stacie ko, BSph | community outreach specialist, Chronic and infectious diseases

Stacie was born and raised in the Chicagoland area and obtained her Bachelor’s of Science in Public Health with a concentration in Community Health and Medical Sciences at Indiana University. Following her college career, while at IU Health Hospital, she was involved in various programs including tobacco cessation, safety, and nutrition in the community health department. Stacie played a key role in overseeing health policies, health communication, grants, and program development. This strengthened her skills in community-based research and education, program planning, and allowed her to successfully implement strategies using different interventions and approaches. This experience solidified her desire to improve health equity for people of all ages and cultures. Stacie also serves on the board as the External Affairs Chair for a non-profit organization Sisters in Public Health and is a freelance health writer.

Coming from a family of Filipino immigrants in the medical field, Stacie always had a love for science and health. It was after her grandmother’s death due to diabetes complications that she strived to improve access to care and health education. Because of this, Stacie wants to ensure that the language barriers, socioeconomic status, and social norms among different cultures and generations is taken into consideration in order to successfully improve health disparities and the quality of care amongst marginalized groups.

 Stacie is the Community Outreach Specialist for Chronic and Infectious Diseases (CID). She works to advance policy, system, and environmental strategies through evidence-based community and clinic interventions centered around CID including diabetes, hepatitis, cardiovascular disease, and COVID-19. Stacie develops, implements, and evaluates program education and outreach strategy materials aimed at reducing morbidity and premature mortality among Asian American, foreign-born African, and other communities across the Chicago metropolitan area.

 Aside from her professional life, Stacie loves to read, write, bake, travel, and explore nature. Her current creative outlets include jewelry making and art.