The University of Rhode Island College of Health Sciences has created their new Department of Public Health following increased community attention to public health after the COVID-19 pandemic.
The chair of the new department, Molly Greaney, is also a professor for health studies here at URI. Before coming to URI, she was a research scientist at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston for seven years. She also spent three years as a research associate at the Harvard School of Public Health.
“It’s my background, so I think public health is extremely important,” Greaney said. “I always thought that it would be very beneficial for the University of Rhode Island to have a department of public health.”
Public health is one of the fastest growing undergraduate majors in the country, Greaney said. People are quickly understanding that public health is extremely important, and not just due to the effects of COVID-19.
“Without a strong public health infrastructure, the health of the nation is at risk,” Greaney said. “With the Department of Public Health, we can help promote health and wellbeing in Rhode Island and on larger scales as well.”
Before it was established, there was only the Department of Health Studies that focused on public health. With the new department, they are able to avoid any gaps in the curriculum and also in research methods; the transition towards a separate department makes everything more clear.
Greaney said that the department itself will reestablish different classes or content provided to the students to show the importance of public health and what exactly public health means.
In regards to the students, the main changes in the curriculum is mainly targeted towards incoming first year students, Greaney said. Pre-existing students are going to have a much more gradual transition to the new coursework, offering a concentration for public health.
In order to create a fulfilling policy, they need to portray different dimensions and levels such as health administration, health services and environmental factors, she said.
All of these factors work into influencing the entirety of public health and without understanding these outside variables, the public’s health would not be ensured, Greaney said.
“I think we’re providing a solid foundation that students and graduates can build on to help shape health and wellbeing,” Greaney said. “Whether it be through policy … or working at community based organizations or health administrations, we’re trying to provide students with knowledge plus skill.”
The health and wellness specialist at Health Services, Rachael Musch, was able to offer insight on the new department, which holds many programs within the community, encouraging students to go outside and get some fresh air. These usually are on the quad, in the Memorial Union or at the library.
The department’s goal is to provide support for students and their mental health, understanding the stress that comes with college, Musch said. She focused on the need for their physical health and their nutrition.
“We want to make sure we’re meeting the needs of the student population as they present themselves.” Musch said. “What we believe they need versus what the students might actually need may be different, so we have to check in with that and provide the services needed.”
There will be availability for internships and other professional development opportunities for students who are a part of the College of Health Sciences, Musch said. They will be working more closely within different hospitals and throughout the community.
“I think it will help the students on their career paths and I think, on behalf of the Health Studies faculty, we are all really excited and think this is a great change,” Greaney said. “We would also like to thank everybody who established the Department of Health Studies. It gave us the grounding we’re building off as we transition.”
To learn more about what public health is, visit their website, https://web.uri.edu/chs/ .