Mayor Brandon Johnson selects Dr. Olusimbo Ige as Chicago's new health commissioner

Mayor Brandon Johnson has appointed Dr. Olusimbo “Simbo” Ige as the new health commissioner of Chicago, replacing Dr. Allison Arwady. Dr. Ige, a former New York City public health professional, will be the first Black woman to serve in this role. With experience in leading New York City through the pandemic, Dr. Ige is expected to bring compassion, competency, and collaboration to the Chicago Department of Public Health, which is facing over 400 vacancies and the loss of pandemic-era federal funds. Her work will focus on improving health outcomes for all Chicagoans, including initiatives related to food security, housing, mental health, violence prevention, and public health corps. The decision to replace Dr. Arwady, who was fired without a meeting or opportunity to say goodbye, has raised criticism and speculation about the influence of the Chicago Teachers Union in the decision.