accessible and affordable across Illinois, and I also focus on advocating for immigrant rights.

Hannah Matzke, PhD, MS

Chicago Department of Public Health

Hannah Matzke is a Senior Epidemiologist at Chicago Department of Public Health where she is the lead scientist for the Healthy Chicago Survey. She also teaches Foundations of Public Health at UIC School of Public Health.

Ama Hapke Rosen, MPA

Birdhouse Farm, LLC

Ama Hapke Rosen has worked in disaster recovery and community resilience since 2007, including with Greensburg GreenTown (Kansas) and GreenTown Joplin (Missouri). Following devastating tornadoes, she helped develop programs that supported communities in rebuilding thoughtfully and sustainably. She currently works with Birdhouse Farm, creating opportunities to connect people with nature, and serves as Chair of the City of Aurora (Colorado) Civic Engagement Commission advocating for greater resident participation. Outside of her professional roles, Ama is a passionate urban gardener and homeschooling parent, bringing her love of learning and the natural world into daily life.

Illinois Department of Public Health

My name is Kelli Hun, and I am the Public Health information Sharing Program Manager hired by the Illinois Department of Public Health and stationed at the Illinois State Police Statewide Terrorism & Intelligence Center (STIC). STIC serves as a 24/7/365 all-crimes all hazards fusion center that provides services to law enforcement, private sector, and public safety partners. The Public Health Information Sharing (PHIS) program was established in 2014 and is designed to share For Official Use Only (FOUO) information and open source (OS) information with partners through emails, webinars, and trainings. I have been in this position since 2018.

University of Chicago

I am a postdoctoral fellow in the Division of Pulmonary Critical Care at the University of Chicago and a prior American Heart Association predoctoral fellow in the Department of Preventive Medicine at Northwestern University. My research focuses on electronic health record linkage for population health surveillance and dynamic risk prediction using novel ML analytical methods. I've developed computer-aided detection and geolinkage tools that harness protected health information in a HIPAA-compliant manner to improve individual and community health outcomes. My dissertation work evaluated the impact of climate change-related extreme heat events on Chicago through community level assessment and individual level computational phenotypes that integrate EHR and ecological data.

Director, Center for Health Informatics UIUC

Ian Brooks, PhD, is Director of the Center for Health Informatics at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's School of Information Sciences. His work bridges data science and public health, with a focus on integrating diverse data sources to inform population health and support decision-making. His work with WHO led to the Center being designated as the PAHO/WHO Collaborating Center for Information Systems for Health. Dr. Brooks previously led the development of several public health platforms, including INDICATOR, a One Health system for real-time health monitoring; the CDC Malaria Map; and the PAHO/WHO Anti-infodemic Virtual Center for the Americas. Currently, he is leading the development of the Illinois Climate Health Explorer, a tool linking environmental data with health outcomes to guide local policy and preparedness. Previously, Dr. Brooks served as Director of Health Sciences at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications and Co-Director of the Bioinformatics Core at the University of Illinois Chicago's Center for Translational Science.

Edward Shimon, BS

National Weather Service

Ed Shimon is currently the Warning Coordination Meteorologist at the National Weather Service (NWS) in Lincoln. Ed is in charge of the office's readiness for hazardous weather and public education on their hazardous weather safety program. He is also the primary liaison between the office and all the core partners. 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. Ed is a member of the American Meteorological Society and served as Secretary for the Central IL Chapter for 6 years. Ed enjoys triathlons, playing his baritone saxophone, and traveling with his family.

Illinois Department of Public Health

Tyler M. Woodard is a Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) and public health professional with more than a decade of experience in health, emergency, and homeland security planning. He works with the Illinois Department of Public Health's Office of Preparedness and Response, where he helps lead interagency strategic planning. Originally from Nebraska, Tyler gained early experience storm chasing and assisting with the response to twin EF-4 tornadoes in Pilger, NE (2014). He later played a key role in the 2019 Platte County flood response and directed the COVID-19 response for a county that once had the highest case rate in the nation. Tyler has also applied technology in education and response. In college, he taught 3D printing to middle and high school students, and he partnered with a community college to 3D print face shields for frontline responders during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tyler's professional interests include GIS, medical supply chain resiliency, and the intersection of technology and public health. He is currently pursuing a Master of Applied Science in Spatial Analysis at Johns Hopkins University. Outside of work, Tyler enjoys woodworking, home improvement projects, and his basement home gym. He and his wife, Jacqueline, love traveling with their two dogs, Fritz and Kya.

