Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton today announced plans for an Institute for Public Health, as well as a Master of Public Health degree to be offered by the Brown School in 2009.  The announcement was part of his "Citizen of the Year" award address.

The award, which is sponsored by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, honors people who have contributed greatly to the St. Louis area. During the event, the Chancellor gave his vision for Washington University in St. Louis, which includes the development of an Institute for Public Health.

The new Institute will be a cross-disciplinary initiative with ties to many of Washington University departments and schools. It will coordinate and integrate the University's work in community health, health policy, international health, epidemiology, and biostatistics, genomics, and environmental health. It will also help guide the development of the University's public health curriculum, which includes a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree to be offered by the Brown School.

The new degree will emphasize community health, health policy, and international health, which are all areas of strength at the social work school.  It is anticipated that a dual MSW/MPH degree will be offered at that time as well. 

"Prevention of disease, access to health care, and improving quality of life are issues that are important to St. Louis and to communities around the world," says Dean Edward F. Lawlor, who the Chancellor recently appointed to lead the Institute's initial efforts. "Our School, along with our colleagues throughout Washington University, are committed to addressing these concerns as part of our collective academic, research, and public service endeavors."

Dr. Graham A. Colditz, associate director of prevention and control at the Siteman Cancer Center, will serve as the Institute’s deputy directory. Dean Lawlor and Dr. Larry Shapiro, dean of the School of Medicine, will co-chair a University-wide Faculty Advisory Council to guide the development of the Institute.

BJC HealthCare, one of the largest not-for-profit health care providers in the country, also will be a key collaborator on this initiative.