SUBJECT:

Department of Family and Preventive Medicine Updates Name

The field of public health is central to addressing some of the most pressing issues we face today, such as rising health care costs and the need for greater prevention of disease and disability. Public health is a rapidly growing field within academic medicine and plays a pivotal role in protecting and improving the health of individuals and communities. UC San Diego’s School of Medicine recognizes these dynamics and has renamed the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine. The department is now officially recognized as the Department of Family Medicine and Public Health.

Under the leadership of Bess Marcus, PhD, Department Chair and Senior Associate Dean for Public Health, the newly named department recognizes its expanding public health program and progress toward the promotion of healthy lifestyles through community education and outreach, research for disease and injury prevention, detection and control of infectious diseases, assessment of hazardous environments and growing clinical activity across the region.

Specifically the new department name recognizes that UC San Diego boasts a Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) program, a new Public Health Institute, as well as a significant role in the Joint Doctoral Program in Public Health between UC San Diego and San Diego State University. Lastly, the updated name now aligns more closely with our sister UC schools, including UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Irvine and UCLA.

Please join us in congratulating the entire Department of Family Medicine and Public Health team on their continuous efforts to fulfill our mission of delivering outstanding patient care through commitment to the community, groundbreaking research and inspired teaching.

Pradeep K. Khosla Chancellor David A. Brenner, MD Vice Chancellor - Health Sciences Dean of the School of Medicine