University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago

Allison Raymundo is an MD/MPH student at the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago. She is passionate about the role of physicians in public health and health policy, with a particular interest in how the environment impacts population health. Her work includes leading an initiative to expand Illinois Medicaid coverage for rapid whole-genome sequencing for critically ill neonates and developing an advocacy-focused medical school curriculum to prepare future physicians for system-level change. Outside of medicine, Allison enjoys all things yarn, exploring Chicago's food scene, hiking, and spending time with her cats.

Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Office of Water Resources

Wes serves as the Acting Division Manager of Capital Programs in the Office of Water Resources at IDNR. The responsibilities include overseeing flood control projects, dam removal, flood surveillance operations, and water supply planning and drought response programs in Illinois. He has been with IDNR -- Office of Water Resources for 19 years with three prior years in consulting. While at IDNR, Wes has served on a dozen flood investigations during numerous flood of record events, had managed, multiple flood mitigation projects in North Branch Chicago River, Des Plaines River, Kingston, East Dubuque and many others. Wes managed the water supply program from 2014 to 2020 including coordination of State of Illinois Sustainability evaluation and Drought Monitoring for the state. He is a member of the Illinois Association of Flood and Stormwater managers as well as the past Chair of the Interstate Council on Water Policy. Wes believes his most important work is what he does as a father of three.

Annika Macy

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

I am Annika Macy, an undergraduate student at Northwestern University interested in the impact of the environment on children and adolescents. I have been a student researcher on projects studying environmental impact on children's health and education in Summer 2025. Outside of academics, I like to swim and play water polo.

Illinois State Climatologist

Illinois State Water Survey, University of Illinois

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 the state of Illinois. He and his team work with communities, industries, and state agencies on issues related to weather, climate, and climate change in Illinois, and engage the general public through online, media, and educational outreach. A native of Roanoke, Illinois, Ford earned a bachelors in geography from Illinois State University before completing his masters and PhD at Texas A&M University.

American Lung Association

Dr. Mimi Guiracocha is a public health nurse, certified asthma educator, and the Nationwide Director of Health Systems Improvement for the American Lung Association. She leads nationwide initiatives around asthma, COPD, and indoor air quality. She has represented the field of nursing and DNPs of Color at the White House, discussing climate change and health equity; given public testimony on reducing carbon emissions; and helped to create professional education for healthcare providers around indoor air quality. Dr. Guiracocha is bilingual, Ecuadorian-American, has a deep passion for health equity and environmental justice, and lives in Chicago's southwest side.

Illinois Department of Public Health

Sunshine Clemons joined IDPH in 2019. She currently serves as the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer. She also leads the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice committee, is co-chair of the Diversity, anti-Racism & Equity (DaRE) Campaign and serves on the Heartland Housed Continuum of Care Strategy Board representing the IDPH. Sunshine is also very active in the community and a member of Black Lives Matter SPI, Springfield Call to Action, Springfield's Police Review Commission, and The Massey Commission among other groups. Sunshine's main objective whether at the office or in the community, is to create a more equitable environment for those who historically, have been intentionally disregarded due to their marginalized identities. Sunshine has received many recognitions and awards such as the Dr. Kenniebrew Health Equity Trailblazer and Advocate for Social Justice Community award both in 2025, being named one of Gamechangers "Introverts to Watch-2024," and receiving the 2022 Bridge Builder Award from the Coalition of Rainbow Alliances among others. Sunshine is the mother of one adult daughter who also has a passion for social justice.

April Holmes, MPH

Illinois Department of Public Health

April Holmes is a Vector Control Specialist with the Division of Environmental Health at the Illinois Department of Public Health. Ms. Holmes focuses on analyzing mosquito and tick surveillance data, creating maps associated with vector surveillance, and coordinating with city, county and state agencies regarding vector control and surveillance issues. Ms. Holmes holds a Bachelor's Degree in Biology and Environmental Studies from Illinois College and a Masters of Public Health with a concentration in environmental health from the University of Illinois at Springfield. In her spare time, she enjoys reading books, drinking coffee and spending time with her 10-year old daughter.

