Dean’s Note – Feb. 28, 2025
As many of you are settling into a New Year, and now, adjusting to the bombardment of changes in the national and international arenas, you are likely wondering how those of us who put health and public health at the center of our priorities should respond to the new challenges before us including reductions in jobs and research funding. The need for the roles filled by the public health workforce has only intensified in recent weeks, especially with climate events, emerging infectious diseases, anticipated reductions in Medicaid and Medicare, rising mental health needs all moving to the forefront of our national dialogue.
I believe this is a time for us to demonstrate our value. Moreover, I believe the current situation lends an urgency to the need for strengthening public health. Therefore, at the ColoradoSPH, we are accelerating our curriculum enhancements, strengthening our partnerships, and swiftly responding to the needs of all Coloradans. A master’s student entering our school in the fall of 2025 who then graduates in the spring of 2027 will face a job market that will likely be in a rebuilding phase with a strong demand for their skillset. Doctoral students entering public health today will have endless research questions before them, especially following the reductions at the federal level, many of which have been hastily implemented. ColoradoSPH is ready to carefully, thoughtfully, and rigorously embrace the problems that will be presented and prepare our students to do the same.
Cancer – the leading cause of death in Colorado and a disease that claimed the lives of more than 8,400 of our friends, family, and neighbors – is an excellent example of how public health interventions reduce morbidity and mortality. I bring up cancer because February is cancer prevention month, and it is a disease that I have spent my career researching in addition to building and leading organizations that facilitate the research of others. As a result of all the scientific research into prevention, screening, and treatment, long-term survivorship is now a reality and for some cancers, like cervical cancer – once the leading cause of cancer death among women – death is almost unheard of, largely attributable to public health prevention and early detection efforts. Now is not the time to pause on funding for cancer research and public health interventions; we should be accelerating these investments.
Cancer draws the attention and talent of many public health scientists. This is partly because of the prevalence of 18 million survivors, partly because the funding resources have historically been larger thanks to the Cancer Act of 1971, and also because of the data repositories including cancer registries, national surveys, and tissue banks that facilitate inquiry into a rich set of research questions in cancer plus a wide range of questions that accelerate science for numerous other conditions. Furthermore, the Cancer Act established National Cancer Center-designated cancer centers that became centers of excellence for research and clinical care with the much needed infrastructure to support collaboration and innovation. The investment in this infrastructure was further made possible by indirect costs, the subject of many recent headlines and debates. These investments in public health and medical science led to the advancements we see today. Yet, there is still work to be done and our communities cannot turn away from progress.
Research into cancer and other chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and others, is a mainstay of ColoradoSPH. ColoradoSPH faculty hold numerous leadership positions in the University of Colorado Cancer Center, which boasts some of the best treatment outcomes in the State of Colorado. It is through these partnerships that we conduct life-saving research that affects all Coloradans.
Public health is central to our daily lives. And at ColoradoSPH, we remain steadfast in our vision of “Public Health Elevated, Rising Together for a Healthier Future for All.” Our researchers continue their important work; our faculty brings this valuable research into the classroom and to our communities; and our students will carry this work to new heights as they lead the cause for the next generation.
It is our strong public health values that will carry us through this time of transition. We are not afraid to take risks or make tactical changes. Our strategy for funding diversification and doubling down on research into conditions where we are experts is more relevant and timelier than ever. Our desire to be the best public health school in the nation requires that we are also the best teachers in the nation, as our students speak volumes about the ColoradoSPH community.
We will continue to invest in research in these areas where we are national leaders and we need federal, state, local, and philanthropic partners at our sides Investments in health have redefined our world. In March, I will visit our representatives in Washington, D.C.; and we will also hold key events this Spring, including Colorado School of Public Health Day at the Capital on March 6, our CPHA mixer on April 10, our Awards Banquet May 5, and Spring Convocation on May 19. You are invited and encouraged to attend these events to show your support for the school, our research, and our students. We draw our inspiration from each other, and now, we need to come together as the public health community.
