A new vision of global health
Dean James W. Curran
We began this academic year by celebrating the magnificent life of Grace Crum Rollins. Her philanthropy and vision and that of the entire Rollins family are largely responsible for the success and rapid growth of the Rollins School of Public Health. Mrs. Rollins took great pride in our accomplishments, including those related to global health.
Our faculty, students, and alumni are helping shape a world that is less defined by geographic boundaries and increasingly defined by common challenges. Infectious disease expert Carlos del Rio, Hubert Professor and Chair of the Hubert Department of Global Health, conducts research, trains clinicians, and promotes care for globally diverse patients at Grady Memorial Hospital. The scope of his work extends beyond Atlanta to Mexico, Ethiopia, and other countries. Behavioral scientist Frank Wong seeks to prevent AIDS among Asian men in China and in the United States. Alumnus Alawode Oladele helps refugees begin life anew by providing medical care at the clinic he directs in DeKalb County. Nick Schaad and Michael Marrone were among the more than 80 students who volunteered to work at the CDC following the H1N1 outbreak last spring.
More and more students are seeking careers in global health. Nearly half of all MPH applicants sought to enter our global programs this year. We also experienced a record increase in the total number of new students enrolled in our school. Their interest reflects how they viewed the world as children and how they see it today—a place where there are no limits to improving health for everyone.
Sincerely,
James W. Curran, MD, MPH
Dean
