The University of Memphis School of Public Health SPH CARES framework aims to make SPH a Community Engaged, Anchor Institute, bringing Research-based solutions, and is Entrepreneurial and Innovative and has Student Centric approach.

Over the last 3 years as Dean of the School of Public Health, SPH has been an engine of social, economic and health impact here in the city of Memphis, regionally, nationally and beyond. SPH has shown significant growth in student enrollment (20% increase), research funding ($2million to $27 million), establishment of research centers (AI and Public Health, Public Health Informatics, Data, Equity, Analytics and Systems, Memphis Climate and Environmental Health) and research labs (Public Health Diplomacy and Community Stress and Well-being lab), doubled the faculty size (from 16 to 32), and added new SPH support units including Offices of Recruitment and admissions, Communications and events, Experiential learning and career affairs, and Institutional assessment and accreditation.

SPH has developed meaningful partnerships and collaborations with Shelby County Health Department, and Tennessee Department of Health and has also been designated as Dementia Hub for the Western Tennessee in collaboration with Vanderbilt University. SPH has expanded public health collaborations with the Juvenile and Criminal Court, Neighborhood community centers, Memphis Shelby County Schools, Goodwill Excel Center, Salvation Army, Millington City Government and Shelby County Emergency Management. SPH commitment to community engagement begins with “Public Health in Action”

SPH aims to pursue academic excellence and curriculum innovation by becoming the 1^st School of Public Health in the nation to launch public health dual enrollment program where high school students could take undergraduate public health coursework and attain an undergraduate certificate in public health. Innovative academic pathways have created student opportunities to start public health education from as early as high school to all the way to doctorate education in public health.

SPH aims to foster entrepreneurship and innovation through a range of initiatives including establishing Public Health clubs in high schools both here in Memphis and globally towards advancing good health and well-being among youth. Other initiatives such as Public Health on Wheels, Public Health Hackathon, Empower Initiative, Public Health CARE Changemakers all allow students to think out-of-box, and develop creative ideas to address public health challenges of the 21^st century locally in Memphis and beyond.

SPH offers student scholarships, membership of the American Public Health Association to every SPH student and organizes annually public health career and internship fairs to connect students with the network of employers for both experiential learning and job opportunities.

SPH has fostered exceptional collaborations and partnerships around the world in Asia, Africa, Europe, Middle East, Latin and South America, and Central Asia to advance initiatives such as bringing public health education to high schools, Public Health Diplomacy (nation’s 1^st lab) and Responsible and Ethical use of AI in Public Health.

SPH was the recipient of the prestigious ASPPH 2024 Harrison C Spencer Award for its outstanding work in community engagement. SPH University of Memphis is now a United Nations Academic partner. SPH has been recognized by Memphis City Council acknowledging its leadership and the numerous successes of the UofM SPH. These accomplishments include recent increases in research funding and student enrollment, underscoring the school's commitment to public health education and community service.

I welcome innovative ideas and community partnerships that can help advance the school of public health towards becoming an impactful glocal (Local and Global) school of public health.

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With warm greetings,
Ashish Joshi PhD, MBBS, MPH
Dean and Distinguished University Professor
UofM School of Public Health

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