UA Faculty Senate votes unanimously to support new College of Public Health
The University of Arizona Faculty Senate unanimously approved a proposal to establish a College of Public Health at the Arizona Health Sciences Center.
Faculty Senate members approved the plan Dec. 6 to consolidate the current University of Arizona Prevention Center and Arizona Graduate Program in Public Health into an established college. The UA College of Public Health will become the first college of public health in the Southwest.
"I am delighted to join in the enthusiastic endorsement of the College of Public Health," said Jerry Hogle, faculty chair "The proposal was fully worked out, quite convincing and indicative of a strong vision for a public health program of high quality. This college will be a hallmark of its kind, from all I can tell, both in Arizona and nationally. I believe the rest of the University faculty will be proud to be associated with it, and I compliment my colleagues in the proposing units for their exciting vision and hard work."
"The colleges of Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy focus on taking care of individual patients," said Dr. James E. Dalen, vice president for health sciences. "This College of Public Health will focus on taking care of entire communities and will draw expertise from other colleges at the University of Arizona."
Plans for a College of Public Health began about 10 years ago as faculty members developed the idea of an academic public health education and research program that would serve the entire state. The Arizona Graduate Program in Public Health was approved by the Arizona Board of Regents in 1993. Since then, more than 250 students have graduated with a master's in public health (MPH).
Approximately 50 percent of the MPH graduates are practicing public health in Arizona, Dalen said. Currently, there are about 180 MPH students and 15 doctoral students in related public health programs. The UA Prevention Center was approved in 1997 and now has 45 faculty members with more than $7 million in research grants that impact the entire state. Headed by Dr. Kent Campbell, the Center incorporates key prevention and public health programs focusing on disease prevention and health promotion, particularly in underserved communities of the state and Southwest.
Faculty Senate member Raphael Gruener said he strongly supported the proposal. "The activities of the public health program over the past years have matured, and the time has come for establishing a College Public Health at the University of Arizona. This program owes its success to faculty efforts and talents. It will serve the State of Arizona and the University with great service and success," said Gruener, a professor of physiology.
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