School Community Members Respond to the State of the School

Nicole Deziel, PhD, MHS

Dr. Nicole Deziel is an associate professor of epidemiology (Environmental Health Sciences)

"I’m really excited about the vision that has been laid out. We have strategic and inspiring leadership from the dean, which I appreciate. And the strategic plan was done collectively with my colleagues and peers.

I envision a future of public health where we have clean energy, and we make a responsible energy transition where we can have technology and growth, but not sacrifice communities."

Jeffrey Townsend, PhD

Dr. Jeffrey Townsend is the Elihu Professor of Biostatistics and Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

"I was struck by the effort to include our communications as part of what we’re doing as public health scientists. I think it’s true, even in basic science, that what we do in science is to investigate facts about the world, and then communicate our findings to others. In public health, it’s even more true that we need to not just do our science, but communicate it to others, because communication is not just part of the science, but also part of the practice of public health."

Melinda Irwin, PhD, MPH

Dr. Melinda L. Irwin is the Susan Dwight Bliss Professor of Epidemiology and Associate Dean of Research at the Yale School of Public Health, Deputy Director of the Yale Cancer Center, and Deputy Director (Public Health) in the Yale Center for Clinical Investigation

"I am so inspired and motivated, I just want to get working! (We’ve been working all along, but now I’m really invigorated!) The vision, mission, strategic initiatives, and research areas of focus are so aligned with our school, but they challenge us. They challenge us to think bigger, think bolder, to collaborate more with people we maybe never thought to collaborate with across the University, but also external partners. It is a paradigm shift, but I think the school is ready for this."

Olivia Kachingwe, PhD, MPH

Dr. Olivia Kachingwe is an assistant professor of public health (Social and Behavioral Sciences)

"I’m excited that many of the goals for the future keep us rooted in who we are – an institution that’s focused on innovative research and teaching – but are also pushing us as faculty to think about where the world is going. What really inspired me was hearing about a focus on the health care ecosystem and its connection to people’s lived experiences, and how, as researchers, we can more critically think about how different sectors are integrated, with the goal of developing equity-minded policies and practices."

Lisa D. Jones, RN, MPH ’04

Lisa D. Jones is a health care clinician and clinical informaticist in Maryland.

"I think this moment, as an alumna, is so pivotal as we’re redefining who we are as a school and how we’re forging ahead. We’re going through this big-tent moment where we’re bringing everyone in who has the expertise, interest, passion, and understanding that we need to move forward in public health, and health care. For me, as a clinician working in health care management and delivery, what I found so inspiring about what Dean Megan Ranney presented is the realization that we need to take a first crucial step to make change happen."