CHICAGO— Today, Mayor Brandon Johnson announced his appointment of Dr. Garth Walker as Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health.
A board-certified emergency physician, healthcare executive, and nationally recognized public health leader, Dr. Walker brings broad experience across government, healthcare, academic, and nonprofit sectors advancing health equity, strengthening public health efforts, and expanding access to quality care.
“Dr. Garth Walker has dedicated his career to ensuring every Chicagoan has the opportunity to live a healthy life, regardless of the neighborhood they call home,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “From leading public health efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic to advancing innovative models of care and addressing the root causes of health disparities, Dr. Walker has demonstrated the leadership and commitment our city needs. I’m thrilled to continue our shared work building a healthier Chicago together by advancing health equity, expanding access to mental and behavioral health services, and investing in communities that have too often faced barriers to accessing the resources and services needed to live healthy lives.”
As Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, Dr. Walker will oversee the department’s operations, programs, and services, guiding efforts to promote health, prevent disease, reduce public health risks, and expand access to critical care.
His leadership will support CDPH’s work with community partners and City agencies to advance data-driven solutions, strengthen neighborhood-based public health services, promote health equity, and address the evolving public health needs of Chicago residents.
“I’ve spent my career committed to centering a public health approach that addresses the social and economic conditions that shape people’s health and wellbeing,” saidDr. Garth Walker. “As someone who grew up in Chicago, it’s an honor to serve as Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health and support the Mayor’s vision for a healthier Chicago.
I look forward to working alongside residents, community partners, and public health leaders to strengthen our public health efforts, expand access to critical services, and ensure every Chicagoan has the opportunity to live a healthy life.”
Dr. Walker currently serves as Chief Medical Officer for Rush Health, where he leads a clinically integrated network of physicians and hospitals focused on delivering high-quality, value-based care to more than 160,000 patients across the Chicago region.
In this role, he has advanced strategies to improve health outcomes, strengthened chronic disease management, and supported efforts to address health inequities while advancing the long-term sustainability of the health system.
Previously, Dr. Walker served as Deputy Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health during the COVID-19 pandemic, where he helped lead statewide public health strategy, expanded vaccination efforts, and advanced initiatives focused on men’s health and the opioid epidemic.
He later served as a White House Fellow with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the Biden administration and Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, where he helped develop advisory reports addressing some of the nation’s most pressing public health challenges, including youth mental health, physician burnout, and gun violence reduction.
Dr. Walker is an accomplished scholar whose research has focused on social determinants of health, firearm injury prevention, and healthcare communication.
His work has been recognized nationally, including runner-up honors for a top paper in the Journal of Healthcare Management, and he serves as a reviewer for several leading scientific journals, including JAMA, Annals of Emergency Medicine, and Public Health Reports.
A native Chicagoan, Dr. Walker grew up in Hyde Park and attended Chicago Public Schools, including Murray Language Academy and Whitney Young Magnet High School.
He also spent two years attending boarding school in Jamaica.
A committed civic leader, Dr. Walker is an alumnus of the Urban League IMPACT program and Leadership Greater Chicago.
He serves on the boards of the Polk Bros. Foundation, Thresholds, and the Chicago Urban League.
He previously served on the Illinois Board of Higher Education and is a member of the Economic Club of Chicago and a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Dr. Walker has received numerous honors recognizing his leadership in healthcare and public service, including Crain’s Chicago Business’ 40 Under 40, Modern Healthcare’s 40 Under 40, the National Minority Quality Forum’s 40 Under 40, the University of Illinois Department of Economics Social Impact Award, and the University of Illinois College of Medicine’s Alumnus of the Year.
Mayor Johnson’s appointment is subject to approval by the City Council.