Health & Medicine announces a significant leadership transition as longtime Executive Director Margie Schaps prepares to retire after more than three decades of visionary service and advocacy.
Margie will officially step down from her role at the end of September 2025. Effective October 1, Gita Krishnaswamy, currently Health & Medicine’s Deputy Director, will serve as Interim Executive Director while the organization undertakes a national search for permanent leadership.
Under Margie’s leadership, Health & Medicine has grown from a small policy advocacy think tank into a trusted voice for health justice across Illinois. Her leadership helped shape landmark initiatives on aging equity, reproductive justice, public health workforce development, and safety net strengthening, advancing systemic change while nurturing countless coalitions and advocates along the way.
“It has been a privilege to serve as the leader of this extraordinary organization,” Margie said. “I am proud of what we have accomplished over these decades, while at the same time daunted by the challenges facing public health today. I am confident that Health & Medicine is in a unique position of strength to tackle the challenges in front of us, and I look forward to seeing the impact that Health & Medicine will continue to make to support a more just, equitable, and healthy Illinois.”
Gita Krishnaswamy brings deep expertise in participatory public health practice, problem analysis and systems thinking, and community engagement to her new role. As Deputy Director, she has been instrumental in providing strategic oversight of projects, leading staff development and capacity-building, and designing our 2024-2027 strategic plan. Her thoughtful leadership and commitment to equity have made her a trusted voice both within the organization and across statewide advocacy networks.
“For decades, Health & Medicine has been a home for people who believe that justice is not a side project of public health—it’s the heart of what we do,” Gita said. “Our mission and values put forth a bold vision for what our field can accomplish when we challenge conventional wisdom, relentlessly pursue policy and systems change that meaningfully improve the conditions that support health, and operationalize our core belief that systems should reflect the needs and wisdom of the people they serve. I’m honored to provide continuity and stability for our organization as Interim Executive Director and work alongside our staff whose integrity and passion show up not only in what we advocate for but in how we work together. In this next chapter, I’m committed to strategic, relational, and values-driven leadership that allows Health & Medicine’s people and mission to thrive.”
As always, Health & Medicine remains committed to its mission to build power and momentum for social justice and health equity in Illinois.