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Welcome back!

By

arosenvinge

To the Harvard Chan community,

Welcome back! I hope your winter break offered time to pause, reflect, and recharge.

As I shared in November, our School is in the process of developing a new strategic plan, building on the progress we’ve made toward becoming more agile, accessible, and accountable. This next phase will help us chart a clear, long-term path for Harvard Chan School as we advance our mission to improve health and promote equity so that everyone can thrive. Through the work of the Strategic Steering Committee and the Education and Research Working Groups, our goal is to develop a plan that strengthens the School’s foundation, supports innovation, and ensures that our teaching and research have maximum impact in a rapidly changing public health landscape.

In addition to our faculty activities, here are just a few examples of the educational and community initiatives happening over the coming weeks:

  • More than 100 students in our Master of Public Health and Master of Science programs are working on their field practice projects—collaborating with experienced public health practitioners across the U.S. and around the world on initiatives ranging from improving water safety in Rwanda to reducing heat risk through youth engagement in Arizona to developing community-centered oncology care in rural Kenya. This is often one of the most meaningful parts of their Harvard Chan education and I’m excited to hear more about students’ projects as they return to campus.
  • A new Winter Session course, Decision Making and Leadership in Public Health Emergency Response (HPM 580), taught by distinguished public health leaders Rochelle Walensky and Dawn O’Connor, will give students a valuable opportunity to learn how high-stakes decisions are made in real-world emergency contexts.
  • Three field trips will give students the opportunity to gain on-the-ground insights on global health: Students in GHP 297 are traveling to Chile with Tom Bossert and Jamie Sapag to examine health care reform; students in GHP 549 are traveling to Fukushima, Japan, with Ayo Goto to study the health impact of the Fukushima nuclear disaster and “build back better” efforts; and students in GHP 542 are traveling to Brasília, Brazil, with Marcia Castro to work directly with the federal government on pressing public health challenges.
  • SPARK (Strategy, Participation, Action, Recognition, Knowledge), our new community-building initiative led by Bryan Thomas, Jr., chief community and belonging officer, and Bryn Austin, professor of social and behavioral sciences and interim co-chair of the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, is off to a strong start after an energizing Dec. 12 kickoff meeting with students, faculty, and staff. The team has already gathered creative ideas for projects to pilot this spring. Stay tuned for more details on ways to participate. I encourage everyone to engage with our Office for Community and Belonging, which offers resources and programs to strengthen connection, cultivate a culture of belonging, and ensure everyone at Harvard Chan School has the space and support to flourish.
  • On Feb. 21, our students are once again leading this year’s Africa Health Conference, which will convene experts, practitioners, and researchers to examine some of the most pressing health challenges across the African continent.
  • I’m also looking forward to Harvard Chan Student Government Association’s annual I-Night on Feb. 13 at the Smith Campus Center, a beloved tradition where our students showcase their talents and cultures in an evening that truly reflects the richness and diversity of our community.

As we move through this planning year, your voices and ideas will be essential. There will be many opportunities to share feedback through consultations and community sessions. I hope you will engage fully in these conversations. Together, we can shape a resilient, sustainable Harvard Chan School that models the very best in public health research, education, and practice.

Thank you for all that you do. I am honored to work alongside you and optimistic about what we will build together in the months and years ahead.

Wishing you a healthy and fulfilling new year,

Andrea

Andrea Baccarelli, MD, PhD
Dean of the Faculty