Health Department Medical Officer Honored for Excellence in Public Health

Dr. Rashmi Chugh, Medical Officer at the DuPage County Health Department, has received the “Excellence in Public Health Policy Award” from the Illinois Public Health Association.

The award was given to Dr. Chugh for her work “to bridge the gap between medicine and public health.” Her effort led to a State of Illinois Public Act that will help reduce the number of sexually transmitted infections.

Specifically, Dr. Chugh spearheaded a resolution on Expedited Partner Therapy for the treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STI). That resolution was subsequently sponsored by the DuPage County Medical Society and adopted by the Illinois State Medical Society.

That effort led to passage of Public Act 96-613 promoting treatment of partners and reducing the transmission of STI.

Dr. Chugh received her award during the Friends of Public Health Dinner and Awards Ceremony on June 14, 2011, at the 70th Annual Meeting of IPHA. She thanked Maureen McHugh, Executive Director at the DCHD, for her guidance in policy and legislative matters, and 20 workgroup members and organizations for collaborating on this effort.

She acknowledged John Peller of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, Dr. William Wong of the Chicago Department of Public Health, Dr. Craig Conover, Charlie Rabins, Ed Renier and Rich Zimmerman from the Illinois Department of Public Health, the DuPage County Medical Society and the Illinois State Medical Society Legislative and Legal staff. Also recognized were numerous statewide organizations that supported this legislation.

The Excellence in Public Health Policy Award is given to an individual, group of individuals or agency that has demonstrated an outstanding contribution to promote public health policy.

Dr. Chugh has served as Medical Officer at the DCHD since 2003 and is currently serving as President of the DuPage County Medical Society.