Dean Cathy Bradley, PhD, delivered an expansive and energized vision for the Colorado School of Public Health on Oct. 22, pointing to the school’s next phase of strategic growth and its extensive impact in Colorado.
Bradley, in her second year as dean, titled her annual state of the school address, “Public Health Elevated, Rising Together for a Healthier Future for All.” She highlighted the school’s achievements, including its No. 16 ranking among schools of public health in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings and its top 20 ranking for National Institute of Health (NIH) research funding among peer institutions.
Bradley underscored her aspirations about the school’s bright future with a five-year strategic plan. The new plan, now underway, includes revamping the curriculum, connecting to communities across Colorado, ensuring the school’s work is grounded in real-world application, promoting health equity and building a thriving school culture.
She invoked longtime school supporters, including Richard Hoffman, MD, and the late Stephen Berman, MD, both of whom envisioned a healthier Rocky Mountain region and a well-educated and trained workforce ready to bolster the public health profession upon graduation.
Hoffman was one of many supporters in the audience, including Patricia Gabow, MD, MACP, and Susan Niermeyer, MD, MPH, both recipients of the CU Anschutz Medical Campus’s prestigious Florence Rena Sabin Award. More than 100 faculty, staff, alumni, students and community partners attended in person and online, including CU Anschutz Chancellor Don Elliman; Scott Arthur, vice chancellor of advancement; and Janet L. Gascoigne, PhD, MCHES, associate vice chancellor for student affairs.
Recapping the Colorado School of Public Health’s (ColoradoSPH) highlights of the past year, Bradley spoke about a recent $7 million grant to study type 2 diabetes, an $8.75 million grant at the Colorado State University campus to study vector-borne illnesses, and a $1 million estate gift to benefit dean’s initiatives and diversity, equity and inclusivity at the school.
Moving forward, Bradley said, continued funding and philanthropic support, as well as engaging alumni and community leaders, are essential to the school’s success.
Because public health tends to be chronically underfunded at the state and federal level, Bradley said individual, private sector and institutional support are critical, especially as investments in preventive health interventions, such as smoking cessation, cancer screenings and climate change mitigation, are key to healthy, thriving communities.
“Prevention is by far our best investment to save lives,” Bradley said.
The Colorado School of Public Health is built on the collective expertise and vision of faculty at three leading educational and research institutions: the University of Colorado, Colorado State University and the University of Northern Colorado. It is uniquely defined by its history, collaborative identity and collective strengths. Each day, its faculty, students, alumni and community partners work together to fulfill a commitment to protect and promote health across Colorado, the nation and the globe.