Contributor

Bechara Choucair, M.D.

Commissioner, Chicago Department of Public Health

Bechara Choucair, M.D., serves as Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health. Appointed Nov. 25, 2009, Dr. Choucair is reshaping the department to meet the public health challenges of the 21st century. Most recently, with the full support of Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Dr. Choucair unveiled “Healthy Chicago,” the first city-wide comprehensive public health agenda. "Healthy Chicago" is a call to action for all Chicagoans to work together on a common vision of making Chicago the healthiest city in the nation.

Born in Beirut, Lebanon, Dr. Choucair earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry (with distinction) in 1993 and a medical diploma in 1997 from the American University of Beirut. From 1997 to 2000, he completed his Family Medicine Residency at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. In 2009 he earned a Master's Degree in Health Care Management from the University of Texas at Dallas.

From 2001 to 2005, Dr. Choucair served as Medical Director of Crusader Community Health in Rockford, Ill. From 2005 to 2009, he was Executive Director of Heartland International Health Center. He holds an adjunct associate professor title at the Department of Family & Community Medicine at Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University.

You may follow Dr. Choucair on Twitter at @choucair.