Climate and Urban Sustainability Lead Discovery Partners Institute (DPI)

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Dr. Ashish Sharma is the Climate and Urban Sustainability Lead at the Discovery Partners Institute, University of Illinois System. He is a faculty member of the Department of Climate, Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He holds a joint appointment as a Climate Scientist at Argonne National Laboratory. He is the Director of the NSF-UKRI joint-funded Global Center on Clean Energy and Equitable Transportation Solutions (CLEETS). He is named to Crain's Chicago Business' 40 Under 40 class of 2023. Dr. Sharma completed his Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from Arizona State University. Dr. Sharma has expertise in atmospheric sciences, focusing on regional climate and air quality and assessing adaptation and mitigation strategies. Through collaborative research across science, engineering, social sciences, and policy, he studies environmental justice issues, including heat, fog, air quality, and high-impact weather. Dr. Sharma is a fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society. He serves on the Trust for Public Land's Natural Solutions Tool advisory committee (2022). He has co-authored an assessment of climate change impacts on the Great Lakes region (2019), a special climate assessment for Illinois (2021), and a NOAA report on aligning research priorities to enhance resilience to extreme heat (2019). As a co-author of the first climate action plan for the Chicago metro region (2021), he has received numerous awards, including the American Planning Association Merit in Sustainability Award (2022) and the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions Climate Leadership Award (2021). The Illinois State Museum exhibits his work on climate change, injustice, and heat in Chicago. He has contributed as a reviewer for the IPCC report and many international scientific journals. Dr. Sharma is a US EPA Science Advisory Board member for the EJ Screen review panel. He is also a member of the Illinois Commission on Environmental Justice and the Illinois State Museum, appointed by the Governor. He also contributes to scholarship as Associate Editor of Frontiers in Environmental Science (Atmosphere & Climate) and as Guest Editor for Urban Climate Journal on extreme weather and air pollution in urban areas. He has testified on a subject matter hearing on urban heat island effect and solutions to the City of Chicago Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy (2021). He has briefed the U.S. Senate Climate Taskforce, U.S. House of Representatives, and congressional staff on the US Capitol Hill on the impacts of climate change in the Great Lakes Region (2019).

Edgar County Public Health Department

Connor's current role is the Director of Emergency Preparedness & Training (as well as the Edgar County MRC Coordinator) at Edgar County Public Health Department. Connor has been with ECPHD since August of 2022 and was promoted to his current position in March of 2024. He is the primary founder of the Edgar County Medical Reserve Corps, and currently serves as the Coordinator for the Unit. He has been in public health emergency preparedness for a little over three years, and has been involved in multiple real-life incidents, including the county's response to the June 2023 Derecho. Connor is currently the Public Health Representative to the Regional Healthcare Coalition's Executive Committee for RHCC Region 6 (Champaign, IL). He holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Administration from Eastern Illinois University, and has a certificate in Community Disaster Preparedness for Healthcare from TEEX. He is also a Certified Healthcare Emergency Coordinator Level 2 (CHEC-II) from NDLSF, and is currently pursuing his MPH in Public Health Administration from Indiana University Bloomington. In Connor's free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and traveling to explore new areas or just staying at home with their two cats. He also enjoys golfing and is a huge Indiana sports fan (Go Pacers/Colts!)

Miquel Gonzalez-Meler, PhD

Professor, Associate Vice Chancellor for Team Science Research

University of Illinois Chicago

Miquel A. Gonzalez-Meler is a professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Illinois Chicago, where he leads research and education at the intersection of climate change, urban ecosystems, and plant physiology. He serves as Deputy Director of the NIH-funded Center for Climate and Health Excellence and Principal Investigator of the DOE-funded CROCUS project, which builds neighborhood partnerships to understand and mitigate climate impacts in Chicago. Internationally recognized for his work on carbon cycling, stable isotopes, and climate–ecosystem interactions from the Arctic to Patagonia, he is equally committed to workforce development and inclusive mentoring, having co-founded programs supporting students and early-career faculty across STEM. He has received awards for teaching and mentoring and contributes to national advisory groups on inclusive excellence. Outside academia, he enjoys traveling, hiking, soccer, cooking, and learning from other cultures.

Brandon Paetznick, BS

Chicago Department of Public Health

Jerry Costello II

Director, Illinois Department of Agriculture

Jerry F. Costello II is proudly serving as the Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture. Agriculture has always played a role in Jerry’s life. Born and raised in Belleville, Jerry grew up visiting and working on his family’s multi-generational farm in Southern Illinois. Currently, Jerry and his wife, Lori, reside in Smithton, only a short drive from his family’s farm. He has 35 head of beef cattle.

