In the News
Dean’s Message: April 2015
Dear colleagues, On April 27, I was humbled to join Professor Chandler Davis — a well-known author, academic and selfidentified socialist — in conversation at the third Dr. Zofia Pakula Public Lecture Series. It was a truly inspiring discussion that tickled my activist roots and reminded me why I chose to focus...
U of T’s Institute for Indigenous Health uniquely named to honour Canadians’ commitment to Indigenous Peoples
A transformative institute aimed at creating thriving health in Indigenous communities will receive the name, Waakebiness-Bryce Institute for Indigenous Health, on March 23 at the University of Toronto. The Institute — among the first of its kind in the world — was created at the Dalla Lana School of Public...
Professor Alex Jadad appointed Interim Director of Institute for Global Health Equity and Innovation
Professor Alejandro (Alex) Jadad is the Interim Director of the Institute for Global Health Equity and Innovation (IGHEI) as of March 1, 2015. A Canada Research Chair in eHealth Innovation and a lead co-chair of the School’s Global Health Summit, Professor Jadad is an internationally-recognized leader in improving health and...
U of T’s health science deans address vaccination
By: Howard Hu, Dean of the Dalla Lana School of Public Health and Trevor Young, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of TorontoAs deans of two of the health sciences faculties at the University of Toronto, we teach our students that vaccines are safe, effective and vital to children’s...
Dean’s Message: March 2015
Dear colleagues, I am delighted to announce that the official name of the School’s Institute for Indigenous Health is now the Waakebiness-Bryce Institute for Indigenous Health. The Institute is among the first of its kind in the world and was created at the School in June 2014 with a $10-million...
U of T researchers demonstrate that raising tobacco taxes will not spark contraband market
Despite claims made by tobacco industry and convenience store representatives, tobacco tax increases do not increase contraband, according to a report by the University of Toronto’s Ontario Tobacco Research Unit. The research team, led by Robert Schwartz, analyzed trends in tobacco taxes and contraband tobacco use since 2007 and the...
Public health professors inject physical activity into the classroom
How many times have you sat for hours in class, eyelids drooping, attention waning? Since you are not alone, two Dalla Lana School of Public Health professors have introduced “fit breaks” to their class to reduce sedentary behaviours, combat fatigue and improve concentration. “I was relieved to hear that we...
Health for All: U of T Breathes Life into Public Health History
“White Poison:” Public Health and the Pasteurization of Milk in Toronto; The Power of the Needle: For Good and Evil; Drugs, Diseases, and Dollars: Public Health History is Now. These are just a few of the fascinating talks that will be delivered at The Public’s Health: a symposium on public...
U of T’s Gage Building Celebrates 100 Years
James Scott is described as a “throwback scientist” by some of his colleagues. As a public health microbiologist, Scott’s appreciation for legacy knowledge is crucial, given that history is frequently the key to sorting through a pile of unpronounceable Latin names to determine which name applies to which bug. The...
U of T Researchers Call for Greater Transparency in Vaccine Decision-Making
A group of University of Toronto researchers is urging the world’s health authorities to overhaul the way vaccine decisions are made and communicated, saying such decisions should no longer be made behind closed doors. The decision by government authorities to include new vaccines on their countries’ schedules should be open...