From the Desk of the Chancellor, June 22, 2010

Chancellor Charles R. Bantz View print-quality image

IUPUI’s commitments to health and life sciences, urban research, civic engagement, and student success received transformative support last Tuesday! The Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation made its largest grant ever, $20 million, to support the development of a school of public health

A school of public health will bring together faculty who conduct research and education on health policy, epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health, and social and behavioral health science. The goals of public health are to prevent disease and promote improved quality of life.

As Leonard J. Betley, chair of the Fairbanks Foundation, has said, "Health studies consistently show that disease prevention through public health initiatives have a significant impact on the physical and economic health of a community." The recent Indianapolis Star editorial To our health: a toast to 2 schools echoes the importance of paying attention to the major health issues that need to be addressed in our city and state.

We are now, thanks to the wonderful Fairbanks grant, able to move ahead in addressing these important issues with new energy and sustained focus. As we develop a school of public health at IUPUI, you will have seen much activity and will see much more—faculty moves and hires, new degree programs, curriculum change, fresh opportunities for cross-disciplinary clinical and translational research collaboration, and enhanced capacity for attracting external research funding. It will be an important opportunity for leadership in public health education and research locally, nationally, and internationally.

This effort epitomizes the translation of research into practice—demonstrating again IUPUI’s commitment to making an impact—everyday.

Comments? Write chancllr@iupui.edu