West Cook News

The Village of Oak Park has appointed Greg Olsen as its new Public Health Director. Village representative Jackson expressed enthusiasm about the appointment, stating, "Oak Park will greatly benefit from Greg’s depth of experience in public health and his understanding of the complex balance between science, policy and the dynamic needs of our community."

Olsen shared his excitement about taking on this role, saying, “I’m excited and honored to be chosen as the next Director of Public Health for the Village of Oak Park.” He emphasized the importance of collaboration in improving community health.

Olsen's career in public health began with roles at Lake County and Kane County Health Departments. His experience includes food safety inspections and water sample analysis. Since 2014, he worked with Evanston’s Health and Human Services Department, most recently as Public Health Manager. During his tenure there, he oversaw various programs including emergency preparedness and response.

In response to COVID-19, Olsen served as Operations Section Chief for Evanston's pandemic efforts. His leadership covered contact tracing and vaccine administration among other areas.

Olsen holds a Bachelor of Science in public health from Northern Illinois University. He also earned a graduate certificate in epidemiology and a Master of Public Health from the University of Illinois - Springfield.

Oak Park is known for its progressive values and cultural attractions like Frank Lloyd Wright’s Unity Temple. The village offers a unique blend of urban/suburban living just outside Chicago.