Keeping the public healthy

On the election front

The election field is getting smaller, but the stakes are getting higher for the public’s health. I hope we can talk openly as a school and public health professionals about who is likely to keep the public healthiest, to paraphrase an important report. Will any candidate have the courage and the persuasive power to make this the decade in which all of our citizens have access to health care? Will he/she work with various interest groups to invest individuals and employers in real dialogue about how individuals can take responsibility for their health without this being a euphemism for their being abandoned by our government?

Our students

Last week, Dave Potenziani, Felicia Mebane and I met with leaders of student government and with representatives of the Minority Student Caucus. I am really impressed with what our students are doing, not just to improve their lot and the SPH but to make the world better. Students plan the Annual Minority Health Conference. This year, there are more than 550 registrants for the February event. Wow, that is just phenomenal!

Our commencement speaker

I am really looking forward to hearing Heather Munroe-Blum, PhD, at commencement for the School. She is an alumna of our epidemiology program and now Principal at McGill University in Canada, rated one of the top 15 universities in North America. I really appreciate her views on universities and public service. At her installation, she said, “I believe there can be no greater happiness than to be called upon to serve a cause for which you care passionately, and into which you can pour all of your energy and any talent you may possess. This is my lucky fate. But it is not only mine. It is the fate of all who serve universities.”

I could not agree more!

Happy Monday and best wishes,
Barbara