Health and Wellness Participants
Health and Wellness Subject-Matter Experts
The Next Century Conservation Plan Planning Team conducted interviews with Cook County subject-matter experts in the health and wellness field. The Team also facilitated two roundtables with subject-matter experts, on February 27 and May 3, 2013, to learn from their perspectives on nature and health.
In both the interviews and the roundtables, participants were asked to share insights based on their clinical or administrative experience. They were invited to share recommendations for improving the connection between Cook County residents and the Forest Preserves with the goal of improving health and wellness.
Interviewees
Mary Elsner
Director, Obesity Prevention Initiatives, Illinois Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics (ICAAP)
Susan Katz
Director of Paralympics & Disability Sport, World Sport Chicago
Mary J. Larsen
Manager, Environmental Stewardship, Advocate Health Care
Barbara Otto
Chief Executive Officer, Health & Disability Advocates
Presidential Appointee, Advisory Group on Prevention, Health Promotion and Integrative Public Health
Roundtable Participants
Roundtable 1
February 27, 2013
Elizabeth Lee
Senior Program Officer for Proactive Grants, Michael Reese Health Trust
Nancy Ronquillo
President and Chief Executive Officer, Children’s Home & Aid Society
Grant Vitale
Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago (CLOCC)
Terry Mason
Chief Operating Officer, Cook County Department of Public Health
Ken Campbell
Systems Operator Analyst, Cook County Health and Hospital Systems
Joe Harrington
Regional Health Officer, Illinois Department of Public Health
Roundtable 2
May 3, 2013
Jennifer Artis
Executive Director, Crossroads Coalition/Franciscan Alliance
Debbie Gaebler-Spira
Pediatric Rehabilitation Physician, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
Cecilia Hofmann
President, C. Hofmann and Associates
Michael Murnane
Assistant to the General Superintendant, Forest Preserve District of Cook County
Sarah Nau
Manager, Obesity Prevention Initiatives, Illinois Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics (ICAAP)
Joseph Russo
Deputy Commissioner of ADA Compliance, Mayors Office, Division for People with Disabilities
Keri Schneider
Executive Director, Dare2Tri
Julie Vandervort
Naturalist, Forest Preserve District of Cook County
Other Contributors
Ryan Reese
Instructor, Oregon State University-Cascades