Federal Policy Maker to Head UIC's Health Program

Deborah Bayliss | As of Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Jamila R. Rashid, noted minority health official and advocate at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has been named executive director of the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Urban Health Program. Her appointment was approved by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees at its July meeting.
Jamila R. Rashid, noted minority health official and advocate at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has been named executive director of the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Urban Health Program. Her appointment was approved by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees at its July meeting.

The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) has added a federal level policy maker to their staff.

Chicagoan, Dr. Jamila R. Rashid, former minority health official and advocate at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has been named executive director of the UIC’s Urban Health Program.

Dr. Rashid will be responsible for developing programs that bring minority and underrepresented pre-college, undergraduate and graduate students in Chicago into careers in the health care professions.

Asked why health disparities exist for minorities in the United States, Dr. Rashid said, “The major reason has to do with “social determinants of health” which means where you live, pray, obtain food etc. When there are issues of crime where you live and you can’t buy fresh green leafy vegetables or when everything around you is McDonald’s and you eat that, all those factors contribute to health disparities.”

Rashid, who grew up in the Cabrini Green housing projects, has a long relationship with UIC, where she earned a Ph.D. in policy research and evaluation studies, a master’s degree in public health, and has been adjunct assistant professor of health policy administration in the School of Public Health.

“My children have been involved with this university as well,” Rashid told the Chicago Citizen Newspaper. “They were in the Early Outreach program here.”

Rashid said she plans to use the same kinds of Early Outreach program and will target junior high school students for exposure to the health care industry to bring minorities into the health care field.

“We have to start with them early and not wait until they are in high school,” Dr. Rashid said. “We have to expose them to the opportunities and also help them believe in themselves. We also want to take the program further and utilize mentors more. It’s one thing to expose students to opportunities but another thing to help them through the program so we plan to track students as well.”

Dr. Saul Weiner, professor of medicine and vice provost for planning and programs at UIC spoke high highly of Dr. Rashid.

“Throughout her public health career, Dr. Rashid has maintained a commitment to increasing the number of minorities in the health professions and has personally contributed to the matriculation and professional success of numerous students and young professionals,” Dr. Weiner said. “Her passion and experience in advancing minorities in the health professions, coupled with her collaborative leadership style are a great fit for this important role.”

Rashid also is former associate director for research and policy at the Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health where she advised the director and deputy assistant secretary for minority health on healthcare disparities issues and led several national and community based public health initiatives to reduce health and healthcare disparities, including the “Eliminating Health Disparities in Lupus Initiative.

She also spearheaded a national partnership between Health and Human Services and Walgreens, Inc. to provide free flu vaccinations to the uninsured and underinsured.

Rashid also held several positions at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including vulnerable populations officer in the Coordinating Center for Terrorism Preparedness and Response; acting associate director of health disparities in the National Center for HIV, Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention; team leader for CDC Research Agenda Development and Promotion in the Office of Public Health Science; and associate director for policy, planning and evaluation in the Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities.

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