New State Health Director Visits DuPage County,
Shares Public Health Goals

Chronic disease prevention is critical; focus on men’s health

WHEATON – Newly appointed Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Director Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck today shared his vision for the future of public health, eliminating health disparities and chronic disease, and providing greater access to health care in Illinois with local health officials and community health stakeholders at the DuPage County Health Department in Wheaton.

Dr. Hasbrouck has been visiting local health departments throughout Illinois since May, and successfully championed the $1 per pack increase in the cigarette tax to curb tobacco use in Illinois.

Dr. Hasbrouck supported local health officials’ efforts during National Men’s Health Week encouraging men to get regular checkups, exercise and eat healthier, and eliminate tobacco use. The goal of National Men’s Health Week is to raise awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and screening of disease among men and boys. Men have shorter life expectancies than women nationwide and in Illinois, and also die at higher rates than women of the top 10 causes of death in Illinois, including heart disease, cancer and stroke.

“During National Men’s Health Week and all year long, local health departments are the front lines of public health and are our strongest allies in the effort to address and eliminate health disparities, provide access to quality health care and improve the overall health of Illinois residents,” said Dr. Hasbrouck.

As a seasoned public health administrator and the immediate former public health director (commissioner) of the Ulster County Department of Public Health in New York, Dr. Hasbrouck understands that public health happens locally – everything from providing school immunizations to investigating foodborne illnesses.

In addition to DuPage County health officials, Dr. Hasbrouck was also joined by health officials from Will, Kane and McHenry Counties.