New UT School of Public Health San Antonio welcomes inaugural class, launches degree program

DECEMBER 29, 2024 — Editor's note: This article was originally published on August 26, 2024.

 The University of Texas School of Public Health San Antonio (UT School of Public Health San Antonio), a collaboration between The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) and UTSA proudly welcomes its inaugural class and the official launch of the region’s first Master of Public Health (MPH) graduate degree program.

Beginning Monday, August 26, the first cohort of 40 students will attend classes at the new UT School of Public Health San Antonio, located on the Greehey Campus at UT Health San Antonio. Many of the students in the program reside in Bexar County and are working professionals in health care, education and government agencies.

“We are excited to welcome our first cohort of students,” said Vasan Ramachandran, MD, founding dean of The University of Texas School of Public Health San Antonio. “Our mission is to train and educate future public health professionals, providing them with high-quality education and the tools to develop innovative solutions to local and regional public health problems. We believe promoting health is essential to building strong communities.”

“It’s a game changer that will provide students with the distinctive education and experiences needed to prepare them for the public health careers of today and tomorrow.”

The collaboration between UT Health San Antonio and UTSA brings together the academic strengths, expertise and resources of two institutions committed to excellence in education. Designed uniquely for South Texas, the new school will train graduate students to serve the public health needs of the communities across the area, improving the health and well-being of South Texans.

“San Antonio was the largest city in the United States without a school of public health until the creation of this new school, which combines our strengths in areas such as data science, epidemiology, biostatistics and behavioral science,” said Heather Shipley, UTSA provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “It’s a game changer that will provide students with the distinctive education and experiences needed to prepare them for the public health careers of today and tomorrow.”

The seventh-largest city in the United States, San Antonio is geographically located at the center of South Texas and reflects the country’s demographic future. By building the school of public health, UT Health San Antonio and UTSA are creating more opportunities for experiential learning and transdisciplinary research. Additionally, students will be more informed of the public health realities that the rest of the nation will experience in the years to come. This includes knowledge of health disparities and an understanding of how to address the unique needs of the state’s growing Latino population.

“We have designed our curriculum to empower students to become effective facilitators of discussions about health-related issues, to ask meaningful questions, and to contribute to finding solutions by applying their knowledge in meaningful ways,” said William Garner, DrPH, MPH, FACHE, associate dean of academic, faculty and student affairs at The University of Texas School of Public Health San Antonio. “We aren’t just here to help build public health expertise but also to empower students to navigate difficult conversations and apply their knowledge with confidence that effectively leads to positive health outcomes.”

UT School of Public Health San Antonio’s curriculum is practical, where research matters to the people and service counts for the community. The Master of Public Health (MPH) degree requires a minimum of 45 semester credit hours. Students have an opportunity to gain skills and apply evidence-based solutions and policies. The program emphasizes educating and training future leaders who can face public health threats and opportunities of today and tomorrow.

The interdisciplinary nature of the public health program gives students an opportunity to explore a wide range of careers in the areas of public health practice, including environmental, occupational and behavioral health, plus health services administration.

According to the American Public Health Association, the field of public health “promotes and protects the health of people and the communities where they live, learn, work and play.” Public health is known to improve quality of life, prevent hazards and keep people healthy. The work spans government, business and nonprofit sectors. Careers include scientists, academic scholars, health educators, community health workers, public health practitioners and policymakers.

“Through our new School of Public Health, we are growing our state’s workforce and equipping students with the knowledge and skills they need to address complex health challenges in South Texas,” said Lynne Cossman, dean of the UTSA College for Health, Community and Policy. “This new school is a testament to UTSA and UT Health San Antonio’s shared commitment to improve the quality of life of residents in our state.”

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the field of public health is expected to grow approximately 17 percent between now and the year 2030. Based on the Texas Workforce Commission, community and social service occupations are expected to grow by more than 43,000 in Texas in the next six years. UT School of Public Health San Antonio will positively impact the workforce and aims to supply for future job growth in areas of high demand.