155: Full Circle in Public Health: Supporting The Passing of Seizure Smart School Act in Illinois with Ayesha Akhtar, MPH

Interview with Ayesha Akhtar, MPH

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Highlights from this episode:

1. The collaboration and work it took to be a part of authoring a piece of legislation called the Illinois Seizure Smart School Act which makes seizures first aid mandatory for all school personnel k-12
2. Knowing your path through defining your personal mission statement and knowing your whys.
3. Taking the knowledge from a bachelors of business administration and applying that to her master of public health and public health journey

Episode 155 of Public Health Careers

Ayesha Akhtar, MPH is the Director of Education at the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago. She is also a nationally-recognized public health educator and policy expert with a professional focus on epilepsy and a passion for improving maternal care inequities. She was part of the Illinois Seizure Smart School Act in Illinois.

She conferred a Bachelor in Business Administration in Accounting at Loyola University Chicago.

After graduating she worked in several positions. These included a Research Assistant at Hines VA Hospital, a Consultant at Department of Health and Human Services, a Consultant at University of Illinois Chicago.

Ayesha is the Co-Founder and was the Program manager at HEART Women & Girls Project.

She got her Master of Public Health in Health Policy Administration at University of Illinois Chicago.

Ayesha is currently the Director of Education at Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago. She started here as an Education Coordinator at Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago then transitioned to a Master Trainer in Diversity & Cultural Awareness then moved into her current position as Director of Education.

She is also a Running Ambassador for Every Mother Counts and a Certified Personal Trainer.