1932c3.qxd:Layout 1 4/8/08 9:28 AM Page 1 PublicPublicHealthUNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH GRADUATEHealth SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH WINTER 2008 Quarterly 2007 Year in Review: 60 Things Everyone Should Know About GSPH 1932c3.qxd:Layout 1 4/8/08 9:28 AM Page 2 Winter 2008 In this issue... Dean’s Message . .1 Students: Student Events . .6 Legacy Laureate Alumni . .8 Luncheon Faculty Research . .10 7 Faculty Honors . .12 Books by Faculty . .14 Centers News . .16 Development . .18 Faculty Research: Recent Events . .22 National Children’s Study 10 Books by Faculty: Unequal 14 Opportunity Centers News: 16 Center for Minority Health PublicHealth University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health Co-Editors Design For inquiries, feedback, Linda Fletcher Vance Wright Adams or comments, please contact: Gina McDonell Gina McDonell Printing 412-648-1294 Circulation Manager Hoechstetter [email protected] Jill Ruempler PublicHealth Quarterly is published four times per year for the alumni and friends of the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health. PublicHealth Quarterly is printed on recycled paper using vegetable-based inks. 1932c3.qxd:Layout 1 4/8/08 9:28 AM Page 1 Dean’s Message A Message from the Dean Donald S. Burke, MD This issue of PublicHealth Quarterly looks back at the year that was in 2007 at the Graduate School of Public Health. Because 2008 marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of GSPH, we bring you 60 gems from this past year — metaphorical candles on the school’s birthday cake, if you will. Join with me in offering hearty congratulations to everyone involved with these achievements, realizing that they represent only a glimpse of what we can accomplish. “Because 2008 marks Our future is bright. I believe that the next few years will bring unprecedented awareness of the value of public health, both here in the USA and around the the 60th anniversary of world. Although our planet faces challenges that Paul Mellon never dreamed the founding of of when he and the A.W. Mellon Educational and Charitable Trust endowed our school 60 years ago, I am encouraged by the intense interest in prevention GSPH, we bring you and health promotion in the presidential contests, and by the increasing interest in “smart power” in the international arenas. GSPH is poised to take the lead 60 gems from this past on many fronts, both in our traditional areas of strength such as women’s year — metaphorical health, and at the new frontiers, such as computational modeling. To open this compendium of bright spots from the past year, I will point out a few candles on the items that apply to the school as a whole. Then inside you’ll find “brag points” school’s birthday cake, that cover every aspect of the school. These delights are dished out, bite-sized, so you can enjoy them at your leisure, one or two at a time. But if you are so if you will.” inclined, go ahead and devour them all at once! Donald S. Burke, MD Dean, Graduate School of Public Health University of Pittsburgh 1 Winter 2008 1932c3.qxd:Layout 1 4/8/08 9:28 AM Page 2 Dean’s Message School Wide Kudos GSPH Research Funding GSPH continues to rank highest among state-related schools of public health in terms of research funding from the National Institutes of Health, trailing only Johns Hopkins and Harvard in total NIH research funding. In fiscal year 2005, the latest year for which figures are available, GSPH scientists were awarded nearly $52.5 million in research grants. However, the average amount of money per grant award puts GSPH at the top, with an average award of $740,000 per research grant compared to $661,000 for Harvard and $674,000 for Johns Hopkins. In addition, when you consider research funding per all faculty, GSPH ranks second. Finally, GSPH ranks first in funding per tenured faculty. NIH Research Grants To Schools Of Public Health, 2005 GSPH Research Funding 2000-2007 $120 $80 $70 $100 $60 $80 GSPH Faculty Research $50 Credited to GSPH $40 GSPH Faculty Research millions $60 millions Credited to Other Units $30 $40 $20 $20 $10 $0 $0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 EMORY Fiscal Year HARVARD MICHIGAN COLUMBIA TEXAS A&M MINNESOTA PITTSBURGH WASHINGTON JOHNS HOPKINS NORTH CAROLINA NIH Funding per Faculty Position (all Faculty) NIH Research Funding per TENURED Faculty Position $600 $1,000 $800 $400 $600 $400 $200 $200 NIH Research Funding (thousands) Funding NIH Research $0 (thousands) Funding NIH Research $0 UAB UNC UAB UNC UCLA HARVARD HARVARD MICHIGAN MICHIGAN COLUMBIA COLUMBIA MINNESOTA UC BERKLEY MINNESOTA PITTSBURGH UC BERKLEY PITTSBURGH WASHINGTON WASHINGTON JOHNS HOPKINS JOHNS HOPKINS CEPH Reaccreditation attests to the quality of GSPH’s educa- The Council on Education for Public tional programs and our ability to Health (CEPH) awarded GSPH accred- prepare students for entry into the itation for a seven-year term, extend- public health professions. Schools ing to July 1, 2014. CEPH is an inde- seeking CEPH accreditation are pendent agency recognized by the U.S. evaluated on 10 criteria. GSPH met Department of Education to accredit all 10 and was commended on two— schools of public health. Accreditation instructional programs and service. 