*MEDIA ADVISORY*

New State Health Director to Meet with Local Officials to Talk About Public Health Vision 

Chronic disease prevention is key; proposed cigarette tax will help 

SPRINGFIELD – On Monday, May 14, 2012, newly appointed Illinois Department of Public Health Acting Director Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck will begin convening local health officials in regional roundtables to discuss the public health system in Illinois, where it stands now and where health partners would like to see it go. The director will share his vision for the future of public health, addressing vulnerable populations, access to health care and chronic disease prevention. One of the director’s priorities in preventing chronic disease is combating tobacco use and how the proposed cigarette tax can greatly help in this effort. Hear from state and local health officials as Dr. Hasbrouck tours the state working to improve public health in Illinois.

East St. Louis Monday, May 14, 2012 East Side Health District 650 North 20th Street Noon	Champaign Tuesday, May 15, 2012 Champaign County Health Department 201 W. Kenyon Road 2p.m.
Murphysboro/Carbondale Tuesday, May 15, 2012 Jackson County Health Department 415 Health Department Road 9:30 a.m.	Peoria Wednesday, May 16, 2012 Peoria City/County Health Department 2116 North Sheridan Road 9 a.m.
Rock Island Wednesday, May 16, 2012 Rock Island County Health Department 2112 – 25th Avenue 1:30 pm	Rockford Friday, May 24, 2012 Winnebago County Health Department 555 North Court Street 10 a.m.
Quincy Wednesday, May 23, 2012 Adams County Health Department 330 Vermont Street 10 a.m.

Additional meetings are being scheduled for the next couple weeks in Cook and the collar counties.