𝐒𝐆𝐔 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝟐𝟓 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐞

𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐞 𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐞, 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐝𝐚 | 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟑, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 – The Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine at St. George’s University (SGU) School of Medicine is celebrating 25 years of offering a Master of Public Health to students and contributing to building a competent public health workforce globally.

The program, which opened its doors in the spring of 1999, has since matriculated more than 1,000 students specializing in health policy administration, environmental and occupational health, preventive medicine, veterinary medicine, global health, epidemiology, and other professional fields.

“On behalf of the St. George’s University community, we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the founding of our Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine,” said Dr. Marios Loukas, dean of the School of Medicine at St. George’s University.

“The department, with its focus on preparing students for the wide range of careers in the field of public health and preventive medicine, exemplifies SGU’s commitment to our mission of positive global impact and a truly international education.”

𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐁𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬

SGU’s public health program was the brainchild of Dr. Allen Pensick, former provost of the University. His desire to establish a public health program stemmed from the importance of equipping medical students with a holistic approach to medicine—allowing SGU-trained physicians to not only provide clinical care to patients but also have the knowledge to offer patients preventive education and tools as well.

In the fall of 1999, the first students began courses in public health at SGU. Over the years, the department has evolved to include not only School of Medicine students, but also those within SGU’s School of Veterinary Medicine and School of Arts and Sciences, who are interested in pursuing careers in public health.

The program proudly hosts students and faculty from countries around the world, contributing to its diverse perspective on public health.

“For the past 25 years, SGU’s Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine has been at the forefront of promoting public health through education and practice,” according to Dr. Kerry Mitchell, assistant dean of students and chair of the Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine.

“In Grenada, the region, and even beyond, our students and faculty have tirelessly worked to raise awareness and address the social and environmental determinants impacting the health of our communities.”

Added Dr. Mitchell: “In addition, our alumni, many of whom are practicing physicians globally, hold pivotal roles in shaping public health policies and decisions.

This solidifies the crucial role that St. George’s University and the Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine have played in shaping a healthier future for all.”

𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲

A significant achievement of the Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine is its success in gaining full accreditation by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) in 2010. It is one of the few non-US based MPH programs recognized and accredited by the organization.

The program continues to be accredited through 2030.

“With this accreditation, we are able to guarantee our students an approved public health master’s education as other CEPH-accredited schools internationally,” Dr. Mitchell said.

As the program has adapted to the changing needs of public health, it welcomed Collaborating Centers from the World Health Organization (WHO) in Environmental and Occupational Health in 2012 and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2013.

These collaborations allow both faculty and students to carry out research and
service activities in those respective fields.

The department has additional plans to keep up with the changing needs of students as well as the public health workforce.

“Our multidisciplinary team has collaborated closely with numerous local communities and global institutions to tailor and strengthen our public health training,” Dr. Mitchell said.

“This adaptability is particularly evident in our reliance on guidance from our community advisory members and the international collaborating centers housed within our department.

As a result, we have been able to tailor our educational approach to produce the
public health practitioners our communities need.”

For example, despite the global challenges faced in recent years, the department has successfully navigated through various instructional methods, emerging as a leader in public health hybrid education.

SGU graduates with dual MD/MPH and DVM/MPH degrees are making a difference around the world.

𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐂𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭, 𝐌𝐃/𝐌𝐏𝐇 ’𝟏𝟔
𝐄𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐧
𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐉𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐲

“SGU’s MPH program opened the door of opportunity for me.

One of the things I love about medicine today is the increased emphasis placed on
evidence-based medicine—public health is the backbone to this practice.

Not only does having an MPH make you stick out as a leader amongst your peers, but it broadens your horizon of the world and medicine—eventually creating a better doctor and scientist.”

𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐮𝐝, 𝐌𝐃, 𝐌𝐏𝐇 ’𝟐𝟎
𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐧
𝐎𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨, 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐝𝐚

“I believe completing the MD/MPH dual degree program gave me an edge with residency programs simply by having an additional degree.

It was reflective of my commitment to medicine and healthcare in general. Completing my MPH in Grenada gave me a unique insight into the global

public health sector, and also gave me crucial research experience.

I was able to apply both degrees to my research projects during residency.”

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𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐒𝐭. 𝐆𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞’𝐬 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲

St. George’s University is a center of international education, drawing students and faculty from 140 countries to the island of Grenada, in the West Indies, to its programs in medicine, veterinary medicine, public health, science, and business. SGU is affiliated with educational institutions worldwide, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Ireland, and the Netherlands.

The University’s over 28,000 graduates include physicians, veterinarians, scientists, and public health and business professionals across the world. St. George’s University School of Medicine is accredited by the Grenada Medical and Dental Council which has been recognized by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME). For more information, visit www.sgu.edu.