ABOUT CHIEF BURNETT-ZEIGLER
I am Dr. Inger Burnett-Zeigler, and I will lead the Chief Behavioral Health Office, in coordination with relevant State agencies, including Children and Family Services, Healthcare and Family Services, Human Services, Public Health and Corrections. In this collaborative effort, my team will work to transform how Illinois supports the mental health, wellness and functioning of residents across our great state, particularly those most in need.
I am a licensed clinical psychologist, most recently serving as an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. I have over two decades of clinical experience providing psychological interventions to help people with stress, trauma, and mood and anxiety conditions.
My scholarly work has focused on the role that structural and social determinants of health play in disparities in mental illness in treatment. I have led research to develop, test, and implement evidence based culturally tailored interventions in community-based settings. As a part of this work, I partnered with community-based organizations to increase access and engagement in mental health interventions, expand staff capacity, and provide mental health education to communities.
I am actively engaged in the community and have served on several non-profit and government boards. I am a frequent contributor to the public discourse on mental health and trauma have been featured in multiple national media outlets, including the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, and CNN.
I received my undergraduate degree in psychology from Cornell University, my doctorate in clinical psychology from Northwestern University, and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the VA Ann Arbor/University of Michigan. I am a proud south-side Chicagoan that enjoys the arts, yoga, and travel.
I am honored to serve the State of Illinois in my new role as Chief Behavioral Health Officer and look forward to working with you to ensure Illinois has the best behavioral health system in the country.
