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The School of Public Health is propelling its expansion, with new instructors, personnel, and learners joining its community, two sites now fully functional and primary initiatives promoting cross-disciplinary cooperation and societal effect. The institution is also gearing up for upcoming achievements, such as accreditation and the rollout of a comprehensive strategic blueprint.

Sandro Galea, MD, DrPH, the Margaret C. Ryan Dean of the School of Public Health, the Eugene S. and Constance Kahn Distinguished Professor in Public Health, and vice provost for interdisciplinary initiatives, officially commenced his term in January. He reflected on the school’s advancements thus far and the broader challenges confronting public health.

A pivotal moment for public health

Recent transformations at national public health organizations, including changes in leadership at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, highlight the strains in the sector. Galea acknowledged that these shifts have posed difficulties for professionals and students preparing to enter the realm of public health careers.

In spite of these hurdles, he stressed that the most effective way forward is to maintain a steadfast commitment to excellence and the school’s mission. “The most valuable contribution we can offer in the sphere of public health right now is to excel in our actions, to publish our findings, to advance ideas, to teach our students, to ensure we obtain grants supporting our scholarship, and to engage actively in the world of practice,” Galea remarked. “That is our mission.”

Expansion and strategic planning

The school has expanded considerably over recent months. It now comprises:

• 45 primary faculty (list in progress)

• 56 secondary faculty — holding primary appointments in other WashU departments, illustrating the school’s interdisciplinary framework

• 117 staff, predominantly engaged in research roles

• 188 students enrolled (many of whom have transitioned from the Brown School)

“This fall, nearly 200 students joined our new institution,” Galea commented. “They signify the future of public health and will assist us in shaping the kind of organization we aspire to be.”

At present, the school continues established degree programs — the master of public health, a variety of dual-degree options, and the doctorate in public health sciences — while planning to diversify its academic offerings in the coming years.

On Aug. 14, faculty and staff convened for the school’s inaugural all-school retreat to define its mission, vision, and values. Insights from that retreat broadened the number of strategic imperatives. Follow-up meetings will proceed throughout the year, culminating in a complete strategic plan by next May.

Two sites, one community

The School of Public Health now functions from two locations, each addressing unique needs:

• 4300 Duncan/bordering the Medical Campus — Primarily housing research-oriented faculty and staff. Situated in the Cortex Innovation District, the 200-acre center integrates universities, health systems, startups, and businesses to foster innovation.
• Hillman Hall/Danforth Campus — Predominantly serves education-driven faculty and staff, providing a base for student-focused activities and academic programming.

Meetings and events will alternate between Duncan and Hillman to preserve unity and nurture a shared sense of community.

A robust foundation

The School of Public Health builds upon the legacy of the Institute for Public Health (IPH), historically a center for interdisciplinary scholarship and community involvement. Over the past year, IPH programs and functions have transitioned to the school or other university entities.

In a joint announcement, Galea and William G. Powderly, MD, the Dr. J. William Campbell Professor of Medicine and the Larry J. Shapiro Director of IPH, declared that the institute will cease operations at the end of this year, symbolizing the evolution of public health at WashU. This transition reflects the university’s dedication to establishing public health as a central, fully accredited school.

Accreditation and structure

In June, the school submitted its self-study report to the Council for Education in Public Health (CEPH), the accrediting agency for schools of public health. The 300-plus-page document acts as a framework for the school’s current condition and future advancements. CEPH will offer feedback prior to an accreditation site visit in November.

The following offices at the school manage essential functions and provide primary points of contact for the university community:

• Executive Office and Strategic Initiatives — Guides the dean’s vision through strategic planning, events, special projects, and ongoing enhancement
• Administration — Strengthens the school’s core functions through financial, facilities, and grant oversight
• Communication — Manages both internal and external communications for the school
• Education — Oversees academic programs, student support, and recruitment
• Faculty Affairs — Assists in faculty development, appointments, and promotions
• Networks and Innovation — Facilitates interdisciplinary cooperation through Innovation Research Networks (see below) and enhances research through data and analytics
• Practice — Constructs pathways to transform research into real-world benefits through partnerships and applied initiatives
• Research Affairs — Develops infrastructure to bolster and sustain faculty research; assists faculty in acquiring research funding

Innovation Research Networks

The school has introduced Innovation Research Networks (IRNs) — dynamic, interdisciplinary hubs central to its research mission. These networks address public health issues, implementing discoveries into practical outcomes, while promoting collaboration throughout the school, the university, and external partners.

