HEALTH & WELLNESS

MEET OUR HEALTH AND WELLNESS DIRECTOR

Dr. Yolanda Coleman, PhD, MS, RN, FACHE, NEA-BC

Dr. Yolanda A. Coleman is an influential leader in the healthcare industry. She has held many executive administrative roles in healthcare for several prominent hospitals in the Chicago metropolitan area. She has served as a Chief Nurse Executive at Weiss Memorial Hospital. She has served as a Vice President of Patient Care Services/ Chief Nursing Officer for Midwest Regional Healthcare/CTCA. She has worked as an Assistant Chief Nursing Officer and Executive Director of Care Transformation at Sinai Healthcare System. Dr. Coleman's previous positions held also include, the Assistant Vice President of Nursing at Saint Anthony Hospital, as well as an Assistant Professor of Nursing for Resurrection now Oak Point University. In addition, she served as the Director of Walter Payton Liver Center and Transplant/Surgical Services at UI Health and Administrative Director for Loyola Health. Dr. Coleman is not only a leader; she is a healthcare strategist, consultant, and researcher.

Dr. Coleman graduated from Marquette University in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in Medical Technology and a minor in Chemistry. She earned her Master’s in Nursing from DePaul University where she has served as an Executive Board member for the Black Alumni Association. She is a founding board member for the Ezekiel Taylor Scholarship Foundation, and Bylaws Chair for the Illinois Nurse Leader Association. She was named a Nurse Expert on Education by the American Nurse Association of Illinois. In 2021, she was selected into CHIEF, a network for executive women. In 2012, Dr. Coleman received her Doctorate in Nursing from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Dr. Coleman focused on breast cancer research. Dr. Coleman is a volunteer for Susan G. Komen and a guest speaker in the community and for organizations. She is also a certified Nurse Executive and a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). She has served on the Regent Advisory Council for ACHE. Dr. Coleman was appointed to the American Nurses Association Expert Panel for Education. Dr. Coleman is currently the President of the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing Alumni board. Dr. Coleman as served on several external advisory board for colleges and universities. In 2018, Dr. Coleman was awarded the Illinois Nurse Leader Community Effort Award and Influential Leader nominee. In 2022, Dr. Coleman was nominated for a Women Who Inspires Award.

Dr. Yolanda Coleman uses her talents and skills to create life changing moments in people’s lives. While maintaining a balance as a mom, professional nurse leader, and educator, Dr. Coleman continues to carry out her services to the community as she teaches students and serves as mentor for young girls and women. She can measure her success not only by the impact she has on others but by creating and generating something that gives not only her life meaning, purpose, and direction but others she comes in contact with. “Each day, I am thankful for my family, peers, and employees who keep me motivated to continue to pursue service and excellence,” says Dr. Coleman. “Advanced education is something so worthwhile that I’ve invested my life within it.

August 2026

Health Awareness Observances in August 2026

August 2026 features several important health awareness observances, including World Breastfeeding Week and World Lung Cancer Day, aimed at promoting health education and preventive measures. These observances serve to raise awareness about various health issues and encourage community engagement in health-related activities.

Several key health observances take place in August 2026.

World Breastfeeding Week — Celebrated from August 1, this week promotes the benefits of breastfeeding for both infants and mothers.
World Lung Cancer Day — Observed on August 1, this day raises awareness about lung cancer and encourages screening.
Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month — This month focuses on raising awareness and supporting research for Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a genetic neuromuscular disease.
National Immunization Awareness Month — Aimed at highlighting the importance of vaccinations, this observance encourages communities to stay informed about immunization schedules.
National Health Center Week — Celebrated in the second week of August, this week recognizes the services provided by health centers across the country.

American Association of Neurological Surgeons Neurosurgery Awareness Month 8/1/2026 - 8/31/2026 The goal of #NeurosurgeryAwarenessMonth is to bring neurological conditions to the forefront and share knowledge that will enlighten the public to what it means to live with and be treated for these conditions. For more information visit: aans.org/en/ Media/Neurosurgery-Awareness-Month

National Psoriasis Foundation Psoriasis Action Month 8/1/2026 - 8/31/2026 Psoriasis is a debilitating disease that impacts more than 8 million individuals in the U.S. and 125 million people worldwide. Psoriasis Action Month was created to generate awareness of the disease and to provide resources and information for people living with psoriasis. For more information, visit: www.psoriasis.org/psoriasis-action-month/

American Lung Association National Immunization Awareness Month 8/1/2026 - 8/31/2026 Vaccines aren’t just for kids. Approximately 40,000 to 50,000 adults in the U.S. die from vaccine-preventable infectious diseases or their complications each year. During National Immunization Awareness Month, make sure you’re up to date on your vaccinations. For more information, visit: lung.org/flu or www. lung.org/lung-health-diseases/wellness/vaccines

Cure SMA Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month 8/1/2026 - 8/31/2026 Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects the motor nerve cells in the spinal cord and impacts the muscles used for activities such as breathing, eating, crawling, and walking. SMA Awareness Month is meant to increase awareness of the rare disease known as SMA. For more information, visit: www.curesma.org

National Breast feeding Month. 8/1 /2026 - 8/7/2026. Each year in the first week of August, National WIC Breastfeeding Week is hosted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and celebrated in conjunction with World Breastfeeding Week to promote and support breastfeeding as the best source of nutrition for a baby. U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack issued a proclamation to declare August 1-7 National WIC Breastfeeding Week. The observance recognizes the 50 years of notable contributions of the WIC Program's breastfeeding promotion and support activities. For more information, visit: https://wicworks.fns.usda.gov/topic/health-observances/national-wic-breastfeeding-week

National (Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation) Multicultural Action Group (NMAG) National Minority Donor Awareness Month (NMDAM) 8/1/2026 - 8/31/2026 National Minority Donor Awareness Month is an observance designed to save and improve the quality of life of diverse communities by creating a positive culture for organ, eye, and tissue donation. It is a collaborative initiative of the National (Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation) Multicultural Action Group (NMAG) and several established organ, eye, and tissue organizations, multicultural and minority education associations, and national transplantation foundations. The aim is to bring heightened awareness to donation and transplantation in multicultural communities with a primary focus on African American, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, and Native American communities. For more information, visit: donatelife.net/howyou-can-help/national-observances-celebrations/ national-minority-donor-awareness-month/

National Association of Community Health Centers National Health Center Week 8/2/2026 - 8/8/2026 Every year, the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) joins together with state primary care associations to showcase the work health centers do and deliver a strong message nationwide for health centers and their patients. During this week, we celebrate the long record of success and delivery of high-quality, cost-effective and accessible care across the nation. For more information, visit: www.healthcenterweek.org

International Overdose Awareness Day 8/31/2026 - 8/31/2026 Every August 31, International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) brings a global community together to take action on overdose. This annual campaign aims to end overdoses, remember without stigma those who have died, and acknowledge the grief of the family and friends left behind. For more information, visit: www.overdoseday.com