Bio
Lydia has been in the field of public and correctional health care for more than 25 years. She has developed several models of national significance. Nationally, she was instrumental in developing the discipline of correctional health care as part of the public health continuum of care. Statewide, she developed a pre-release job readiness and education program for the Illinois Department of Corrections, and locally, she developed a comprehensive violence prevention program for the Chicago Police Department.
Lydia started her career at the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC). While there she developed the first national training on HIV/AIDS for correctional health care providers, streamlined NCCHCs accreditation process, and co-authored NCCHCs position statement on the Administrative Management of HIV in Corrections and their position statement on Correctional Heath and the Prevention of Violence. Lydia is also cited in the Congressional Record; Introduction of Resolution Establishing Select Committee on Violence.
After leaving NCCHC, Lydia joined the City of Chicago, Department of Public Health (CDPH). While at the CDPH, Lydia perfected her ability to create new models of national significance. She successfully executed a vision to integrate public health with correctional health care and as a result, secured millions of dollars for the City of Chicago’s public health and corrections long-term sustainability efforts.
As a result of her accomplishments, Lydia was tapped by Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., President and CEO of the national Rainbow/PUSH Coalition to be the its first Health Policy Director. In her role as health policy director, Lydia led the organization’s efforts in raising the issue of correctional health care as part of the Congressional Black Caucus HIV/AIDS initiative. She also produced in collaboration with Black Entertainment Television, two nationally televised town hall meetings: AIDS in the Black Community and HIV in Prison with the latter moderated by former president William Jefferson Clinton. Using a global platform, Lydia convened an international panel that addressed Women and HIV/AIDS. The distinguished panelist included former president William Jefferson Clinton, First Ladies of Nigeria and Haiti and the ambassador of Swaziland.
After leaving PUSH, Lydia received a mayoral appointment to the position of Senior Deputy Director for the District of Columbia’s Department of Health. Lydia holds a Masters of Jurisprudence in Health Law from Loyola University Law School Chicago. Currently, she is a Director at the Civilian Office of Police Accountability in Chicago. When she is not working on social justice issues, Lydia is working on her third novel.
