Ayesha Akhtar

Ayesha Akhtar is the Vice President of Health Equity, Education & Advocacy, following her roles as Director of Education and Education Coordinator with the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago, since 2011. Ayesha holds a BBA in accounting from Loyola University Chicago and an MPH from the University of Illinois-Chicago.

With over 20 years of experience as a public health advocate in diverse settings, Ayesha is deeply committed to advancing health equity by empowering and educating communities. Her research focuses on the epilepsy social determinants of health, studied through a population health lens, with a particular emphasis on ensuring underserved and underrepresented communities have access to specialized care.

“The idea that some lives matter less is the root of all that is wrong with the world.” – Dr. Paul Farmer

Five Interesting Facts About Ayesha

Favorite movie
The Birdcage

Favorite thing to do in Chicago
Run on the lakefront trail

Famous person you would most like to meet
Dr. Paul Farmer

First job
Cashier at Nordstrom

Advice that you would give to your teenage self
Take the semester abroad. Try different jobs. Keep traveling (at least as much as I am dong now!)