State Representative Elizabeth Coulson, of Glenview, Illinois, is currently serving her seventh term in the Illinois General Assembly. Coulson has received numerous awards for her work on issues and legislation affecting seniors, children and the disabled. Representative Coulson recently sponsored and helped pass Illinois' Abandoned Baby legislation that provides a safe haven option and immunity for a mother who might otherwise abandon her baby. She has also worked to expand Illinois' prescription drug programs for seniors and the disabled.

An alumna of Wellesley College and the University of Kansas (B.S. Education), Coulson holds an Advanced Certificate in Physical Therapy from Northwestern University Medical School, and a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Keller Graduate School of Management. A Ph.D. Candidate in the School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago in Health Policy and Administration, Coulson has been a physical therapist since 1977.  She was a Professor and Department Chair at the Chicago Medical School from 1981-2002, teaching physical therapy, health policy and ethics.

The Chicago Tribune in its endorsement called Rep. Coulson, "one of the easiest endorsement choices in the entire legislature. Smart, honest, independent, hard-working and respected on both sides of the aisle, Coulson is a moderate Republican whose genuine interest in public policy is revealed by her mastery of complex policy details..."

Representative Coulson resides in Glenview with her husband Bill Coulson, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney, now a business, copyright and trademark litigation attorney with the firm of Gold & Coulson in Chicago.

Community Activities:

• Advisory Board of the Woman's Network
• Advisory Board to the Department of Public Health on Residential Boarding Homes
• Elder Abuse Task Force
• Pharmaceutical Advisory Board
• Wilpower-Mental Health Community Group, Board Member
• Hands of Peace Advisory Board
• Health and Human Services Committee for the Council of State Governments
• Glenview Community Church
• Glenview Leadership Council
• Glenview Values Project
• Glenview Women of Today
• Character Counts! in Glenview, Advisory Member
• Kiwanis Club of Glenview
• Lions Club of Glenview
• Optimist Club of Glenview
• North Glenview Business and Professional Women's Organization
• North Suburban Education To Careers Partnership Steering Committee
• Glenview Rotary Sunrise Club - Former Member
• Glenview Chamber of Commerce
• Morton Grove Chamber of Commerce
• Northbrook Chamber of Commerce
• Skokie Chamber of Commerce
• Wilmette Chamber of Commerce
• Wilmette Hadassah
• Wilmette Women's Club
• Chicago Botanic Garden, Horticultural Therapy Advisory Committee
• Illinois Poverty Summit Steering Committee
• Pharmaceutical Advisory Board
• Christmas in April, Board Member
• Kids Daycare Scholarships Township
• Educational Advocate, State of Illinois, Department of Children and Family Services
• Northfield Township Committeeman
• Northfield Township Trustee
• Northfield Township Human Services Commission member
• Illinois Board of Education Advocacy Program for Handicapped Children
• Regis Landing Association Board of Directors, President
• Rush North Shore Medical Center, Women's Board Member
• Scoliosis Screening, Districts 207, 64, 49, 46
• Career and College Night - Chicago Area
• Wellesley College Alumni Association, Admissions interviewer
• Northwestern University Medical School Alumni Association       - President, Treasurer, and Consultant for Continuing Education
• United Methodist Youth Group Advisor

Awards Recieved:

2009

• Arthritis Foundation – Greater Chicago Chapter, 2008 Research Advocate Award

• Health Care Council of Illinois, Legislator of the Year Award

2008

• Illinois Children’s Mental Health Partnership, Leadership and Commitment to Children’s Mental Health Award

• Illinois Association of Cosmetology Schools, Legislator of the Year Award

• National Federation of Independent Business, Guardian of Small Business Award

• Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago, Lung Health Champion Award

• Shore Community Services, Inc., Legislator of the Year Award

2007

• Action For Children, the Ounce of Prevention Fund & Voices for Illinois Children, Illinois Early Learning Leader Award

• The American Cancer Society, Leadership in Passing The Smoke-Free Illinois Act Award

