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The School of Public Health
is accredited through 2017 by:
Council on Education
for Public Health (CEPH)
Dean's message
It is the food which you furnish to your mind that determines the whole character of your life. –Emmet Fox
This has been quite a year in public health circles in general, and at Loma Linda in particular.Aswe go to press with this edition of Sphere, it seems everywhere I turn public health is indeed“for everyone, everywhere, all the time.” Universal health insurance,H1N1, global climate change,nutrition labeling, immunization controversies, and the list of contemporary health issues continue to grow. Frankly, this profession offers unparalleled joy for those with inquisitive minds and a commitment to service.
Speaking of service, you will note in this edition of Sphere, the SPH played major role at a health conference convened in Geneva,Switzerland, in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO).This conference was remarkable for at least two distinct reasons.The first relates to WHO, and its sister, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Both organizations have matured in their appreciation of the tremendous public health assets of faith-based organizations. They are now actively engaging institutions like our school to partner in areas where we possess joint interests.This shift in attitude and philosophy heralds in a new era of opportunity for us to rethink our role on the world public health stage.
Secondly, I was deeply moved by two presentations delivered in Geneva. Seventh-day Adventist World Church president Jan Paulsen described four major theologies or guiding principles for the Church’s health ministry.The four were predicated on themes of connection, human dignity, hope, and wholeness—entirely prevention oriented and public health focused.His remarks were complemented by noted British epidemiologist Skirmished. Sir Marmot encouraged the audience to move beyond the traditional health science rubrics and reflect upon the root of most of today’s health challenges— that is, social justice.The conditions in which people are born, live, are educated, and work are just as important to their health status as their diet, exercise patterns, and access to health care.
I am delighted to report that the call to action from the Geneva conference finds your school on the leading edge in terms of partnerships and advocacy.Our SPH has just been awarded a very competitive federal research grant toolkit underserved communities throughout Southern California.This major award was made possible through a collaboration with the UCLA SPH, introducing what promises to be an exciting and new series of opportunities to provide services to communities in need,while educating the next generation of public health professionals. Our school is also providing leadership in a Healthy Community initiative in Ontario, California, and Healthy Homes programs throughout Riverside County, among others. In each of these examples,we reworking the public and private sector to do our part to achieve world where social justice is taken seriously.
This autumn we hired two new faculty who share our commitment to improve the health of the populations we serve through community-based participatory research (CBPR). Dr. Ryan Sinclair (environmental health) and Dr. Eddy Jara (nutrition) enjoy established reputations underserved segments of society. The addition of these two scholars will help us sustain our momentum in community capacity building and provide additional linkages with those in need.
I acknowledge that the school’s more activist direction may make some of you uncomfortable. Please be assured we remain committed to prayerful approaches and evidence-based strategies.At the same time we will continue to advance the science and art of public health. These times call for a new generation of professionals—individuals of sound character, nurtured and fed by caring professors. Loma Linda’s time has arrived.
Warm wishes for 2010,
Dave Dyjack
Dean