INFANT WELFARE SOCIETY WELCOMES
JOHN WILHELM, MD, MPH,
AS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The Infant Welfare Society of Chicago Board of Directors is pleased to name John Wilhelm, MD, MPH, 61, as Executive Director of the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago.
“Dr. Wilhelm has a unique blend of experience in public health and working with underserved communities that is perfectly suited to the Executive Director position at Infant Welfare,” said Linda Celesia, President, Board of Directors. “He has been an active member of our Board of Directors for more than 10 years and is a longtime supporter of Infant Welfare’s mission and goals.”
Dr. Wilhelm served as Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health from December 2000 to June 2005. He previously was Bureau Chief for Public Health and Deputy Commissioner for Medical Affairs. For 13 years he worked with Project HOPE in international program development in Latin America and the Caribbean and as the Regional Director for the Americas.
Dr. Wilhelm is a graduate of Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine in Chicago. He completed a residency in obstetrics and gynecology, a fellowship in endocrinology and a master’s degree in public health.
“I am pleased and quite honored to have been selected by the Infant Welfare Society Board of Directors as its Executive Director,” said Dr. Wilhelm. “This is a wonderful chance to be of service to Infant Welfare and the communities and people it cares for; I look forward to the opportunities and successes that lie ahead.”
Dr. Wilhelm replaces outgoing Executive Director Cheryl Byers, who led Infant Welfare during the past three years during the construction and grand opening in April of the Angel Harvey Infant Welfare Society of Chicago Community Health Center.
The Angel Harvey Infant Welfare Society of Chicago Community Health Center is a four-story, 40,000-square-foot facility at 3600 West Fullerton in Logan Square and features modern medical exam rooms, a dedicated ophthalmology suite, an expanded dental clinic with state-of-the-art operatories , a 1,240 square-foot community room and more. This facility will be nearer to those it serves and make health care more accessible to children and women in need.
Founded in 1911, the Infant Welfare Society was an early pioneer and advocate for child and maternal health. Infant Welfare provides pediatric care; obstetrics, gynecology and preventive health care for women; pediatric dental care and orthodontics; family counseling and therapy; and educational programs in parenting, child development and literacy. The bilingual staff provides health care services in Logan Square, a predominantly Hispanic community, and plans to expand its services to include other populations living in the northwest corridor. Last year, Infant Welfare provided services to more than 7,700 children and women, and dental services to 4,500 children.