• Illinois Health Care Association, Legislator of the Year Award

• Mental Health Association of the North Shore, Leadership Award

• Northwestern University, Distinguished Alumnus of The Year Award

2006

• Action For Children, 2006 Action For Children Award

• Children’s Home & Aid Society of Illinois, Outstanding Leadership and

• Advocacy on Behalf of Children, Youth and Families Receiving Early Childhood, Youth and Family Counseling, and Foster Care Services

• Covering Kids & Families Illinois, Outstanding Leadership Award

• Illinois Nurses Association, Legislator of the Year Award

• Illinois State Crime Commission, Award of Excellence in Government

• Women Health Executives Network, Achievement in Health Care Management Award

2005

• Illinois Association of Social Workers, Legislator of the Year

• Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence, Legislative Advocacy Award

2004

• Business and Professional Women of Illinois, Outstanding Working Woman of Illinois Award

• The Hemophilia Foundation of Illinois, Legislative Award

• Illinois Coalition For Competitive Telecommunications, Friend of Consumer Award

•  Illinois Environmental Council, 100% Voting Record Award

•  Illinois Health Care Association, Legislator of the Year Award

•  Illinois Osteopathic Medical Society, Legislator of the Year Award

•  National Association of Social Workers, Legislator of the Year Award

2003

• Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities in Illinois, Legislator of the Year – Senator Penny Severns Memorial Award

• Illinois Environmental Council, 100% Voting Record Award

• Illinois Health Care Association, Legislator of the Year Award

• Polish American Leadership Initiative, Civic Leadership Recognition Award

2002

• Finch University of Health Sciences/The Chicago Medical School, Award of Recognition for 21 Years of Service

• Illinois Health Care Association, Legislator of the Year Award

• Jewish Council For Youth Services, Shirley and Hilton Leibow Award

• Palliative CareCenter & Hospice of the North Shore, Community Service Award

• Shore Community Services, Inc., Legislator of the Year Award

2001

• Glenkirk, Legislator of the Year Award

• Holocaust Memorial Foundation of Illinois, Award of Recognition

• Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities, Public Policy Award

• International Center on Deafness & Arts, Appreciation for Outstanding Contributions Award

• Illinois Occupational Therapy Association, Award of Appreciation

• Suburban Area Agency on Aging, Legislator of the Year Award

• Voices For Illinois Children, Leadership For Children Award

2000

• Action For Illinois Children, Government Award

• Glenview Senior Club, Award of Appreciation

• Illinois Agricultural Association, Friend of Agriculture Award

• Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence, Legislative Advocacy Award

• Illinois Network of Childcare Resource and Referral Agencies, Certificate of Recognition

• Illinois Park and Recreation Association & Illinois Association of Park Districts with the Glenview Park District, Community Service Award

• Illinois Psychological Association, Outstanding Legislator

• Illinois Public Health Association, Legislative Award of Appreciation

• Jewish United Fund/ Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, Award of Appreciation

• North Shore Senior Center, Award of Recognition

• Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association, Representative of the Year

• Northwest Municipal Conference, Martin J. Butler Legislator of the Year Award
•  Who's Who in America, 54th Edition

1999

• Campaign for Better Health Care, Outstanding Legislator Award

• Chicago Horticultural Society, Medal

• Child Care Coalition of Lake County, Appreciation for Commitment to Lake County Children Award

• Illinois Academy of Physician Assistants, Certificate of Appreciation

1998

• American Physical Therapy Association, Public Service Award

• Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development, Certificate of Completion

• Community Behavioral Healthcare Association of Illinois, Legislator of the Year

• Darden Graduate School of Business Administration/ University of Virginia, Program for Emerging Political Leaders, Certificate of Completion

• Fleming Fellows Leadership Institute - Center for Policy Alternatives, Certificate of Completion

• Illinois Hospital and Healthsystems Association, Outstanding Legislator Award

• Illinois Maternal & Child Health Coalition, Outstanding Legislator Award

• Illinois Physical Therapy Association, Physical Therapist of the Year Award

1997

• Illinois Academy of Physician Assistants, Certificate of Appreciation

• Illinois Coalition of Women Against Rape, Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Award of Appreciation

• Illinois Health Care Association, Outstanding Freshman Legislator of the Year Award

• Illinois Psychiatric Society, The John Locke Award

• Illinois Occupational Therapy Association, Award of Appreciation

• Northfield Township, Outstanding Service Award

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