DLSPH Open: Welcome to the 2018-19 Academic Year
September 5/2018
Dear colleagues,
I am delighted to welcome everyone to the 2018-19 Academic Year, and a warm welcome to the more than 485 incoming students to the Graduate Department of Public Health Sciences and Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation.
A message to our new cohort joining us this month: you are now a member of a dynamic community that comprises Canada’s largest public health school and one of the top 10 public health programs in the world. We are an internationally recognized community of scientists, teachers, students, practitioners, policy makers and citizens, creating new knowledge, educating change makers, advancing practice and guiding the way to better, more equitable outcomes in population health and health systems – locally, nationally and globally.
On behalf of the DLSPH, I’d like to thank-you for joining our community of scholars. Together we will improve health at a population level and health services at a system level – on a sustainable foundation of public good and social justice.
This central mission of public health and health systems to improve our world is critical now more than ever. The flooding and extreme weather experienced in Toronto and globally underline the importance of emergency preparedness of our health-care system. The sociopolitical unrest and extremism observed around the globe remind us why we must correct injustices and reduce disparities in population health.
The way we achieve this shared vision makes us unique. Our approach is to blur the lines between research and education, and what we do is beyond conventional health systems and public health. The DLSPH is home to approximately 100 core faculty and close to 800 community- and partner-based faculty who work primarily in public health units, teaching hospitals, research institutes and government agencies. We work collaboratively with government, civil society, the public and private sectors, and our community partners to allow our students access to fantastic hands-on training opportunities, including practica placements and research projects.
As we launch into a new academic year, we invite our entire community to attend one of our many events to network with faculty, students and alumni and learn more about the DLSPH. On September 6, IHPME is hosting its annual Peggy Leatt Award Reception featuring Robyn Tamblyn, Scientific Director of the CIHR-Institute of Health Services and Policy Research. She received the 2018 Peggy Leatt Award in recognition for her transformative use of evidence that is improving Canada’s health system.
Click here to register for this event and be sure to regularly consult the DLSPH and IHPME event calendars for upcoming events.
As a dynamic Faculty that engages communities, creates sustainable health care and achieves social justice in health, it is crucial to have strong organizational culture. That’s why we encourage all members of our community to attend our many lectures and celebrations, read our newsletters and engage with us on social media. Together we can improve the health of populations and improve Canadian health system.
Wishing all of you a happy and productive semester,
Adalsteinn Brown
Dean and Professor
Dalla Lana School of Public Health