Dear Friends of the College,
Happy New Year to everyone! I hope you all had a restful and restorative holiday break.
Welcome back! I extend my best wishes to all our returning students, staff and faculty and send my hopes for a productive and rewarding Spring 2023 semester! I also want to again congratulate all our fall graduates, we are so proud of you! You can see more about our Fall 2022 Convocation, including the video of the ceremony, on our Fall 2022 Congratulations Graduates! webpage.
When I reflect on the past year, I remember many challenges, both locally and globally. In the year ahead, I am determined to work with all our colleagues and communities to use the power of public health to build a healthier, safer, more compassionate world.
As you may remember, in early December we published our MEZCOPH 2022 Annual Report, a look back at our many accomplishments and events last year. If you have not yet taken a look at the report, I urge you to read through it as a reminder of what we have achieved, and where we are headed.
Upcoming Events
Last year we were able to resume in-person events, and already we have several events in the calendar for 2023.
In January, we will have the next virtual presentation in our Global Health Speaker series, featuring Dr. Jerome T. Galea, giving a presentation titled No Health without Mental Health! Integrating Depression Care with HIV Prevention and Treatment Services about his work in Latin America on January 19. The following week, Jeff Burgess and his team will be hosting a launch event for the Center for Firefighter Health Collaborative Research
on January 24, 8:30-11:30am in the HSIB building. All are welcome to attend!
Then in early February, our Alumna of the Year award winner for 2022, Dr. Julianna Reece, Director of the Healthy Tribes Program at the CDC, will visit campus again to receive her award from the university. While she is here, Dr. Reece will give a presentation about her work as one of the featured speakers at an event we’re calling Indigenous Health: Connecting with Wellbeing and Community Day, a gathering that will include speakers, activities, dance, and food on Saturday, February 4. All are welcome to attend!
Remembering Dr. Frank Marcus
All of us in the college were saddened to learn that Dr. Frank Marcus, a pioneering cardiologist and a public health champion, passed away in December. A researcher and physician in the UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson, Frank worked in collaboration with MEZCOPH to launch and support the Childhood Obesity Prevention Initiative designed to cultivate heart-healthy communities and prevent heart disease before it starts. Coordinated by the
Zuckerman Family Center for Prevention and Health Promotion, the Childhood Obesity Prevention Initiative has touched the lives of thousands of school children and their families in the Tucson region. We all mourn the loss of this great man whose legacy will live on in the programs he initiated and nurtured to build healthier communities in Arizona. We are working with our UArizona Health Sciences partners to organize a memorial service, and will provide specifics when they are available.
Appreciation for Donna Knight
I want to give my heartfelt thanks to Donna Knight, our Director of Development, who is retiring after more than 20 years of exemplary service to the college. Donna began working on fundraising for the college in 2002, and she has seen the successful results of her efforts as the college has grown substantially. Even through a pandemic, her passion and dedication to public health has allowed her to successfully continue raising funds for the College.
Donna established lasting friendships with many of our donors, and I’m sure they will miss her. Donna’s fundraising efforts have helped us build programs and community partnerships that have delivered lasting benefits for the health and wellbeing of so many Arizona communities and beyond. Thank you, Donna, for all you have given to the college and our public health mission. Congratulations on your retirement! You have worked so hard to earn this milestone, may this new journey refresh and strengthen you.
Update on Dean’s Research Funds
We received several strong proposals for the Dean’s Strategic Initiatives & Innovation Fund. Thank you to those who applied. The proposals have been reviewed and by the end of this week I will be informing the applicants of the outcome.
I will be sending out an email invitation this Friday regarding the Student Research Fund so that students may apply for this opportunity. Please be on the lookout for my email.
Lunar New Year
In China and other Asian countries, the Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year, is among the most important holidays based on the lunar calendar. Please join me in celebration of the Lunar New Year which begins on January 22, and honor our colleagues and students from Asian countries and cultures. 2023 will be the Year of the Rabbit in Chinese culture.
Black History Month in February
I hope you will all join me in remembering the profound influence of the civil rights movement especially on Martin Luther King Jr. Day this Monday, January 16, a recognized holiday within the University of Arizona. Although the fight for equity continues, let us pause to honor Dr. King and the many people past and present working to create a just society. We know in public health that equitable societies improve the health of all people, and that all of us whether ordinary or extraordinary have an important role. In February we will celebrate the many contributions of Blacks and African Americans to the history and future of our country during Black History Month. Watch for information from our MEZCOPH Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion about Black History Month events.
Gratitude for Our Community
As we embark on this new year, 2023, I thank all of you for your ongoing support of the College and our public health mission. I look forward to working with you to support the health and wellness of our diverse communities, both locally and globally, with the best public health education, service, and research.
Best Wishes for your Health and Safety,
Iman |