“Ultimately, the IRNs are envisioned as a network of networks,” remarked Morven A. McLean, PhD, executive director of networks and innovation and a professor of practice. “By nurturing interdisciplinary teams, sharing resources, and involving students through practicums and projects, we aim to establish a vibrant ecosystem for public health research.”

Each IRN is co-led by faculty from the School of Public Health and other WashU departments to encourage cross-campus integration, with a full-time manager and specialized support professionals for funding and data management.

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and analysis.

To remain pertinent and adaptive, IRNs will undergo external assessments every three years, enabling them to progress or rotate according to emerging public health requirements.

The present networks and leadership are:

• Food and Agriculture Research Mission (FARM) — Transforms agriculture and food systems through investigation that fosters sustainable, scalable transformations. Guided by McLean and Lora L. Iannotti, PhD.

• Dissemination & Implementation Science Innovation Research Network (DISIRN) — Speeds up the application of evidence-based solutions to bridge the divide between research and practice. Led by Ross C. Brownson, PhD, Elvin Geng, MD, and Byron J. Powell, PhD.

• Global Health Futures — Anticipates shifts in global health and formulates adaptive strategies. Directed by Salma Abdalla, MBBS, DrPH, Mark D. Huffman, MD, and Victor G. Davila-Roman, MD.

• Policy and Structural Solutions (PS2) — Influences policy and systems to enhance health at local, state, and federal tiers. Headed by Timothy D. McBride, PhD, and Karen E. Joynt Maddox, MD.

• Planetary Health — Examines how environmental transformations affect health and advocates for sustainable solutions for individuals and the planet. Steered by Dan Giammar, PhD, and TBD.

• Health Communication Collaborative — Establishes listening frameworks to create transparent, actionable health information for various communities. Guided by Matthew W. Kreuter, PhD, and TBD.

Each IRN will convene annually and hold additional events to exchange insights and involve both experts and the public.

The inaugural gathering — the “FARM Food Futures Forum” — is scheduled for Oct. 9 at WashU and online. Organized by the school’s FARM IRN, the forum will unite leaders from academia, government, civil society, and industry to delve into how public health can incorporate agricultural science, technology, and market strategies to cultivate sustainable, equitable, and health-promoting food systems. Speakers will be revealed shortly.

Enhanced engagement initiatives

The school engages with both internal and external audiences via The WashU Public Health Moment, a newsletter initiated on Aug. 31 and circulated each Sunday. Community members are encouraged to submit news items and story suggestions to the communications team at [email protected].

Regularly scheduled initiatives promoting dialogue encompass:

• “Talking Public Health” — Usually held on Wednesdays at noon, featuring guest speakers from both within and outside the university sharing their research and perspectives.

• “Public Health Ideas” — Continuous gatherings, both in person and online, centering around significant public health topics. Some will coincide with the IRNs, while others will be video discussions with Galea, faculty, and external experts.

• “Thinking Public Health” — Discussions designed for faculty, staff, and students, held under the Chatham House Rule, fostering open and sincere conversations about challenging public health issues.

Recordings of “Talking Public Health” and “Public Health Ideas” are accessible on the WashU Public Health YouTube channel and the school’s website. The school also keeps an updated list of other university events highlighting public health on its site. A more comprehensive website is in development, scheduled for launch in January, which will provide expanded resources and information.

Moreover, the school backs public-facing projects such as the podcast “Complicating the Narrative,” hosted by Abdalla, an assistant professor and co-director of the Global Health Futures IRN. Available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other platforms, the podcast is supported by the school and the Frick Initiative.

A forward path

As the newest institution at WashU, the School of Public Health is designed to flourish within a dynamic ecosystem of interdisciplinary research and practice, forging connections throughout the university to amplify its impact.

“Our goal is to establish a school that is resilient, enduring, and accurately represents WashU in the public health domain,” Galea remarked. “However, we aim to achieve this in collaboration with all the other entities across the university.”

These collaborations — along with its IRNs, events, and strong community involvement — will be crucial to enhancing public health at a pivotal time when vision and focus are critically needed, he remarked.

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