By 2009 the School of Public Health will be a vibrant center of excellence for public health teaching, research and community action and a magnet for state, national and international students.

The mission of the School of Public Health is to improve the health and quality of life of people in our communities and to eliminate health disparities in Nevada, the nation and the world.

By 2009 the School of Public Health will be a vibrant center of excellence for public health teaching, research and community action and a magnet for state, national and international students.

Public health emphasizes disease and injury prevention and health promotion in communities rather than individual health care. Public health also has a major role in ensuring access to health care for all, examining the quality of our health care delivery systems and in the formation of health policy. Schools of Public Health prepare professionals for a wide range of careers addressing these major responsibilities. UNLV School of Public Health was approved by the Board of Regents in August, 2004. First classes began in 2005 Spring semester. We offer undergraduate degree programs in both Health Care Administration and Health Promotion and a graduate program that offers the Master of Education in Health Promotion (MEd) and the Master of Public Health (MPH). We expect to offer the Master of Health Care Administration (MHA) and the PhD degrees beginning in Fall semester 2006.

Our 5 year goals include:

1. The School of Public Health and the MPH and PhD degree programs will be accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health. This accreditation is the gold standard for Schools of Public Health.
2. A multifaceted research program will be established producing high quality research specific to our mission.
3. A network of public and private partners will be in established in Nevada and will be engaged with the School of Public Health in disease and injury prevention interventions and health promotion activities in our communities.

Goal 1 : The School of Public Health has established nascent units of all 5 areas of concentration necessary for accreditation: Health Care Administration, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Environmental Health and Social and Behavioral Sciences. Classes in each of these areas will be offered for academic year 2005-2006.

Goal 2: An Environmental and Occupational Laboratory has been established and is currently involved in lead poisoning prevention and control in Nevada 's children. SPH is partnering with Trauma units in Clark County to collect and analyze data on trauma in southern Nevada . A web-based program that encourages individuals to develop and maintain health behaviors is being evaluated.

Goal 3 : Partnerships have been established with Clark County Health District on lead poisoning prevention and chronic disease monitoring. Partnerships with several non-profit organizations are in place to start planning community interventions to prevent obesity-related diabetes especially in communities of color at greatest risk of diabetes.