2 Winter 2008 1932c3.qxd:Layout 1 4/8/08 9:28 AM Page 3 New Mission/Vision/Values Statement As part of our strategic planning process, we revised our mission, vision, and values statements. This collaborative process resulted in the following: Preamble GSPH Values Established in 1948 to address the As public health professionals, our To create the best possible learning environmental and occupational health research, teaching, and service rest on environment for our students, we are needs of our industrial region, the core values and commitments. Chief dedicated to our continuous develop- Graduate School of Public Health among these is a shared commitment ment as educators, to using a variety builds on its long and storied history to improved health for all. Next is our of pedagogical approaches, and to of educating public health leaders, dedication to excellence in all facets of staying on the cutting edge in use of engaging in public health service and our work, recognizing that improving effective, new teaching technologies. research, and translating research into the health of the public rests on the public health practices and policies to generation and application of the best Finally, we affirm our commitment improve the health of populations scientific evidence and pushing the to the Principles of the Ethical regionally, nationally, and globally. frontiers of research. Practice of Public Health (http://www.apha.org/NR/rdonlyres/ GSPH Mission Our contributions to improving the 1CED3CEA-287E-4185-9CBD- The mission of the Graduate School of public’s health rest on the significant BD405FC60856/0/ethicsbrochure.pdf). Public Health is to provide leadership role each public health discipline We adhere to the highest ethical stan- in health promotion, disease prevention plays. Our multidisciplinary approach dards in the conduct of all components and the elimination of health dispari- is essential to addressing health chal- of our mission. We acknowledge that ties in populations. Through integrated lenges in a global society. We engage improving health for all requires that programs of excellence in education, partners—local, regional, state, public health professionals secure and research, and service, we generate national, and global—in our efforts maintain the trust of our communities. new knowledge to drive effective public to improve public health. health practice and policy, and improve the management of health systems. Social justice is also a core value of GSPH Vision public health. We are committed to Global leadership in creating and diversity in its broadest sense, translating knowledge to enhance the pledging to create an inclusive and public’s health. respectful environment that welcomes all students, faculty, and staff, and that celebrates diversity of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, class, and religion. From our diverse backgrounds comes a rich array of perspectives and experiences that strengthen our learning environment. GSPH3 Winter 2008 1932c3.qxd:Layout 1 4/8/08 9:28 AM Page 4 Dean’s Message Steady Growth Applications and Application Trends 1200 admissions continue to rise. Enrollment for fall 1000 2007 is 601 primary 800 students and 41 600 secondary students. 400 In fall 2006, 200 we had 557 0 primary students. 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 FALL Primary Enrollment, Fall 2002 – Fall 2007 Enrollment 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 New GSPH Web Site December saw the launch of the new GSPH Web site. While the address remains the same (www.publichealth.pitt.edu), the look is completely different and easier to navigate. The redesign of the Web site is only one of a number of initiatives to improve the public face of the school. 4 Winter 2008 1932c3.qxd:Layout 1 4/8/08 9:28 AM Page 5 Board of Visitors < In late November, GSPH hosted the Members of the GSPH first meeting of our reconstituted Board of Visitors at its first meeting on Board of Visitors. These public health, November 30, front business, and civic leaders improve the row from left: Becky Surma, Bill Green, quality of the school by providing can- Shelly Onorato, Tom did, comprehensive, and informed Detre, Jo Haas, Karen reaction to GSPH educational objec- Feinstein. Back row from left: Bruce Dixon, tives and programs and by providing David Hunter, Lee advice in GSPH’s strategic planning Foster, Don Burke, Ian Rawson, Eric Mann efforts. Its meetings provide a forum for the school to demonstrate its accountability to external constituen- Bruce Dixon, MD Shelly Onorato, MHA cies.