Bloom and Ware Discuss Public Health Challenges

HSPH dean Barry Bloom and dean for academic affairs James Ware gave an overview of the School’s accomplishments, fiscal health, and future goals to a standing-room only crowd in the Kresge cafeteria for the fourth annual State of the School Address on Oct. 19.

Photo by Susanne Camarata Dean Barry Bloom addressed HSPH’s possible relocation to Allston during his State of the School presentation.

Bloom, Ware, and the School’s chairs have been re-envisioning the future agendas of public health to answer the challenge of Harvard University president Lawrence Summers when he asked, “What should we be doing in the next 10 or 20 years that people 100 years from now will look back at Harvard and say, ‘That really made a difference in making the world a better place’?”

Among hundreds of public health challenges, the School has chosen the following major, cross-cutting agendas that exert a tremendous impact on the world and that need further study: the unfinished efforts against infectious diseases; the coming epidemic of chronic diseases; the unnecessary epidemic of violence, injury, and environmental threats; health disparities; and health system development and reform.

Research Accomplishments
Bloom provided a quick sampling of the numerous scientific accomplishments of HSPH from the previous year. Researchers created a method and model that suggested combining AIDS treatment with prevention in Africa could save approximately 10 million more lives than spending on one or the other. An assessment in U.S. hospitals showed for the first time that quality of care varies significantly among regions and also within hospitals. Three symposia convened public health leaders from several countries to discuss how to address the complicated problem of health disparities.

HSPH associate professor Sue Goldie received a $500,000 MacArthur “genius” grant for her work in decision science. Professor Christopher Murray received an award from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop innovative ways to assess health in poor countries. Professors Meir Stampfer, Walter Willett, and Graham Colditz were ranked number one, two, and seven, respectively, in a list by the Institute for Scientific Information of the last decade’s most cited scientists in clinical medicine.

Disaster Response
Deans Bloom and Ware answered questions from the audience about public health issues in the news, such as avian flu, the Oct. 8 earthquake

Seed funding has been made available for new initiatives, including a bioinformatics core, a health disparities working group, global health projects, and a quantitative health sciences group.

in South Asia, and Hurricane Katrina. School members have been involved in response efforts, ranging from the deployment of health care professionals through aid agencies to organizing clothing drives.

Fiscal Health and Initiatives
The School has maintained a fiscally responsible approach to finances, realizing a 12 percent increase in revenues last fiscal year and a positive net balance. As a result, seed funding has been made available for new initiatives, including a bioinformatics core, a health disparities working group, global health projects, and a quantitative health sciences group.

Diversity and Women in Science
The School continues working toward diversifying its staff, students, and faculty. Professor Deborah Prothrow-Stith has been named the School’s representative to the University Committee on Faculty Development and Diversity, and a newly established distinguished visiting professor program plans to invite faculty members of color from other institutions to spend one year at HSPH.

Allston Planning
Harvard University’s vision for an Allston campus is taking shape, Ware explained, and he outlined on a map where the new campus is anticipated and where HSPH may eventually establish a presence. In addition, there are ongoing discussions about the School retaining a building in the LMA to help preserve collaborative relationships in the area.

Both Bloom and Ware encouraged the audience to provide input into Allston planning.

—Christina Roache

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