DCC 2024 - Speaker Bios (2024)

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Stephanie Black, MD, MSc

Dr. Stephanie Black has recently accepted the role of Acting Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Commissioner of the Disease Control Bureau at the Chicago Department of Public Health. The Bureau conducts surveillance and outbreak investigations, facilitates testing, and responds to emerging infectious disease threats.  Dr. Black is board certified in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases. She completed undergraduate training at Cornell University, medical school at Temple University, and internal medicine residency and infectious disease fellowship studies at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. Dr. Black practiced clinical infectious diseases medicine for 6 years at Rush University Medical Center, followed by 5 years at John H. Stroger Hospital of Cook County. She is a voting member of the Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antimicrobial Resistant Bacteria (PACCARB). 

Olusimbo (Simbo) Ige, MD, MPH

Dr. Olusimbo (Simbo) Ige's public health career spans nearly two decades. Before her appointment as the Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, she served as the Managing Director of Programs at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Dr. Ige oversaw partnerships with health organizations nationwide who were working to make public health and health care systems accountable and equitable. She also previously served as the Assistant Commissioner for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, where she provided oversight to a wide range of programs, including the city's pandemic response, food security programs, housing and health initiatives, mental health programs, violence prevention, and the Public Health Corps initiative. Dr. Ige received her Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery and her Master of Science in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from the University of Ibadan in Nigeria. She received her Master's in Public Health from the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom.

Michelle Funk, DVM, MPH

Dr. Michelle Funk is a veterinarian by training with a Master of Science in Public Health (concentration in Epidemiology).  After 10 years of clinical practice, she joined the Chicago Department of Public Health in 2021, where is currently the Medical Director of Healthcare and Congregate Settings within the Disease Control Bureau.  In her current role, she supports infection control and outbreak response for higher risk settings, such as shelters, corrections, healthcare facilities, and schools. She served as the Incident Commander for CDPH's New Arrivals response from Dec 2023-May 2024.

Claudia Burchinal, MBA

Claudia Y. Burchinal, an Industrial Engineer with over 23 years in healthcare leadership, is the Director of Ambulatory System Operations and Business Development at Cook County Health. Previously, she was the Senior Director of Patient Benefit Services at Erie Family Health Center. Her expertise includes strategic planning, operational optimization, and business development. Notable achievements include managing COVID-19 vaccination sites, implementing Open Access and direct scheduling, enhancing quality incentives, and launching a virtual immediate care clinic.

Christina Urbina,MBA

Christina Urbina is the Service Business Line Director, Women and Children at Cook County Health System. Prior to this role she was Director of Women’s Health at Erie Family Health, one of Chicagoland’s largest FQHC’s. Christina’s leadership approach focuses on advocating for patients' and women's and children's healthcare rights while promoting professional development to help individuals become valuable contributors within the organizational care team.

Daniel Vittum, MD

Dr. Vittum is a practicing family physician with more than 20 years’ experience working in Chicago’s health care safety net organizations.  Since Fall of 2023, he has been acting as Medical Lead for Cook County’s New Arrivals response.

Rishi Sood, MPH

Rishi Sood is Executive Director of the Office of Health Care Access & Policy at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Mr. Sood guides policy initiatives to improve access to health insurance and quality primary care for all New York City residents. He also leads the Health Department’s efforts to improve health care access and provide health services to immigrant populations. He has been co-chair of the NYC Mayor’s Task Force on Immigrant Health Care Access and has been instrumental in designing local policies to assist unaccompanied immigrant children, asylum seekers, and other recent immigrants in NYC. Mr. Sood has played key roles in numerous public health emergencies in NYC, including the COVID-19 response. He holds a master’s degree in public health and an undergraduate degree in medical anthropology from Case Western Reserve University. He is a DrPH candidate at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Alex Sloboda, MD, MPH

Dr. Sloboda is a licensed emergency medicine physician and public health leader. He has previously worked as an emergency medicine physician and faculty at Columbia University Medical Center and Rush University Medical Center. He is currently the Medical Director of Immunization and Emergency Preparedness Programs for the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH). During his time at CDPH, he has lead operations for CDPH’s New Arrivals Response and the City of Chicago’s Measles Outbreak Response.

Dr. Sloboda also completed a fellowship in Global Emergency Medicine and has been working with partners in Ghana and Nigeria for over a decade in developing EMS systems, emergency medicine capacity, and emergency medicine training. He has also developed and led high school mentorship and pipeline programs as well as emergency department and community initiatives for trauma-informed care and violence prevention. Dr. Sloboda is a passionate advocate for health equity, social justice, and universal health care.

Taylor Guidry

Taylor Guidry currently works an epidemiologist in Vaccine-Preventable Disease Surveillance at the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH). She works on vaccine coverage related to COVID vaccines and the Vaccines for Children Program. Prior to this role, Taylor worked in CDPH’s Syndemic Infectious Disease Bureau, specifically with chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and congenital syphilis surveillance. Taylor received a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from the University of Arizona and a Master of Science in Public Health from Emory University. 

Amy Nham, PharmD, MPH

Amy Nham is a CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service officer currently assigned to Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH). Prior to CDPH, she worked as a health scientist at CDC in the Division of HIV Prevention and a clinical pharmacist with the Indian Health Service in Arizona. Amy is a board-certified pharmacist with a master’s in public health and pharmacy doctorate from University of Southern California.

Kim Gressick, MD, MPH

Kimberly Gressick, MD, MPH is an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer with the CDC, assigned to the Chicago Department of Public Health, where she works in substance use and communicable diseases. Dr. Gressick is trained as an emergency medicine physician and looks to blend a career in public health.   

Christy Zelinski, MPH

Christy Zelinski is a Project Manager for the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) within the Disease Control Bureau. She works with healthcare facilities to ensure they have access to testing, vaccines, and therapeutics during outbreaks of infectious diseases, including hospital associated infections. She started her career in healthcare as a Paramedic in a busy metropolitan city. During many years on an ambulance, she learned how to think and react quickly and confidently in high stakes situations, remain flexible in ever changing environments, and be creative with limited resources. After obtaining her Master of Science in Public Health, she worked in HIV prevention and LGBTQ advocacy before joining CDPH for the COVID-19 Response. Christy also works internationally on short-term projects relating to infectious disease surveillance, prevention, and containment. 

Janna Kerins, VMD, MPH

Dr. Janna Kerins is a veterinarian and epidemiologist.  She joined the Chicago Department of Public Health in 2016 and worked first as a CDC Epidemic Intelligence Officer and currently is a Medical Director for the Communicable Disease program. Her work primarily focuses on the prevention and control of zoonotic, foodborne and vectorborne diseases.