UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health Celebrates 10th Year

By Nate Hinkel

 Tom Bruce, M.D., was the inaugural dean of the College of Public Health.

UAMS Chancellor Dan Rahn, M.D., addresses the large gathering celebrating the 10th anniversary of the College of Public Health.

Aug. 8, 2011 | Celebrating its 10th anniversary this summer, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health has changed the dynamics of keeping Arkansans healthy.

In today’s society, health care has increasingly become much more than traditional medical care. The College of Public Health is credited with bringing a population health perspective to the UAMS campus and successfully working toward a healthier Arkansas.

“The major sources of chronic disease today are often the result of preventable lifestyle issues,” said Jim Raczynski, Ph.D., founding dean of the UAMS College of Public Health. “They stem largely from tobacco use, obesity and a lack of exercise. Our goal from the start has been to bring awareness, education, research and results to combat that along with a focus on eliminating the health disparities borne by Arkansas’ racial and ethnic minority groups.”

Though the College officially formed in July 2001, it was forward-thinking leadership in 1998 that made it a reality. With more than $50 million in a federal legal settlement with the tobacco industry being awarded to Arkansas, lawmakers and ultimately the people of Arkansas voted to become one of the few states to dedicate all of its settlement money to improve the health of its residents.

And so the UAMS College of Public Health was created to put a strong emphasis on health promotion and prevention and to create sound policy to find the most cost-effective ways to advance the health and well-being of Arkansans. In 2005, the College of Public Health was named for the late Fay W. Boozman, M.D., M.P.H., a UAMS graduate who led the Arkansas Department of Health from 1998 until his death in 2005.

At a celebration held for faculty, supporters and students July 8 at the Governor’s Mansion in Little Rock, a 10-year historical video was shown, that included praise by Arkansas, Gov. Mike Beebe.

“Thanks to the work being done at the College of Public Health, Arkansas has made great strides in improving the health of our citizens,” Beebe said. “The future success of our state will require a healthy workforce, healthy students, and an effective, efficient health care industry to serve all of our people. I believe the UAMS College of Public Health is serving its mission to help get us there.”

Since the UAMS College of Public health opened its doors in July 2001, it has earned full accreditation, brought in almost $100 million in extramural funding to help answer important public health issues facing Arkansas, and has graduated more than 250 students with advanced graduate degrees. Faculty members, many of whom are nationally recognized, have expertise in important areas such as tobacco prevention and control, cancer, obesity, chronic diseases and health disparities, particularly related to preventing disease and improving the quality of life for Arkansans.

“You really can’t say enough about the leadership it took to direct all of the state’s tobacco settlement money and put it toward this vision that was at the time on the leading edge of innovation nationally,” said UAMS Chancellor Dan Rahn, M.D. “I see every day the strides the College of Public Health has made in making Arkansas a healthier place to live. Here’s to the first decade of helping Arkansas turn the corner toward better health, and to another decade of successfully transforming the way we look at health care in the state.”