Nirav Shah Illinois
Director in Chicago, IL
A longtime resident of Chicago, Illinois, Dr. Nirav Shah earned a JD from the University of Chicago Law School and an MD from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. Highlights of his career include a seven-year tenure as an attorney in the Global Life Sciences Group of the Chicago law firm Sidley Austin.
From January 2015 to February 2019, Dr. Nirav Shah served as Director and cabinet member of the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). This position enabled him to make significant inroads toward solving multiple public health issues including the opioid crisis, maternal mortality, childhood lead poisoning, and outbreaks of foodborne illnesses. Under his direction, IDPH also launched its Infant At Work initiative, a program that allowed parents to bring their very young children to work.
Outside of the professional arena, Dr. Shah enjoys spending time with his family. His other favorite pastimes include cooking, reading, and spending time with his dog.