SUNY Downstate’s School of Public Health Receives Maximum Re-accreditation
Jul 17, 2016
Brooklyn, NY – The School of Public Health at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University has been re-accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) for the maximum possible seven-year period, extending to July 1, 2023. In their report, the Council site visitors noted that all 32 CEPH accreditation criteria for schools of public health were met. CEPH is an independent agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit schools of public health and public health programs outside schools of public health.
Pascal James Imperato, MD, MPH&TM, DSc, MACP, Founding Dean of the School of Public Health and Distinguished Service Professor, said, “I want to thank the Council on Education for Public Health and all those who participated in the site visit and evaluation process. This new milestone affirms our mission of advancing public health knowledge, promoting health and well-being for urban and immigrant populations, and achieving greater health equity for all.”
SUNY Downstate’s School of Public Health was initially accredited by CEPH in 2010 for the then maximum period of five years. Prior to that time, the school's predecessor, the Master of Public Health Program, was also accredited for the then maximum period of five years in 2005.
The SUNY Downstate School of Public Health offers the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree in five areas – Community Health Sciences, Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Health Policy and Management. The school also offers the Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree in the first three areas. In addition, the school has a popular Advanced Certificate in Public Health whose curriculum is comprised of the five required core courses for the MPH degree.
The School of Public Health's Center for Global Health, directed by M. Monica Sweeney, MD, MPH, offers several international programs among which is the Global Health in Developing Countries elective for fourth-year medical students. A total of 405 students have participated in this elective in 41 countries. The Global Health Practical Field Experience for public health students currently operates in four countries, and is available to both MPH and DrPH students. The school is a member of the Planetary Health Alliance that links the promotion of human health with sustaining natural systems.
The School of Public Health has 455 alumni and a current enrollment of 214 students, 47 of whom are in the DrPH degree program. The entering class of September 2016 will bring the school's total enrollment to 285.
The SUNY Downstate School of Public Health was the first school of public health in a public university in New York City, and is the only school of public health in Brooklyn.
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About SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn is one of four academic health centers (AMCs) in The State University of New York (SUNY) 64-campus system and the only SUNY AMC in New York City dedicated to health education, research, and patient care for the borough’s 2.7 million residents. Its flagship hospital, University Hospital at Downstate (UHD), is a teaching hospital and benefits from the expertise of Downstate’s exceptional medical school and world-class academic center research facilities. With a staff of over 800 physicians representing 53 specialties and subspecialties, Downstate offers comprehensive healthcare services to the community.
UHD provides high-risk neonatal and infant services, pediatric nephrology, and dialysis for kidney diseases and is the only kidney transplantation program in Brooklyn. Beyond its clinical expertise, Downstate houses a range of esteemed educational institutions, including its College of Medicine, College of Nursing, School of Health Professions, School of Graduate Studies, and School of Public Health. Downstate fosters innovation through its multifaceted biotechnology initiative, the Biotechnology Incubator and BioBAT, which support early-stage and more mature biotech companies.