Editor's note 10/21/21

One of this state's wicked problems is that health in Illinois isn't equal or equitable. The George Floyd protests in the midst of a pandemic were a stark reminder that Black Lives don't last as long as others, and that racial and low-income health disparities have been neglected. Dr. Ngozi Ezike, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, has ideas and energy to use lessons learned from COVID-19 to eliminate barriers that leave whole groups behind. As she explained during an Oct. 19 webinar, her solutions go well beyond vaccines, though those are necessary. Ezike's vision includes: Continued robust funding, not just now but for the long term. Increased trust from underserved communities, developed through honest communication over time. And attracting new young leaders to the exciting field of public health. "This is the most noble work that people can do," she says. –Fletcher Farrar, editor