As Dean of UTMB’s newest school, I am delighted to welcome you to the School of Public and Population Health. In recent years, we’ve faced unprecedented challenges that have tested our health systems, our resilience, and our commitment to protecting and improving the health of all people and their communities. COVID-19 taught us many lessons about our current public health infrastructure, including how critical our next generation of public health professionals, scientists, and scholars will be in meeting the needs of ensuring a healthy Texas and beyond.
Texas, a state renowned for its resilience, presents a unique landscape of public health concerns. From urban centers to rural communities, from bustling cities to serene coastal areas, the health needs of Texans are as varied as the landscapes that define this great state. And within this tapestry of health challenges, Galveston stands as a beacon, both for its beauty and for the resilience of its people in the face of adversity.
Founded as Texas’s first medical school in 1891, UTMB at Galveston has served the health care needs of Texans for more than a century with outstanding programs in health science education, patient care, and research. The School of Public and Population Health, which is Texas’s newest accredited school, was borne out of the Department of Preventive Medicine at UTMB that is also over 100 years old.
Public Health has been going strong in Galveston for well over 100 years. It is in confronting these public health issues head-on that we find the true spirit of resilience and determination that defines this city and state. We at SPPH are a collective force, driven by a shared passion for bettering the health and well-being of our communities. Our presence in our local and global communities here underscores our commitment to addressing the challenges that confront us and to seeking innovative solutions that pave the way for a healthier tomorrow.
M. Kristen Peek, PhD
Senior Vice President and Dean, School of Public and Population Health Images:
The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) School of Public and Population Health (SPPH) is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), and independent agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit schools and programs of public health.