UH to fast-track revival of public health school
By Beverly Creamer
Advertiser Education Writer
With a wealth of federal money becoming available for research in bioterrorism and other global health challenges, University of Hawai'i-Manoa chancellor Peter Englert is fast-tracking re-establishment of a School of Global and Public Health on the Manoa campus.
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"The potential for obtaining research funds has enormously grown over the last few years," Englert told school alumni yesterday at the midyear meeting of the UH School of Public Health Alumni Association.
"Hawai'i is at a crossroads for emerging public health issues," Peter Englert said.
"Hawai'i is at a crossroads for emerging public health issues. Post-9/11, there is more potential to sustain a school now than ever," he said.
"A center for global and public health gives us more flexibility to respond to outside needs. Public health can be a research funding magnet."
Englert envisions a newly recreated school playing an important role in state public health issues as well, such as the ice addiction epidemic.
The School of Public Health has been a hot potato since it lost accreditation and was closed in 1999, falling victim to money troubles, lagging research, dwindling enrollments and lack of support from former UH President Kenneth Mortimer. New medical school dean Edwin Cadman began reviving it within the medical school in 2001, but Englert has suggested moving the two re-accredited programs under his office for the development stage.
"This may be a step we want to take relatively soon," he said. A new school eventually would have to be independent of the medical school, he said. "Why not do it now?"
At that stage, he said, the school could become a reality within a year and a half. But finding the necessary resources is a challenge, he said.
Englert has asked the Legislature for $1 million in supplementary money for faculty and programs. The item was not part of the governor's budget for additions at UH, but Englert said the school would move forward even if the request is turned down. He said he would find the $200,000 to $300,000 to get it launched.
In the meantime, UH is joining with other institutions for research money to vault forward. (Without full accreditation, a school is not eligible for federal funding.) Englert pointed to the importance of working cooperatively with the military, as well, to boost research options. Developmental funding also is available from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, he said.
Englert will begin taking suggestions soon for two committees — Hawai'i and international — to do the major planning.
Reach Beverly Creamer at bcreamer@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8013.
