Darlene Oliver Hightower, J.D., Vice President, Community Health Equity, is responsible for a team of 40 staff who oversee the implementation and evaluation of community programs aimed at improving the health of individuals in Rush’s community areas.  She oversees the Office of Community Health Equity and Engagement, which includes 3 school-based health clinics; Rush University community outreach programs, community benefit reporting, and Rush’s cradle to career healthcare pipeline programs.  Darlene is also a member of the senior leadership team for West Side United, a cross-sector, collective impact collaborative aimed at improving health and economic vitality on Chicago’s West Side.
Prior to joining Rush, Darlene was National Vice President of Programs for Public Allies, Inc.  Darlene has served as a Chicago Community Trust Leadership Fellow, a University of Chicago Civic Leadership Academy Fellow, and an Administrative Law Judge for the Chicago Department of Human Relations. Additionally, she was recently named a Culture of Health Leader Fellow with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Darlene attended Bradley University (graduating with high honors) and received her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington D.C.