Illinois e-News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 17, 2025
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IDPH to host 2025 Illinois Minority Health Conference in Naperville October 20-22
Theme for the Conference is: "Deepening Commitments to Advancing Healthy Equity”
CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) will kick off a three-day Minority Health Conference in Naperville at the Northern Illinois University Naperville Conference Center Monday, Oct. 20. The conference serves as a goal of the
Healthy Illinois 2028 State Health Improvement Plan, which identifies five key pillars: chronic disease, emerging diseases, mental health and substance use disorder, maternal and infant health, and racism as a public health crisis. The gathering offers a valuable opportunity for healthcare providers, public health and medical institutions, health departments, community-based organizations and others to network and learn from each other.
“The theme for this year’s conference is ‘Deepening Commitments to Advancing Health Equity’ and I stand in that effort,” said Governor Pritzker in a videotaped welcome. “We’ve made the commitment in Illinois, but we know there is more to do, and it will take all of us to achieve those goals. We’ve done a lot, but the work is not done.”
“Addressing health disparities remains a top priority for the Department of Public Health,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “Achieving health equity requires increasing opportunities for everyone to live the healthiest life possible, no matter who we are, where we live, or how much money we make. Our goal at this year’s Conference is to work with our partners to deepen our commitment to this important work, ensuring we do all we can to pave a path for all Illinois residents to be as healthy as possible”
The conference at Northern Illinois University’s Naperville campus assembles experts and health practitioners from across the state to share knowledge on health disparities and social justice issues; build competencies among healthcare professionals; and develop collaborations with service providers and community partners aimed at more effectively serving groups in Illinois that have been historically marginalized.
The conference will feature three keynote speakers:
- Executive Director of the Illinois Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes, Elana G. Kahn, whose work focuses on building intergroup partnerships to address discrimination and promote understanding, will discuss “Hate is a Public Health Issue.”
- Dr. Jason L. Cummings, an endowed assistant professor of sociology and faculty affiliate of the Institute of Racial Justice at Loyola University Chicago
- Dr. Melissa McGee, D.N.P., F.N.P., who is the founder of the Diabetes Health & Wellness Center and Anishinaabeg Path to Wellness.
For the first time, a Black Youth Suicide Prevention Summit will take place during the conference, on Monday, to build upon the 2024 policy academy work of IDPH and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The summit aims to highlight Black youth suicide rates in Illinois and identify action items to curb the rising rate.
Currently, four in ten Illinoisians are from racial and ethnic minority populations. However, disease burdens such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, stroke, HIV, substance abuse, infant mortality, and COVID-19 infection and death rates remain higher among these populations. Working with its broad array of partners in the healthcare and social service provider community, IDPH continues to work towards addressing health disparities, accelerating health equity, and making Illinois a stronger and healthier state.
More information about IDPH’s 2025 Minority Health Conference, including the full agenda, is available
HERE.
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