Over a decade ago, the Corporation of Brown University voted to approve a unified School of Public Health—bringing together world-class researchers and students, all working toward a common goal: to improve the lives of people across the globe. These epidemiologists, community advocates, cancer researchers, behavioral scientists and more found common ground and set forth to build something more than the sum of its parts.
History
Founded in 2013, our school has made significant contributions to the field of public health and the academic legacy of Brown University.
History
Founded in 2013, our school has made significant contributions to the field of public health and the academic legacy of Brown University.
But our story doesn't begin there: Brown University has been teaching a public health curriculum since the Department of Community Health was first established in 1971. Our first research center was founded in 1982, representing an institutional investment in the transformative value of public health. Educational offerings were bolstered in the coming decades: an official Program in Public Health was approved in 1995 under the auspices of the Division of Biology and Medicine, and Brown's MPH program became CEPH accredited in 2002.
Building upon centuries of academic excellence at Brown University, public health professors looked to create a tailored, student-centered educational experience that is uniquely Brown. With this in mind, in 2011 the Department of Community Health was reorganized into the four departments that still form the academic foundation of our school today: Behavioral and Social Sciences; Biostatistics; Epidemiology; and Health Services, Policy and Practice.
“ We had all these pockets of strength...but we knew there would be greater coherence and strength under one umbrella, with one mission. ”
In 2013, with a unanimous faculty vote of approval, Brown's Corporation established the School of Public Health. And as our school grew, we shaped a vision for its future: to perform cutting edge, collaborative research, advance the field of public health, and train the leaders of tomorrow. So we can live longer—live better—and care for the most vulnerable among us.
In just ten years, we’ve established the school as a trusted and innovative national voice, guiding health education and policy toward ever more equitable and effective solutions. From advocating for young families to evaluating hospice care, our work touches people at every stage of life.
And we haven’t done this work alone. Along the way we’ve forged partnerships and collaborations, and discovered new challenges. When pandemics threatened, we found our voice. When the overdose crisis hit our communities, we rolled up our sleeves and got to work. And we won’t stop there — from health equity to climate change, we’re committed to responding to the most important public health issues of our time.
10 Year Anniversary Celebration
To honor a decade since our school's founding, we welcomed alumni, students, faculty, community partners and the wider Brown community to join us for a year of celebratory events.
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Interview with Fox Wetle
Inaugural Dean Terrie 'Fox' Wetle speaks with senior staff member Karen Scanlan about the genesis of the School of Public Health. She recounts the trials and tribulations of the school's founding, and describes the key players that brought the school to fruition.
Listen Now
Past Deans
The leaders who founded and grew the Brown University School of Public Health.
Explore
Timeline
Experience our history through the years.
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1916 | The Brown Corporation recommends a graduate course of study leading to a Doctorate in Public Health — for "thorough training in the prevention of disease and the administration of modern agencies for conserving and promoting the health of the community." |
| 1971 | The Brown Corporation recommends Public Health curriculum be instituted |
| 1972 | Department of Community Health created within Brown's medical school |
| 1982 | The Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies becomes the first public health research center founded at Brown |
| 1987 | Center for Gerontology and Healthcare Research founded |
| 1994 | Center for Statistical Sciences founded (renamed in 2025 to Center for Biostatistics and Health Data Science) |
| 1995 | Brown Corporation approves Program in Public Health, housed in the Division of Biology and Medicine |
| 2001 | First master's in biostatistics (Sc.M.) degree conferred |
| 2002 | Master of Public Health program receives CEPH accreditation |
| 2002 | The Institute for Community Health Promotion (now the Center for Health Promotion and Health Equity (CHPHE), was founded as a center in the Brown Program in Public Health by Director Thomas M. Lasater and Deputy Director Kim Gans. |
| 2004 | School of Public Health expansion plan approved |
| 2005 | Brown purchases 121 South Main Street building to consolidate public health programs across the University |
| 2005 | First doctorate in biostatistics conferred |
| 2011 | Brown reorganizes the Department of Community Health into the four academic departments: Behavioral and Social Sciences; Biostatistics; Epidemiology; and Health Services, Policy and Practice. |
| 2013 |
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| 2015 | School joins Governor Raimondo's newly launched Overdose Prevention and Intervention Task Force |
| 2016 |
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| 2017 |
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| 2018 | Joint MPH/MPA degree program launched |
| 2019 |
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| 2020 |
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| 2021 |
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| 2022 |
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| 2023 |
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| 2024 |
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| 2025 |
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1999: Graduating cohort of Community Health concentrators.
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1997: Community Health Department Chairs. (L to R): Albert F. Wessen (1973-1978); David C. Lewis (1981-1986); Vincent Mor (1997-2010); David S. Greer (1978-1981); Lois A. Monteiro (1986-1997)
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1998: Dr. David Lewis, the inaugural director of the Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, acquired the archives of "Alcoholics Anonymous" co-founder Dr. Robert Smith, including the coffeepot Smith used during meetings.
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2002: The Center for Gerontology and Healthcare Research moved to 2 Stimson Avenue.
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2005: Public Health Research Day judges: Orna Intrator (HSPP), Colleen Caron (Epidemiology), Bess Marcus (Behavioral and Social Sciences), and Thomas Lasater (founding director of the Center for Health Promotion and Health Equity).
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2005: Peter Monti (Alcohol and Addiction Studies), David Lewis (Alcohol and Addiction Studies), David Greer (Dean of Medicine from 1981 to 1992), and Vince Mor (HSPP)
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2006: Robert Marshall, clinical associate professor of health services, policy and practice, at Public Health Research Day.
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2010: Community Health Department Chairs. Inaugural chair Albert Wesson; Dr. David Greer (seated); Vincent Mor; Lois Monteiro; Dr. David Lewis ’57.
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November 12, 2012: Fox Wetle (far left), and Richard Besdine (far right) celebrate the founding of the School of Public Health with faculty and staff.
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October 25, 2013: A reception at Hemenway's restaurant to celebrate the founding of the School. (from left) Patrick Vivier, Annie Gjelsvik, Nicole Alexander-Scott, Ira Wilson, Christopher Kahler and Fox Wetle.
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October 25, 2013: Chancellor Thomas J. Tisch and President Christina H. Paxson address a reception to celebrate the opening of the School of Public Health.
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October 25, 2013: Constantine Gatsonis, Fox Wetle, Joe Hogan, William Rakowski and Richard Besdine celebrate the opening of the School of Public Health.
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October 25, 2013: Brown University notables fill Hemenway's Restaurant to celebrate the opening of the School of Public Health.
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2019: Dean Bess Marcus introduces the Rhode Island Life Index.
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September 2021: The inaugural cohort of the Health Equity Scholars pose with Jai-Me Potter-Rutledge.
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September 2021: Dean Ashish Jha delivers the first State of the School address.
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December 2021: Brown’s Epsilon Iota Chapter of the Delta Omega Honorary Society welcomes its inaugural inductees. Many inductees attended virtually, due to COVID.
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May 2023: The first cohort of Health Equity Scholars graduate.
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April 2025: Allan Just, Joseph Braun and Elizabeth Fussell commemorate the launch of The Center for Climate, Environment, and Health
News from SPH
Voices Carry
For nearly 150 years, Brown experts have redefined what it means to practice public health by heeding the voices of communities, in Rhode Island and beyond.