Health & Medicine warmly welcomes Amy Lulich, MHA, Rene D. Luna, Yadira Montaya, MSPH, and Olyvia Phillips, MPH, MBA, to our board of directors.  

“We are delighted to welcome our four new board members to Health & Medicine’s family. Each of them brings a wealth of experience and a profound commitment to public health, social justice, and community development. Their diverse backgrounds and expertise are not just assets but essential elements that will undoubtedly enrich our mission and impact,” said Executive Director Margie Schaps. 

Amy Lulich, MHA, is an expert in healthcare policy and strategic planning. Amy brings over a decade of experience in healthcare policy, value-based care, strategic planning, and program management. As the director of outreach and business development for La Rabida Children’s Hospital, she leads government relations, manages relationships with referring providers, and engages external organizations around the hospital’s mission. 

Previously, as the senior policy advisor at the Illinois Department on Aging, Amy provided critical analysis on the impact of state and federal policies on older adults. She spearheaded the development and implementation of the Fiscal Years 2022-2024 State Plan on Aging, a key document outlining the department’s goals and objectives. Her previous roles at Advocate Aurora Health, UI Health, and in Governor Pat Quinn’s administration reflect her comprehensive expertise in the field. Amy completed her Master of Healthcare Administration at the University of Illinois-Chicago, School of Public Health, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Marquette University. 

Rene D. Luna is a trailblazer in disability rights and advocacy. Rene’s journey as a disability rights activist began with his pivotal role in the successful grassroots campaign with Chicago Adapt, making CTA buses and trains wheelchair accessible in the 1980s. Joining Access Living in 1987, Rene dedicated nearly three decades to various roles, including programs director, research, and policy analyst, before retiring in 2016. 

His advocacy extended to collaborating with LGBTQ activists, contributing to the passage of the Chicago Human Rights Ordinance and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Rene’s efforts in coordinating advocacy and networking with the Service Employees International Union led to increased wages for homecare workers. He also played a key role in reversing discriminatory policies in Chicago Public Schools and advocating for immigrants with disabilities. Holding a Bachelor of Science in Political Theory and a Master of Arts in Community Development, Rene’s research has significantly impacted social security, employment policy, and services for Latinos with disabilities. 

Yadira Montoya, MSPH, can be best described as a champion for public health and racial justice. Yadira Montoya, a Mexican immigrant raised in Chicago’s Little Village, has over fifteen years of experience spanning academia, non-profit, and philanthropy. Recognized as a Culture of Health Leader by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in 2019, Yadira is currently the programs director at the National Alliance for Caregiving. 

Her work focuses on building health, wealth, and equity for family caregivers in the US. Yadira’s prior roles include serving as a program officer at the Lloyd A. Fry Foundation and a research scientist at NORC at the University of Chicago. She is a founding member of La BROCHA, a community arts program for Latinx older adults. Yadira holds a Bachelor’s in Community Health and a Master of Science in Public Health from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 

Olyvia Phillips, MPH, MBA, is a leader in health equity and diversity initiatives. Olyvia is at the forefront of health equity and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at MATTER, a global healthcare technology incubator. Her strategic direction and support are pivotal in advancing health equity in healthcare technology and innovation. 

Olyvia’s passion for public health has led her to work on various initiatives aimed at improving healthcare access and quality. Her experience includes roles with the American Academy of Pediatrics and its Illinois Chapter. An Albert Schweitzer Fellowship recipient, she also mentors in the community and social justice fields. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences from DePaul University and dual master’s degrees in public health and business administration from Benedictine University. 

These new board members are poised to make significant contributions to Health & Medicine’s ongoing efforts to address critical health issues and disparities. We are excited to welcome Rene, Yadira, Olyvia, and Amy to our team.