Christie Edwards, MPH

Christie Edwards is a seasoned public health professional with over a decade of experience in healthcare systems, community health, and program management. Her career spans critical roles in academic institutions, hospitals, and public health networks  where she has demonstrated a consistent ability to lead, innovate, and foster meaningful community engagement. 

Christie previously worked as the Program Manager for the Community-based Research Network (C3EN) at Rush University Medical Center. In this capacity, she developed and implemented partnership strategies, built relationships with community-based organizations, and provided strategic guidance to address health disparities and chronic conditions. In addition, Christie managed grant-funded programs, such as integrative medicine initiatives, and supported grants for addiction medicine at Cook County Health. She was instrumental in developing data-informed approaches to improve care delivery, supporting provider training, and optimizing operational processes for behavioral health and substance use disorder services.  

Christie has also worked with academic programs, where she supported preventive medicine residency training and palliative medicine fellowships, emphasizing curriculum development, quality improvement, and inter-institutional collaboration.  

Beyond her professional endeavors, Christie is passionate about holistic wellness and is a certified Reiki Master, herbalist and sound healer. She blends her dedication to public health with a commitment to promoting healing and balance in her personal and professional life. Christie is a proud Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated member. She holds a Master of Public Health degree in Community Health Sciences from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Northwestern University.