Responding to climate change, developing large-scale solutions to the mental health crisis and extolling the positive influence public health plays in making communities stronger and more resilient are just three of the first research and education goals for Cathy J. Bradley, PhD, as she steps into her role as the newest dean of the Colorado School of Public Health (ColoradoSPH).
On Aug. 1, Bradley became the fourth dean in the school’s history and the first woman permanently appointed to the position, which serves a critical role in shaping public health – both in Colorado and around the globe. As the only collaborative school of public health in the Rocky Mountain West, the ColoradoSPH is made up of the collective expertise of the University of Colorado, Colorado State University and the University of Northern Colorado.
“The extraordinary thing about public health is you don't have to choose (one goal). You can emphasize and focus on one area and affect change in many others at the same time because of the interrelationships,” said Bradley, who considers public health a critical piece of society’s infrastructure.
“Public health transcends specific diseases, and it really encompasses all conditions that affect health and well-being,” Bradley said. “Without public health, we can't function effectively. We can't be successful.”
Bradley, who has served as deputy director of the CU Cancer Center and associate dean for research in the ColoradoSPH for the last five years, shared more about her goals with CU Anschutz Today in the Q&A below.