Theresa Eagleson to Receive Cook County Health Foundation Ruth Rothstein Award for Excellence
Thursday, September 18, 2025
The Cook County Health Foundation (CCHF) has selected Theresa Eagleson, associate chief strategy officer for the University of Illinois Hospital & Clinics and executive director of Healthcare Strategy in the UIC Office of Population Health Sciences, as the 2025 recipient of the Ruth Rothstein Award for Excellence.
The Ruth Rothstein Award, named after the former chief of the Cook County Department of Health, celebrates an individual who has made a profound impact on the health of Cook County residents
Theresa is a longtime expert and advocate for statewide and national medical assistance programs that support the needs of eligible children, parents, seniors and individuals with disabilities.
Prior to joining UI Health in January 2024, Theresa served as director of the Illinois Department of Healthcare & Family Services (HFS) from 2019–2023, where under her leadership, HFS implemented multiple initiatives for reducing disparities and creating more equitable healthcare and child support systems in Illinois. In this role, she worked with the legislature to pass and implemented an equity-driven Healthcare Transformation Collaboratives (HTC) program to fund innovative projects undertaken by partnerships among providers and community-based organizations, which aim to reduce disparities in healthcare to create better health outcomes in some of the most distressed communities across the state. Her efforts and commitment helped to expand healthcare access, including behavioral healthcare and reproductive healthcare, and created a more customer-centered approach to the delivery of healthcare and child support services for individuals throughout Illinois. She also served as executive director of the University of Illinois System’s Office of Medicaid Innovation from 2014–19.
In nominating Theresa for the award, CCHF Chair Verlon Johnson expressed the following:
Theresa’s decadeslong leadership in strengthening Illinois’ Medicaid program — especially her work with Cook County Health and other safety-net providers — embodies the spirit and legacy of Ruth Rothstein. From her early days as a budget analyst working with County in the '90s to her more recent leadership as the longest-serving Medicaid Director and Cabinet Director for HFS, her commitment to equity, innovation, and community-centered care has been unwavering.
Theresa will be honored at the foundation’s Inaugural Gala Luncheon on Oct. 1.
