The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health is the public health school of
Harvard University, located in the
Longwood Medical Area of
Boston,
Massachusetts. The school grew out of the Harvard-
MIT School for Health Officers,[3][4][5][6][7] the nation's first graduate training program in
population health, which was founded in 1913 and then became the Harvard School of Public Health in 1922.
History
Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health traces its origins to the Harvard-
MIT School for Health Officers, which was founded in 1913. Harvard calls it "the nation's first graduate training program in public health." In 1922, the School for Health Officers became the Harvard School of Public Health.
In 1946, it was split off from
Harvard Medical School and developed its own dedicated public health and medical faculty.[8] It was renamed the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in 2014 in honor of a $350 million donation, the largest in Harvard's history at the time, from the Morningside Foundation,[9] run by Harvard School of Public Health alumnus
Gerald Chan, SM '75, SD '79, and
Ronnie Chan, both of whom were sons of
T.H. Chan.[10][11]
In 2016, following Frenk's departure,
Michelle Ann Williams was appointed the School's new dean.[12]
In January 2020, The Harvard Crimson reported on an internal discussion by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health faculty on whether to hold a "no confidence" vote on Williams' leadership. The newspaper reported that allegations included that "Williams has punished faculty and staff in the past for expressing dissent, creating what multiple affiliates termed a 'culture of retaliation'."[13]
In November 2022, Williams announced she would step down as dean at the end of the 2022-23 academic year.[14]
As of June 2023, the interim dean of Harvard Chan School is Jane Kim, who also serves as Dean for Academic Affairs and K.T. Li Professor of Health Economics in the school's Department of Health Policy and Management.[15]
Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS): SM, MPH, PhD, DrPH
Population Health Sciences (Interdisciplinary PhD within departments of EH, EPI, GHP, NUT, and SBS)
The Harvard Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) was launched in 2014 as a multidisciplinary degree providing advanced education in public health along with mastery of skills in management, leadership, communications, and innovation thinking. The program is a cohort-based program emphasizing small-group learning and collaboration. The program is designed for three years – two years at Harvard, plus one year in a field-based doctoral project – although some students may take up to four years to complete the program. Academic training in the DrPH covers the biological, social, and economic foundations of public health, as well as essential statistical, quantitative, and methodological skills in the first year, an individualized course of study in your second year, and a field-based, capstone project called the DELTA (Doctoral Engagement in Leadership and Translation for Action) in the final year(s) of the program.[17]
The Health Professionals Follow-up Study, a similar study of over fifty thousand male health professionals seeking to connect diet, exercise, smoking, and medications taken to frequency of cancer and cardiovascular disease.[19]
The International Health Systems Program, which has provided training or technical assistance to projects in 21 countries and conducts health policy research.[20]
The Program in Health Care Financing, which studies the economics of
national health care programs; evaluates the health care programs of China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and other countries; studies the effects of bringing
HMO-like hospital reimbursement practices to developing countries; and applies
hedonimetrics to health care.[21]
The Program on Humanitarian Policy and Conflict Research (HPCR),[22] which studies public health and
humanitarian law and policy in the context of conflict-torn regions like the
Gaza Strip and transnational issues like
terrorism.[23]
The Lung Cancer S.O.S. study, examining the risk factors for and prognosis of
lung cancer in terms of genetics and environment.[24]
The College Alcohol Study, which examines the causes of college binge drinking and approaches to prevention and
harm reduction.[25]
The Program on the Global Demography of Aging, which studies policy issues related to economics of
aging with a focus on the developing world.[26]
The Superfund Basic Research Program (see
Superfund), studying toxic waste management.[27]
The Lee Kum Sheung Center for Health and Happiness, to "help identify how positive aspects of living can lead to better health and a longer life"[28] and "coordinate research across many disciplines at Harvard University" and "understanding the complex interplay between positive psychological well-being and human health."[29][30][31][32][33][34]
The Health Systems Innovation Lab, which specializes in comparative health systems research and transition to the high value health systems model through targeted innovation, policy and practice. Led by Prof.
Rifat Atun, the Lab uses its research, education, innovation and translation activities to work with governments, private sector, multilateral entities, and civil society to promote policy and practice, and accelerate the diffusion of health system innovations for large-scale population level impact.[35]
Launched in 2008 with funding from the
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Maternal Health Task Force (MHTF) is a global project focused on improving
maternal health through better coordination, communication, and facilitation between existing maternal health organizations, as well as with experts in related fields. The MHTF is managed by
EngenderHealth, an international nonprofit organization.
Notable faculty (and past faculty)
Joseph G. Allen, public health expert, director of the Healthy Buildings program
Jun S. Liu, biostatistician and mathematician, 2002 COPSS Presidents' Award recipient
Bernard Lown, co-founded the Nobel Peace Prize-winning group Physicians for Social Responsibility; founder of the Lown Cardiovascular Research Foundation
Rochelle Walensky, MPH 2001, former Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[43]
References
^
ab"Key Facts". About. Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health.
Archived from the original on 12 February 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
^"Enrollment and Degrees". About. Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health.
Archived from the original on 26 January 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
^"Master of Public Health". Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health. Harvard University. 26 May 2015.
Archived from the original on 10 May 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
^"Doctor of Public Health". Doctor of Public Health. Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health. September 28, 2016.
Archived from the original on October 2, 2016. Retrieved September 28, 2016.