Emerging through ever-changing public health priorities and the evolving academic landscape of the region at its outset, the Drexel University School of Public Health (SPH) has become a national authority in promoting the health of communities. Though still relatively young, the school's growth within Drexel University and the public health community has been exceptional.

The SPH strives to advance the health status of vulnerable populations with a strong commitment to improve the health of communities through service, research and practice. A group of visionary faculty, community leaders and business executives imagined a school focused on addressing relevant public health issues. The school would bridge the gap between academia and community—forming a true partnership between professors, students, and the Greater Philadelphia Region and beyond.

It was referred to, and continues to be, a "School Without Walls."

"The Drexel University School of Public Health gets it. Producing highly-qualified, future professionals is not enough," said a community preceptor who works with SPH students. "The tremendous resources academic institutions have in their students, faculty and research are needed here and now to improve real people’s lives, and that's what the SPH does."

In addition, the SPH was founded on the fundamental notion that improved health cannot be achieved without basic human rights. It is a guiding principle that continues to be instilled in the curriculum, research and practice across the school.

It is an understatement to say the SPH has simply grown. It has positively exploded over the last decade. Key growth indicators, including revenues, costs, enrolled students, faculty, academic programs, grants and research, have increased exponentially since 2002.

This progress was accomplished with a commitment and passion for public health and Drexel University by the students, faculty, staff and administration across the school and university, as well as many community partners and supporters.

At Our Core: True Community Engagement

You don’t just learn public health at Drexel. You live it.

Today’s SPH students accrue more than 70,000 hours annually in the community by working together with hundreds of community partners to make a difference in the lives of others. The students identify a public health related concern within a community or agency and creates a program of study, working with a community partner, to help address that concern.

The student gains significant and meaningful reallife experience while doing their senior research work and the community partner ultimately benefits from the students work. Thus the senior “thesis” is designed to help solve a real-world challenge.

“Our student's research tool will be incorporated into our evaluation methods in the field going forward,” said a community preceptor. “We learned from her!” Many students are hired by their community partner.

The SPH faculty is an important piece to the practice efforts, which are directed by Jennifer Kolker, MPH, Associate Dean for Public Health Practice. Faculty help place students with community partners, and serve as mentors who work with students to help advance their research and careers.

In addition, the PA Public Health Training Center at Drexel University under the leadership of Associate Dean Kolker will continue to provide ongoing professional partnerships with the community and lead training programs for those already in the public health workforce.

“Big cities need big leaders, ones with the vision and drive to turn dreams into reality,” said William S. George, President and CEO, Health Partners. “From taking the SPH from a start-up to a world class program, with a focus on solving real-life urban problems, to her bold dedication to preventing and treating HIV/AIDS, we are grateful for all Dean Gold has done for our members and our city.”

Student Enrollment and Academics

A decade ago, the SPH consisted of about 45 students and a handful of dedicated faculty. It offered just one Master’s of Public Health degree.

Today student enrollment has grown to more than 500 and the SPH offers multiple master’s and doctoral programs, joint degrees and online certificates. It joined Drexel Sacramento in 2009 and started offering undergraduate courses in fall 2011. Warren Hilton, Assistant Dean for Student and External Affairs, SPH, has guided the school’s enrollment growth since 2009.

The SPH has always strived to attract the best and brightest students. The SPH also values diversity and places an emphasis on creating a learning environment that allows for diverse perspectives. Faculty growth has matched the increasing student enrollment. Over the past decade more than 30 new full-time faculty members have joined the SPH, building a group that conducts cutting-edge research and prepares students for leadership roles.

The SPH was fully-accredited in 2007 by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). When it merged with Drexel University a decade ago, the SPH joined the 51 private universities classified by the Carnegie Foundation as Doctoral/Research Universities-Extensive. At the same time, Drexel University joined the top 100 U.S. universities in federal research expenditures and market value of endowments.

The SPH faculty, staff and administration have driven this growth.

“Under Dean Gold's leadership, and with her team, the SPH is now truly a ‘gem’ in the Drexel ‘crown,’" said Gerianne Tringali DiPiano, President and CEO, FemmePharma Global Healthcare, Inc., and Drexel University and SPH trustee.

Research and Global Engagement

The SPH is a comprehensive research institution with multiple departments, research centers and robust training programs with a focus on some of society’s most pressing local, national and global health concerns.

Overall, faculty research has quadrupled over the past decade, and members of the faculty have received major individual achievements. The research effort is directed by Ann C. Klassen, PhD, Associate Dean for Research.

Craig Newschaffer, PhD, received more than $15M in grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Autism Speaks, including the national Early Autism Risk Longitudinal Investigation (EARLI). Dr. Newschaffer now leads the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute recently established by Drexel President John A. Fry. It is the first autism research center focused on public health science.

John Rich, MD, MPH, was awarded the prestigious MacArthur Fellowship for his work to address inner-city violence. He is the only faculty member at Drexel University to receive this “genius” award. He is joined by Ted Corbin, MD, and Sandra Bloom, PhD, MPH, in addressing violence internationally.

Brian Lee, PhD, is leading autism research with colleagues in Sweden. Igor Burstyn, PhD, is contributing valuable research on cancer end environmental health, including dispelling myths about cell phones and cancer, with research based in the U.S. and Canada. Arthur Frank, MD, MPH travels the globe conducting research and training public health professionals on the impacts of asbestos.

In addition, Longjian Liu, MD, PhD, MPH, was awarded an international fellowship and has directed research to address cardiovascular diseases with colleagues in Japan and China that can help communities worldwide.

However, this global focus is not only for research. More international research and practice opportunities for students have been created through the Global Public Health Initiative and a new global public health certificate directed by Shannon P. Márquez, PhD, MEng, MPH, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

Setting the Stage for a Bright Future

The school’s growth over the past decade has been clear, steady and dramatic.

The faculty and leadership of the SPH are in place to carry out a comprehensive strategic plan that is closely aligned with the overall university strategic plan. Under the plan, the school will retain its focus on health disparities research and the critical importance of the interplay of health and human rights. Future growth will be focused on undergraduate education, global public health initiatives and key research centers, with renewed emphasis on the school’s public health practice expertise.

The SPH is also planning a move to its own building on the University City Campus of Drexel University into a renovated Nesbitt Hall. A move to the building has significant strategic value to the continued growth and expansion of the school's offerings and its relationship with the communities it serves.

The SPH will be getting the room and facilities to support its increasing research enterprise now and into the future, including labs where researchers can work safely; cutting edge classrooms where students can optimally learn; and conference rooms with state-of-the-art communication capabilities.

The renovated building will also provide numerous work spaces, conference areas, student lounges, and other amenities that contribute to a nurturing, collegial educational environment.

As public health problems such as HIV/AIDS, tobacco use, inner-city violence, and increases in the prevalence of autism and hunger continue to emerge, the SPH stands poised to address the most pressing public health concerns.