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School of Public HealthTask Force ReportAcademic and HealthAffairs PolicyCommittee of theVCU Board ofVisitorsFebruary 11, 2004
Task Force Members Drs. Hermes Kontos &David Sarrett, Co-Chairs Dr. Tilahun Adera Dr. Hans Carter Dr. Cecil Drain Dr. Michael Edmonds Mr. Don Gehring Dr. Stephen Gottfredson Dr. Dan Hanfling Dr. Marcia Harrigan Dr.Dr.Dr.Dr.Dr.Dr.Dr.Dr.Dr.Dr.JoAnne HenryRobert HolsworthThomas HuffRonald HuntLisa KaplowitzJoel SilvermanWally SmithWilliam SmithRobert StroubeStephen Mick
Task Force Process Wenzel report - May 2002Nettleman report – June 2003Task Force created – July 2003Interviews and departmentmeetings Two Task Force meetings Draft & final reports circulated
Task Force Process Institute ofMedicine (IOM)Reportrecommendseight new keyareas forSchools ofPublic Health
Rationale for a School ofPublic Health Public health workforce New positions to fill Training of existing workforce IOM Report – large percentage of currentworkforce lacks formal training “would be a great asset to the VirginiaDepartment of Health.” Dr. Stroube,State Health Commissioner Need for public health facultymembers and researchers
Rationale for a School ofPublic Health in Virginia VA pop. 7.4 million Of 12 states withpop. 7 million, VAonly state withouta SoPH 26 states with pop. 4 million - five arewithout a SoPH(CO, IN, TN, VA,WI)
Our society is interested inpublic health issues .
Emergency Preparednessis a Public Health Initiative Bioterrorism –our worst fears BiologicalChemicalRadiationEnvironmental Role of SoPH Coordinateresearch andpreventionprograms
Challenging public healthproblems needing solutions Obesity Substance abuse Interpersonalviolence Smoking
Public Health Concerns of Virginians Sources of environmental healthproblems – Chesapeake Bay and otherwaterways Cancer control – cancer epidemiologyand Massey Cancer Center Cardiovascular disease Relationships between oral diseaseand systemic health – periodontaldisease and heart disease
Infectious Diseases –Old and New Tuberculosis ison the rise Antibioticresistancebacteria SARS Mad Cow Bird-flu
What is required for aSchool of Public Health? Core areas BiostatisticsEpidemiologyEnvironmental HealthSocial & BehavioralHealth Health Management &Policy Must offer MPH degreein each core area andat least one PhDdegree
Why VCU? We have departments in 3 of 5 coresareas Biostatistics, Epidemiology, HealthAdministration Existing accredited MPH degree Ranked 18th in Nation Already in process is of developing theepidemiology and the environmental healthmajors
Why VCU? PhD degree programs in 3 of 5 coreareas Supporting resources to completeremaining two core areas Life Sciences (environmental health) Center on Public Policy, Psychiatry,Psychology, Social Work (social/behavioralhealth)
Why VCU? Only comprehensive health sciencescampus in Virginia Located nearby to Virginia Department of Health Virginia Department of Mental Health,Mental Retardation, Substance Abuse Virginia Biotechnology ResearchPark Office of Chief Medical Examiner Division of Consolidated LaboratoryServices
Why VCU? VCU is better positioned withexisting internal and externalresources than any otherVirginia institute of highereducation Geographic advantage –Richmond and Washington, DC
Task ForceRecommendations Virginia does not have acomprehensive program in publichealth and VCU should establish anindependent, accredited School ofPublic Health.
Recommendations The school’s mission should leverage the strengths ofVCU and existing internal and external resources Bioinformatics & statistical genetics Pharmacogenomics Public Health Forensics & Forensic Epidemiology –Div. Consolidated Labs and Chief Medical Examiner Terrorism and Public Health Preparedness - VADept. Health and VCU federal agenda Environmental health – Life Sciences and RiceCenter Richmond area as a genuine public healthlaboratory – community-based research (IOM rec’d)
Recommendations Create a five-year time line to buildthe resources for the school the School will be expected increase itsenrollment The School will also be expected toincrease its funded research and servicecontracts Establish all five core MPH areasand become fully accredited,independent school
Recommendations Two recommended administrativepathways to establish anindependent school Establish the School as the sixth healthsciences school at the VCU MedicalCenter directly, or Establish the School of Public Healthwithin the School of Medicine as a twostep process to an independent school.
Summary The Commonwealth ofVirginia needs a School ofPublic Health VCU is the ideal site withan enormous wealth ofassets regionally The VCU administrationwill further evaluate ourrecommendations andprepare theirrecommendation for theBoard at the next meeting
Why VCU? PhD degree programs in 3 of 5 core areas Supporting resources to complete remaining two core areas Life Sciences (environmental health) Center on Public Policy, Psychiatry, Psychology, Social Work (social/behavioral health) Why VCU? Only comprehensive health sciences