After graduating from Southern Illinois University, Jerry served in the United States Army in the 82nd Airborne Division. He is a veteran of the first Gulf War. His commitment to service led him to pursue a career in law enforcement and, eventually, serve the 116th district in the Illinois House of Representatives from 2011-2019. He was actively involved with the Agriculture and Conservation Committee, serving as Chairman from 2015-2019, Vice Chairman from 2013-2014, and a member since 2011. In 2019, he was appointed as the Director of Law Enforcement at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Moderator: Jack Herrmann, DVM, MPH, DACT

Illinois State Board of Health

Dr. John Herrmann, DVM, MPH, DACT is a Clinical Associate Professor Emeritus of Veterinary Clinical Medicine and Epidemiology at the University of Illinois, where he was on the faculty from 2004 through 2022. Prior to joining the faculty, he spent 25 years in private practice, working primarily with dairy herds, and also served as a Science and Technology Policy Fellow in the United States Senate offices of Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL). He has extensive public health policy experience at local, state, and federal levels and has served on the Illinois State Board of Health for the past 12 years.

Jeffrey Thompson

Illinois Emergency Management Agency – Office of Homeland Security

Anna Yates, BS

Retail Food Coordinator, Illinois Department of Public Health

Anna Yates is the Retail Food Coordinator for the Illinois Department of Public Health. She began her career in food safety in 2016 with the Jersey County Health Department, following several years of experience in the food and beverage industry. As a Food Safety Standardizing Officer under the FDA, Anna works closely with local health departments across the state, providing training and support to strengthen food safety practices. With a background in Education, Anna brings a passion for teaching to her role—whether it's engaging the public, mentoring inspectors, or sharing knowledge with anyone eager to learn about food safety. She also enjoys traveling throughout Illinois to connect with and empower local health departments in their efforts to protect public health.

Melissa Fiffer, PhD

University of Illinois Chicago

Melissa Fiffer is the Senior Research Scientist for the Children's Environmental Health Initiative (CEHI) at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). Her role includes leading epidemiologic studies on social and environmental drivers of health disparities such as segregation, air pollutants, greenness, and climate. She also serves as Co-Director of the Geospatial Data Analysis Core of the UIC P20 Center for Climate 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 got her start as a Presidential Management Fellow (PMF) in HUD's Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control. She is passionate about advancing interdisciplinary science to tackle complex environmental challenges and inform evidence-based programs and policies to protect public health and reduce inequities. 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 spare time, she enjoys yoga, reading cozy mysteries, and hiking with her husband and their friendly lab mix, Molly.

Mackenzie Daniels, BSN, RN

Chicago Healthcare Coalition

Mackenzie Daniels is the Readiness and Response Coordinator for the Chicago Healthcare System Coalition for Preparedness and Response, serving as a clinical advisor and liaison between hospitals, the Chicago Department of Public Health, and emergency preparedness partners across the city. Based at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, she helps lead internal preparedness efforts and supports the hospital's role as Chicago's Regional Hospital Coordination Center. With over a decade of frontline experience, Mackenzie previously worked as a Charge Nurse in the Emergency Department of a Level 1 Trauma Center in St. Louis. She holds a bachelor's degree in nursing and is currently pursuing her Master of Science in Nursing with a focus on population health. Her work has contributed to regional surge planning, radiation response drills, and healthcare coalition education initiatives. Mackenzie is passionate about building resilient systems that center equity, collaboration, and the voices of frontline healthcare workers. Outside of work, she's a proud dog mom to a geriatric wiener dog named Yoshi.

Holly Rosencranz, MD

Carle Illinois College of Medicine

I am a board-certified internist with over thirty years of experience in clinical medicine and medical education. Now retired from clinical practice, I teach undergraduate students in molecular and cellular biology and first-year medical students in core curricular content. I am actively involved in educational initiatives focused on the health impacts of climate change and advocacy. I also participate in local, state, and national medical societies, contributing to policy development on climate change and civic engagement through medical society resolutions, federal and state legislation, and teaching seminars locally, nationally, and internationally. My civic engagement includes serving as an election judge and volunteering with the League of Women Voters and other advocacy organizations. I am passionate about sustainability and express this through thrifting and upcycling fabric into quilts and other creative DIY projects, blending environmental consciousness with artistic joy.

Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences, Northwestern University

I am an interdisciplinary scientist who studies the role of extreme heat on human health and the factors that influence that relationship. I have a PhD in climate dynamics from George Mason University, where I studied the role of the land surface in the climate system. Now, at Northwestern University, I study the effect of climate change and extreme heat on public health in the city of Chicago. As a part of the Defusing Disasters project and Chicago's Climate Action Plan, we are developing the city's first community driven and public health data-oriented Heat Vulnerability Index. This interactive public health tool will help drive climate health literacy in Chicago as well as help to guide and shape future climate/heat adaptation policy. Outside of science, one thing I love to do (that's also great for your health) is biking. Chicago is a great city to live in if you love to bike!