Idowu to Lead Illinois' Community Health Center Association

SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois' association for community health centers has a new leader.

The Illinois Primary Health Care Association today is out with news that Ollie Idowu is the association's new President and CEO. Idowu is no stranger to IPHCA, having worked at the association several years ago and promising to put his many years of health care leadership experience to work for community health centers in the new role.

Read more about his appointment in IPHCA's announcement:

Today, the Board of Directors of the Illinois Primary Health Care Association, which represents the state’s 52 community health centers, announced that Ollie Idowu (pronounced EE-doh-woo) has been named its new President and Chief Executive Officer.

Idowu's 20-year career includes leadership roles in state government, public health and in the Medicaid business. He returns to IPHCA having served the association as IPHCA’s Director of State Policy and Government Affairs from 2010 to 2012. Most recently, Idowu led Community Engagement for SHIELD Illinois, the University of Illinois’ saliva-based COVID-19 PCR test. Prior to that, he led Alliance Development and Regulatory Affairs at WellCare Health Plans in Chicago.

“It is a great honor to welcome Ollie back to IPHCA,” said Kenneth Burnett, Chairperson of the IPHCA Board and CEO at Christian Community Health Center. “Community Health Centers serve a critical role in public health, ensuring equitable access to care for Illinois’ underserved communities. The past year has shown how dire that need is, as it is no secret that underserved communities have been adversely affected by the pandemic. Now more than ever, it is critical to ensure that healthcare remains accessible to all who need it. The Board looks forward to working with Ollie as he leads our association into the future.”

“Ensuring equitable access to care for everyone is at the core of IPHCA’s mission, as well as my own,” said Idowu. “After serving on the government affairs team at IPHCA many years ago, I always found my work had connections back to the CHC community. I approach this role with ambition and humility, and I’m honored and empowered by the confidence the board is placing in me. I am eager to begin executing on the vision I have for IPHCA that ensures every person and community across the state can access the cutting-edge, compassionate care they need to thrive.”

Born in Chicago, Idowu grew up in Lagos, Nigeria, and lives in Geneva, IL, with his family. He received his bachelor’s degree from Eureka College, his master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Illinois at Springfield and a Juris Doctor from Western Michigan University’s Thomas M. Cooley Law School.

About Illinois Primary Health Care Association (IPHCA)

IPHCA is a non-profit trade association that represents community health centers throughout the state. Illinois’ 52 community health centers provide comprehensive, integrated primary care including medical, behavioral, and oral health care to nearly 1.5 million patients annually across nearly 400 service sites in underserved rural, urban, and suburban communities.

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