Deb Hardtke succeeds Eric Meredith as AHS Alumni Board president
Deb Hardtke ’74 BS PT, new president of the AHS Alumni Board, retired from full time clinical work three years ago—but she hasn’t slowed down one bit.
After a long career in physical therapy focused on orthopedics, neurology, pediatrics, neonatal intensive care and program development, she now works part time as a clinical consultant, developing physical therapy programs for assisted living residences and other facilities.
She’s active with outreach programs at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Pilsen, which provides food, clothing and household items for families and homeless people in the community.
Hardtke has a special connection to St. Matthew: that’s where her parents were married and she was baptized. She volunteers there several times a month and works with fellow members of her church in Burr Ridge to collect donations for St. Matthew outreach.
Through the Darien Garden Club in her hometown, she’s busy with the DuPage Monarch Project, an initiative to protect the habitats of Monarch butterflies and other regional pollinators. The project encourages residents to add pollinator-attracting plants to their yards and asks local governments to grow prairie plants on vacant lots.
Hardtke was involved with the AHS Alumni Board in the 1990s and rejoined in January 2019. She especially wants to encourage her fellow graduates to get involved in mentoring and other student support.
“I’m very thankful to UIC; it matured me, and gave me direction,” Hardtke said. “The university helped me so much, and I’d like to give back.”