Durbin Meets with CDC Injury Center Director, Dr. Arwady
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Dr. Allison Arwady, the new Director for the Injury Center within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to discuss legislative efforts to better address trauma and violence, mental health, suicide, and drug overdose. During their meeting, Durbin and Dr. Arwady spoke about Durbin’s bipartisan RISE from Trauma Act, which would reauthorize CDC’s activities and dramatically increase funding for community-based efforts to prevent and mitigate the impact of trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).
Durbin and Dr. Arwady also discussed the Chicago HEAL Initiative, a collaboration of ten major hospitals serving Chicago to address the root causes of gun violence through economic, health, and community projects in 18 of Chicago’s neighborhoods with the highest rates of violence, poverty, and health disparities. During her time leading the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), Dr. Arwady worked with Durbin and the HEAL Initiative hospitals to enhance data-sharing efforts and improve hospital-based violence intervention activities.
“Dr. Arwady guided Chicago through the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating that she is a true leader in public health. I know that CDC made an excellent choice in selecting her as the new director of the Injury Center,” said Durbin. “Today, I met with Dr. Arwady to learn more about her new role to address the leading causes of death nationwide, and discuss how CDC can support the work underway in Illinois to address trauma and community violence.”
A photo of the meeting is available here.
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