Message from the Dean and the Secretary of Health
The 1997 academic year opened with a change in leadership of the School of Public Health. After a 15-year tenure as dean, Gil Omenn resigned on September 4 to become the executive vice president of medical affairs at the University of Michigan. With tremendous vigor and creative vision, Dean Omenn guided the School through significant expansion of faculty, student enrollment, funding support, program development, and a steady rise to prominence as one of the nation's top schools of public health. He long advocated close collaboration between academia and public health practice, and the establishment of the Northwest Center for Public Health Practice in 1990 is a key achievement of his tenure. Dean Omenn has made enduring contributions to the School and the public health community, and our appreciation and respect follow him east to his new endeavors. The University is forming a search committee to conduct a nationwide recruitment for a new dean. Many constituencies of the School will have an opportunity to contribute to the search process, and we anticipate that a new dean will arrive by fall 1998.
During this transition period the School will continue the positive momentum of Bruce Miyahara, Secretary recent years. The School is in excellent shape with strong, experienced chairs at the helm of the five departments, and many senior faculty leaders guiding its academic and research programs. An important current activity is preparation of a self- study report for reaccreditation in fall 1998.
This process offers an opportunity to review the School's mission and goals and evaluate the balance of teaching, research, and service activities. Faculty, staff, students, and alumni will have an important role in this review.
An ambitious new endeavor, begun under Dean Omenn's guidance, is the Public Health Genetics program, which will offer graduate education focused on interdisciplinary topics in public health genetics. This winter, the School is offering a new evening master's degree program in health administration for health care professionals who do not wish to interrupt their full-time careers. (See End Notes & News, page 52 for details).
The School is increasing its involvement in undergraduate education by expanding the major in environmental health and offering a minor in that subject. In addition, the new undergraduate minor in public health offered for the first time in winter 1997 will expand this year with the future goal of developing an undergraduate major.
This issue of Washington Public Health, with its special focus on international research and educational collaborations, highlights the School's extensive links around the globe. The issue also offers a more local look at several statewide public health issues and programs, and the practice challenges of local health officers. Close collaboration between the School and the Washington State Department of Health continues to enhance the work and missions of both institutions and benefits the public health practice community throughout the state.
Patricia W Wahl, Acting Dean
UW School of Public Health and Community Medicine
Bruce Miyahara, Secretary
Washington State Department of Health
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Created: 1/6/98 Updated: 7/15/99
