Tracey Smith serves as the Associate Executive Director for Public Health Practice at the Illinois Public Health Association (IPHA), where she leads statewide initiatives to strengthen community health, advance health equity, and support the public health workforce.

 

She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree with a focus on health literacy and holds a Master’s in Community Health Nursing with a minor in Multicultural Nursing. Prior to joining IPHA, she served as Population Health Manager at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, where she guided the integration of trauma-aware policies, training, and procedures into clinical and community settings.
 

Dr. Smith brings extensive experience across healthcare, public health, and community systems. She has designed and led programs that embed Community Health Workers (CHWs) into interdisciplinary teams serving police departments, schools, healthcare clinics, and community-based organizations. She played a pivotal role in establishing one of the first CHW training programs in downstate Illinois and continues to advance the CHW workforce through training, capacity-building, and policy leadership.
 

A recognized trainer and advocate for trauma awareness, she has worked with organizations across Illinois to implement trauma-informed practices and deliver trainings to diverse audiences statewide. She also serves as a Representative on the Illinois Alzheimer’s Disease Advisory Committee and the Community Health Worker Review Board.
 

Tracey resides in Springfield, Illinois with her family. Outside of work, she enjoys paddle boarding and spending time outdoors.
 

Representative on the Alzheimer's Disease Advisory Committee and the Workforce and Training Subcommittee. 
She lives in Springfield, IL with her family. She loves to paddle board.