By: Ashmar Mandou
For the past six years, Elizabeth Dominick, commissioner for the Cicero Health Department, has devoted her time to bettering the health of the town’s residents; a job that, according to Dominick, leaves her restless. “My mind is constantly thinking about what else we can do for this town,” said Dominick. “I want to bring the best programs and services. I want to make sure we continue to keep health a top priority.”
As the wife of Cicero Town President Larry Dominick, Ms. Dominick assures she is not one to stand in the shadow of her husband. From a young age, Dominick felt it her duty to help her fellow man and represent her country the best way she knew how. “My mother is from Mexico and my father is from Spain, so there was always this sense of patriotism in my household,” said Dominick. Initially, Dominick’s plan was to represent her country by entering into the Olympics, but a car accident put a halt to her dreams. “It was a sad time for me. I wanted to join the Olympics and be part of the running team so bad. I practiced everyday, entered into every competition I could.” Instead, Dominick opted for the next big thing. With her parents blessing, Dominick joined the military as a trauma nurse. “Having experienced a traumatic episode so young in my life I realized how important caregivers were. From that moment emerged my life’s mission to help others in need,” said Dominick. Serving two tours to Iraq and Afghanistan Dominick truly found her calling in life. “I enjoyed every moment I was with the troops. There were days that were harder than others, but I learned so much.”
When Dominick decided to step away from her duty to concentrate on her personal life she received the call from Larry to join the health department of Cicero. “At first I was hesitant because I assumed it was a desk position,” she said. “I had just gotten back from one of my tours to the Middle East, so I wasn’t looking to work just yet.” However, after a little convincing Dominick decided to give it a shot to see what would unfold. “It was definitely difficult in the beginning,” laughed Dominick. “We started off in the old office building with just one room for the health department that we had to share with another department. So I had to push for more space, for more funds, and more resources so that we could better assist community members.”
From a one room medical clinic, Dominick and her administration moved to their own center in the new Cicero Town Hall building, which housed several eye exam rooms, a social work department, and a play area for children. “That was my biggest goal since I started,” said Dominick. “It’s amazing to see how we have grown in the last six years and I hope to continue to provide more resources for the people of Cicero.” If you would like to learn more about the Cicero Health Department, visit www.thetownofcicero.com.
