In a city with some of the highest rates of infant deaths, heart disease, diabetes deaths and suicides in the nation, The University of Memphis is working to make strides to improve those statistics. Due to the failing health in Tennessee and the Memphis region, a school of public health was approved at a crucial time.
Agreed upon by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission earlier this month, the school will offer master's degrees in five areas of public health including health administration, biostatistics, environmental health, social and behavioral health and epidemiology.
"With the bad health tendencies of Tennessee, the school would help to prevent, not cure," said Ralph Faudree, U of M provost.
The University of Memphis campus will have the second school of public health in Tennessee. The first school is at East Tennessee State University.
Even though there will be two public health schools in Tennessee, ETSU's school will focus on rural public health issues and The U of M's school will focus on urban public health issues.
Discussion rose 15 years ago and has been continuous to bring a school of public health to Memphis. Over the past two years, the discussion has become a reality.
Funding for the school has already been determined.
"First year funding for the school will be about $800,000,"said David Cox, executive assistant to the president. "There will be three funding streams to support the school - tuition, grants and gifts."
According to Cox, The University already received a $1.5 million pledge for the project.
Depending upon the amount received from tuition, grants and gifts, The University and ETSU will request additional funds from the state.
Students involved in the program can expect to incur some of the bill in the form of The University rate for graduate studies.
Faudree said the school would make The University of Memphis more attractive by adding another research program.
"Its first benefit will be The University's ability to serve its mission," said Cox. "That mission includes being recognized as one of America's great metropolitan research universities, noted for capitalizing on its urban setting and region to address the challenges of our global society."
With some students already admitted to the program, plans for the school are being put into use.
"The Master of Public Health degree just admitted around 20 of its first students this fall," said Cox. "That degree program will eventually be placed in the School of Public Health."
