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2024 Annual Report
To my fellow Illinoisans,
I am proud to present the Illinois Department of Public Health’s Fiscal Year 2024 Annual Report. This report documents a remarkable year for public health in Illinois – from widely anticipated events like the total solar eclipse, to unexpected challenges such as the largest measles outbreak in decades, to our essential day-to-day work addressing issues like chronic disease and vaccine education. As you will see in these pages, whatever challenge we faced, our team of dedicated professionals responded with speed, determination, talent, compassion and skill to protect the health and well-being of all Illinoisans.
I’m often asked to assess the state of public health, and my answer frequently is: “It’s complicated.” We are so fortunate to have an extraordinary team of public servants across the state working on Illinois’ public health issues.
But we also live in a rapidly changing world where the next major crisis may be just around the corner. IDPH is always trying to ensure that Illinois is prepared and has the adequate resources to respond to any situation, while being mindful stewards of the public’s tax dollars.
With that in mind, we have undertaken a major Public Health Workforce Transformation Initiative, collaborating with our many local health department partners throughout the state to update and improve the infrastructure that allows us to tackle the major public health issues of today and tomorrow. We are stepping up our data modernization efforts to spot public health trends in real time and respond quickly and effectively with evidence-based policies. And we are bolstering our communication efforts to provide the most up-to-date and appropriate information to ensure that the people of Illinois have the facts and data they need to make informed decisions.
As this report is submitted, we are embarking on a transition to a new federal administration. Federal election cycles often produce changes in the funding and distribution of public health resources. It is an uncertain time, but whatever happens, I pledge to you that IDPH will respond with every tool at its disposal -- tools honed over decades of study and research -- to keep all Illinoisans as safe and healthy as possible. We will do so while always being respectful of the individual dignity and autonomy of every person we serve.
Thank you for taking the time to read this overview of IDPH’s important work. I hope it leaves you with a sense of the dedication of the hard-working people who make up IDPH and their profound commitment to better health for all.
Yours in good health,
Sameer Vohra, MD, JD, MA
Director
