Dean’s Letter – Spring 2025
Dean's letter text
As we navigate an increasingly complex world, the importance of a strong public health infrastructure has never been clearer. Public health infrastructure is the backbone that ensures we can prevent disease, protect populations, and promote health in every community. It encompasses the essential systems, services, and resources that support public health practice—systems that are foundational to addressing the challenges of today and tomorrow. I see firsthand how robust public health infrastructure can save lives, reduce health disparities, and promote equity.
Unfortunately, in many regions, these infrastructures are underfunded, leading to gaps in services and an inability to respond effectively during health crises. Our team works daily to develop stronger public health infrastructure through research, community engagement, and global partnerships. The stories in this issue of Healthviews describe the challenges and solutions our communities need to be better prepared for evidence-based decision-making and swift responses to everything from outbreaks to health disparities. Researchers at UIC SPH are collaborating with the Chicago Department of Public Health to evaluate how health equity zones can combat health disparities and promote health equity. Led by SPH, a new NIH-funded climate equity center will test nature-based interventions, such as green infrastructure, to minimize the consequences of climate change on humans. Partnerships between our epidemiology-biostatistics division and emergency management researchers secured a grant to prepare local and state government for future emergency responses and health crises.
Building and sustaining strong public health infrastructure requires not just government investment, but also the collaboration of academic institutions, healthcare providers, and community leaders. At UIC’s School of Public Health, we are committed to training the next generation of public health professionals who will design, implement, and improve these critical systems. By doing so, we can ensure a healthier, more equitable future for all.
In good health,
Wayne H. Giles, MD, MS
Dean of the UIC School of Public Health