Professionalism as a Competitive Advantage

In moments of stress, institutions and the people who serve them reveal who they are. Public health has faced political headwinds, fiscal constraints, and, at times, mischaracterization of its purpose. Yet it is precisely in these moments that clarity of mission, rigor of science, and steadiness of leadership matter most. This year, our school’s trajectory offers a powerful reminder: relevance and excellence endure.

The Colorado School of Public Health rose to #17 in the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research rankings, based on National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding. This progress reflects something deeper than funding; it reflects institutional discipline. And, despite a tumultuous year in federal research support, we advanced. Over the past five years, ColoradoSPH has doubled its NIH funding. Our faculty also sustained and expanded support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, foundations, and new philanthropic support as well.

NIH and other federal grants represent the most competitive sources of support for research, innovation, and dissemination. Success at this level signals scientific rigor, national relevance, and trust. In today’s environment, nothing should be taken for granted. Support is earned through trust and impact. Dana Dabelea and Wei Perng’s team identified type 2 diabetes as an epidemic among youth under age 20, reshaping how we understand chronic disease risk in children. My own research team uncovered patterns of cancer care suggesting that patients enrolled in managed care were less likely to receive high-cost therapies. Across diabetes, mental health, worker well-being, cancer, climate, and other pressing challenges, our faculty are generating knowledge that informs policy, guides practice, and improves lives. Science is not rhetoric; it speaks to the value of public health.

Our funding growth did not occur by accident. When funding lines tightened, our faculty did not retreat. Instead, they wrote more grants. Instead of isolation, we sought new partnerships. Instead of frustration, we saw shared opportunities. We strengthened infrastructure, improved communication, and leaned on the extraordinary professionalism of our staff and students. Conversations expanded beyond research alone to include impact, education, and meaningful engagement with communities.

This is where the deeper lesson lies — not just for our school, but for the field.

Public health must continue aligning research rigor with community needs. Multidisciplinary collaboration is essential, but collaboration alone is not enough. We must pair our values with sharper metrics, clearer strategic priorities, and disciplined execution, without compromising the principles that define us. In a competitive environment, excellence is not accidental. Professionalism is how we earn trust, secure resources, and translate science into measurable improvement.

Public trust in science is strengthened when research remains rigorous and community-engaged. The challenges before us, childhood nutrition, chronic disease prevention, mental health, workforce resilience, — do not adhere to geographic lines. Our work can and should be boundaryless, extending beyond Colorado and across global borders.

What distinguishes this achievement is not simply that we rose in the rankings. It is that we did so by leaning into who we are: a school grounded in evidence, strengthened by collaboration, disciplined in execution, and motivated by impact. In a time when it would be easy to become distracted or discouraged, our community chose to focus. We chose professionalism. We chose exceptionalism.

And in doing so, we positioned ourselves not just to endure change — but to lead through it.