Dean’s Message
January 8, 2008

It is winter here in Florida, the most beautiful time of the year.  The skies are blue, the sun shines and there is just a hint of spring right around the corner.  And the air is filled with public health talk. The latest governmental economic reports on health care spending in the US indicate that we have now topped $2 trillion dollars for 2006, yet we lag behind nearly every other industrialized nation in our health measures with higher infant mortality rates, poorer overall health status, and epidemic rates of obesity and the chronic illnesses that result.  Thankfully these issues are now widely recognized as key to the nation’s future and Presidential hopefuls are openly discussing their health care reform strategies.  At the same time, there is a new tenor to our discussion of climate change and businesses and towns across the country are seeking ways to go green.  The Gates Foundation continues to energize efforts to reduce the global burden of disease while we continue to find ways to better prepare the world for continuing natural and potential manmade disasters.  

Public health has something to contribute to each of these discussions.  Those of us in academic public health ponder the challenges and seek opportunities to forge better paths toward better health while also working to alleviate health effects of human endeavors.  A recent report from the Milken Institute confirms the view we have expounded for over 100 years: that the health of the public is inextricably tied to the robustness of the economy and that an ounce (or a dollar) of prevention really IS worth a pound (or thousands of dollars) of cure.  The message of public health enjoys new listeners every day as millions of people struggle to change their diets, up their fitness quotients, give up tobacco, and seek and receive timely and appropriate high quality health care.

At the USF College of Public Health, we are creating opportunities for everyone to lead healthy and fulfilling lives. We enjoy being part of a learning community that actively participates in the progress of public health.  As educators and scholars, our faculty and staff are developing, translating and applying new knowledge every day.  As participatory learners, our students engage in these efforts, while they build the health of populations around the globe.  Whether advocating for children’s health insurance coverage, discovering new drug regimens for neglected diseases like malaria and dengue fever, increasing the efficiency of our trauma and emergency response systems, or exploring new avenues for the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease, we are turning our science into real improvements in the public’s health.

What is public health?  It is your health and your chance to change the world.  Come visit us and learn of the many opportunities we are creating to offer you a stimulating and rewarding career as a public health professional.  I look forward to welcoming you to our community.

Donna J. Petersen, ScD, MHS
Dean