The Spirit of Possibility: ColoradoSPH's Vision for Resilient Public Health
As we near the final phases of election season, many of you are reflecting on what the future may hold. I was once advised that predicting the future isn’t necessary—what matters is reading the current moment correctly. While public health and health care are not explicitly central in this season’s political campaigns, they remain essential elements of any policy agenda. ColoradoSPH stands ready to advance with strength as we prepare our approaches and our students for what lies ahead.
In last week’s State of the School address, I shared the story of one of our remarkable students, Priscilla “Precious” Collins, who embodies our core value, Spirit of Possibility. Her story guides us as we pursue our mission, clearly focused on the current moment.
Priscilla, a second-year MPH student in the Population Mental Health and Wellbeing program, is a member of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe of southern Colorado. After earning her B.A., she returned to work in her tribal community for 15 years, witnessing the effects of systemic injustices and limited access to health care. She saw firsthand the toll on her community’s health, with high rates of chronic kidney disease, substance misuse, and more. These conditions were often diagnosed at later stages when options for cures were limited. What she did not see, however, were preventive or systemic approaches for prioritizing her community’s wellbeing.
Priscilla could have chosen to give up, but instead, she took action. She applied to the ColoradoSPH MPH program and moved to Denver to study at our CU Anschutz campus. Her choice to join us was deliberate (as she had other options)—she wanted to visit her community, to make public health connections within Colorado, and to have the opportunity to earn a certificate in from our Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health (CAIANH). Here, Priscilla is gaining the skills she needs to create transformative change, which she will carry back to her rural community upon graduation. ColoradoSPH plays a vital role in equipping her—and so many others—to face the challenges ahead with a spirit of possibility.
Our collective future depends on the success of the public health profession. The school must meet the dedication and determination that students like Priscilla bring daily. This requires an engaged faculty, an innovative and responsive curriculum, an inclusive campus culture, and thorough job readiness. As we assess our current challenges, public health becomes even more critical in a world where resources are limited, climate change intensifies, and health inequities persist.
ColoradoSPH is reimagining public health education to prepare the leaders of tomorrow. Last month, I shared our commitment to a comprehensive curriculum review to ensure that our workforce is equipped to confront urgent public health issues and provide sustainable solutions. I also committed our school to a thoughtful, systematic curriculum reform. Climate change, mental health, and chronic disease management, along with essential workforce training, are top priorities in our mission. The impact of climate change on health is evident daily and addressing it from a public health lens is critical for our state’s future. Colorado also faces one of the highest rates of alcohol-related deaths nationally, with a troubling 60% increase in these deaths between 2018 and 2021. Our school is committed to leading in population-level mental and behavioral health interventions.
As we address emerging concerns, we remain focused on combating chronic illnesses such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. ColoradoSPH is further dedicated to building partnerships that expand our essential role in rural and frontier communities. With our experts, research capabilities, educational resources, and trained workforce, we are ready to meet these challenges.
Here’s what’s next:
- Strengthening Partnerships: We are expanding our collaborations to amplify our research across Colorado and beyond.
- Enhancing Education Strategy: We are developing a school-wide strategy to ensure our programs are aligned with the most pressing public health needs.
- Increasing Support: We are investing wisely to expand our public, private, and charitable support, drawing on resources across the spectrum.
- Refining Our Message: We are working to better communicate the school’s role and the value of public health in shaping healthier communities.
To achieve these goals, we turn to you—our supporters, friends, benefactors, alumni, and partners. In a world that often highlights differences over shared goals, I encourage our community to embrace the Spirit of Possibility as we move forward. Public health challenges are complex, but together we have the expertise and vision to create lasting, positive change.
“Reading the current moment correctly' is essential because it allows ColoradoSPH to respond to pressing public health needs while staying adaptable. By carefully assessing the present landscape—marked by heightened public health demands, limited resources, and emerging health crises such as climate change—the school can align its strategies with the world’s needs.
This principle is further illustrated through Priscilla Collins’ story. Her clear understanding of her community’s needs led her to pursue advanced skills and knowledge to address systemic health disparities effectively. Her journey embodies the school’s “Spirit of Possibility,” which is grounded in reading current realities and acting on them.
As ColoradoSPH undertakes initiatives like curriculum reform, workforce training, and partnership expansion, each decision is based on a strategic reading of current challenges. This approach ensures the school’s efforts remain relevant and impactful, positioning both its students and faculty to contribute meaningfully to today’s public health landscape. Through these steps, ColoradoSPH exemplifies how an informed assessment of the current moment empowers actionable, forward-looking strategies.