Julie Morita

Before joining The Joyce Foundation, Julie Morita was executive vice president at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, leading efforts to dismantle systemic barriers to racial and health equity. Previously, Julie served nearly 20 years with the Chicago Department of Public Health, including as commissioner, where she launched Healthy Chicago 2.0and chaired the Health in All Policies Task Force. ​

​Born and raised in Chicago, her passion for justice is rooted in her family’s history — her parents were incarcerated in a Japanese American internment camp during World War II. ​

​Julie began her career as a pediatrician before joining the CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service. She has advised the White House, CDC, and others, and is a member of the National Academy of Medicine. ​

​She holds degrees from the University of Illinois and lives with her husband, William Trick, and their two children, Megan and Jake.