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Pathways to Lead Exposure - Lead Poisoning Prevention Month*
Part of the IOMC's "Preventive Medicine Series"
October 29, 2026
Live Webinar
12:00 PM CT - 1:30 PM CT
The Lead Abatement Resource Center Foundation
Illinois Chapter- American Academy of Pediatrics
Join the progress against childhood lead poisoning.
Leading into the Institute of Medicine of Chicago's "Preventive Medicine Series," National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week is October 25-31, 2026 and it is also Children's Health Month.
IOMC proudly joins the global, national and local initiative to prevent childhood lead poisoning.
*October marks Lead Poisoning Prevention Month—a critical opportunity to spotlight the serious risks of lead exposure, particularly for children (US Environmental Protection Agency).
National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (NLPPW) will take place October 25–31, 2026. This collaborative effort, led by the U.S. EPA, CDC, and HUD, unites organizations and communities to amplify awareness and drive action. The 2026 national theme, "Keep Kids Safe from Lead," calls on everyone to work together to eliminate lead hazards and protect children’s futures. The Lead Abatement Resource Center Foundation's (LARC Foundation) mission is to protect and eliminate blood lead levels in children. They do this through education, advocacy, and research on the child, the family, and the community.
Lead poisoning continues to endanger children’s health across the country. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) estimates that 3.3 million families with a child under age six are at risk due to lead-based paint hazards in their homes. In addition in Chicago, lead pipes replacement projects are underway. Even minimal lead exposure can significantly impact a child’s intellect, concentration, behavior, and academic performance. NLPPW shines a spotlight on the proactive steps parents, caregivers, and communities can take to safeguard children and prevent the lifelong consequences of lead exposure.
The CDC urges blood testing to identify lead exposure early. Blood lead levels (BLLs), measured in micrograms per deciliter (μg/dL), provide critical information for health interventions. Healthcare professionals are advised to follow CDC guidelines for interpreting both screening and confirmatory BLL results. Timely action after testing can make all the difference in a child’s health trajectory.
IOMC is a collaborative research partner in preventative health, disease prevention, environmental health, and community health management. IOMC's Programmatic Focus includes Maternal & Child Health and Pathways to Lead Exposure.
Learning Objectives
By attending this webinar, you are:
- Supporting Lead Poisoning Prevention Month, a dedicated time to raise awareness about the dangers of lead exposure, especially in children.
- Learning the facts on children's blood lead testing, including early detection.
- Obtaining valuable information, as all children in Chicago are at risk for lead poisoning (CDPH).
- Acquiring information on lead exposure symptoms and co-occurring symptoms and their relationship to developmental delays and disabilities.
- Identifying how to move forward and protecting children and families.
SPEAKERS
Barry S. Eisenberg, CAE, MA
Fellow, IOMC
Chairman, Lead Abatement Resource Center Foundation
Barry S. Eisenberg joined the Board of the LARC Foundation in 2018 and became Board Chair in 2020. He is a leading advocate for preventing lead exposure especially in children for the LARC Foundation.
In 2017, he retired as Executive Director of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) – a position he held since 2001. Prior to joining ACOEM, Mr. Eisenberg was employed at the American Medical Association (AMA) in Chicago, where he held a number of positions in economic research, strategic planning, health policy development, and as Vice President for Membership and Information Services.
Previously he served as a member of the Board of Directors of the American Association of Medical Society Executives (AAMSE). He was elected as a Fellow of the Institute of Medicine of Chicago (IOMC) in 2004 and served in a variety of leadership capacities within the Institute, including as President from 2012-2015. Mr. Eisenberg holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Economics and Mathematics from the University of Illinois in Urbana, Ill., and Roosevelt University in Chicago.
Deborah L. Schwartz, MD
Director, Lurie Children’s Lead Evaluation Program
Attending Physician, Advanced General Pediatrics and Primary Care, Lurie Children’s Hospital
Instructor of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Representing: Illinois Chapter - American Academy of Pediatrics
Dr. Deborah L. Schwartz is the medical director of the Lead Evaluation Program at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, where she also practices general pediatrics in the division of Advanced General Pediatrics & Primary Care. She graduated from Albert Einstein College of Medicine and completed her residency in pediatrics at Northwestern University. She is a board certified pediatrician and Instructor of Pediatrics at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
Gloria E. Barrera, MSN, RN, PEL-CSN
Fellow, IOMC
Director, RN-BSN -School of Nursing, UOI- Chicago
Certified School Nurse
Ms. Barrera, is a public health nurse leader, experienced school nurse, educator, and innovator whose career reflects a deep commitment to advancing health equity and empowering nurses to create meaningful change. She serves as the Director of an RN to BSN Program at a University, where she leads one of the nation’s top-ranked online nursing programs.
An expert in public health, and a recently published author, Ms. Barrera is a nationally recognized speaker on issues affecting school-aged children and the intersection of health, education, and policy. As the first Latina President of the Illinois Association of School Nurses, she launched the state’s first School Nurse Lobby Day, secured funding for the School Nurse Capacity Study, strengthened engagement with members, and led the development of the School Nurse Toolkit on Vaccines. She has more than 16 years of experience in school nursing, and continues her passion for the specialty while pursuing her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. A visionary leader, she designs programs that cultivate advocacy, leadership, and professional growth. She co-founded the Society of Latinx Nurses (SOLN) to promote representation and leadership within the profession.
About the LARC Foundation
The Lead Abatement Resource Center Foundation (LARC Foundation) is an independent nonprofit organization (501c3) dedicated to eliminating positive blood levels in children. We do this through education, advocacy, and research on the child, the family, and the community.
In children especially, a positive blood lead level results in cognitive impairment and a lifetime of mental and physical health challenges. There is no acceptable level of lead exposure.
Today, we are engaged in a broad lead awareness campaign focused on communities where there is a known propensity of measured blood lead levels in children. Our program framework describes the primary sources of lead contamination; offers practical prevention methods, and identifies resources for testing, evaluation, care, and if necessary, remediation.
The LARC “framework,” addresses public health, healthcare, and environmental issues.
We are evaluating, implementing, advocating, educating, and researching effective solutions to all types of lead hazards in the environment through cooperative partnerships with community groups, government agencies, businesses, and individuals. www.larcusa.org
About the Illinois Chapter- American Academy of Pediatrics
The Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, also known as ICAAP, is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization made up of over 2,000 pediatricians in Illinois. As an organization, we work to build stronger communities by improving health care for children in our state.
When children are healthy, they spend more time at school, participating in group activities, and building their character. This leads to healthier lifelong habits that contribute to a more stable career, stronger relationships with others, and sets the foundation for their children to become healthy adults as well. When healthy adults are working, contributing to the economy, buying local goods, connecting with local organizations, and engaging with their neighbors, it creates stronger communities that thrive.
ICAAP improves the health and well-being of all children in Illinois through three main functions including the development of better public health programs, the direct support of pediatricians through education and resources, and with state-wide advocacy focusing on creating larger change to health care cost, access, and delivery. www.illinoisaap.org.
SPONSORS
Suggested Reading:
Prenatal and Early Postnatal Lead Exposure, Sensitive Periods, and Later Adult Mental Health,
by Joyce J.Y. Lin, PhD1; Ruby Hickman, MPH1; Justin Farmer, MS1 JAMA, Oct.22, 2025
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