Black Arts and Culture
State Agency Ok’s New Joint Public Health School Between ODU & NSU
The newly approved Joint School of Public Health between Old Dominion University and Norfolk State University aims to tackle health disparities in Hampton Roads, promoting health equity and community engagement through innovative education and research.
#PublicHealth #HealthEquity #ODU #NSU #HBCU #CommunityHealth #VirginiaEducation

NORFOLK
The Joint School of Public Health (JSPH), an academic partnership between Old Dominion University (ODU) and Norfolk State University (NSU), has received approval from the State Council of Higher Education in Virginia (SCHEV). The school forges a unique collaboration between students and faculty across three campuses to promote health and well-being in Hampton Roads and beyond. The joint school is the only partnership of its kind in Virginia.
The roots of public health in Hampton Roads are deep, with a history of educational programs at NSU and ODU, including Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences Eastern Virginia Medical School. The newly SCHEV-approved JSPH is part of Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University – the largest and most complex academic health sciences center in Virginia.
“We have a real opportunity to create and sustain transformational change in Virginia’s communities where, for too long, we have seen serious health inequities,” said ODU President Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D.
By partnering, the institutions will set a standard for collaboration that benefits the entire community. The school brings together the strengths and perspectives of an R1 research institution with a community-founded medical school and a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) recognized for excellence in health equity, focused teaching, research and community engagement.
“As the second HBCU to provide a school of public health, I am thrilled that our collaboration has reached this critical milestone. One of the many distinguishing characteristics of NSU as an HBCU is a longstanding commitment to health and wellness for everyone,” said NSU President Javaune Adams-Gaston, Ph.D.
According to the Virginia Community Health Assessment, a number of health disparities across Hampton Roads show concerning trends, including elevated rates of avoidable hospitalizations, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, firearm-related injuries, poor outcomes of maternal and child health, and stroke, among others. The JSPH will serve the region by creating long-term sustainability of public health initiatives, educational opportunities and health equity activities.
“The Joint School of Public Health is an opportunity for some of the best and the brightest students, faculty and staff in our region to come together to address our most pressing needs around public health and health equity in Hampton Roads,” said Alfred Abuhamad, MD, executive vice president, Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at ODU and dean, Eastern Virginia Medical School at ODU.
The JSPH will focus on holistic and preventative perspectives of health for individuals and communities through transformative education, innovative research and proactive community engagement.
Li-Wu Chen, Ph.D., the founding dean of the JSPH, called the approval of the public health school “a historic moment for ODU, NSU and the broader Hampton Roads community.”
“With a goal of transforming public health to promote health equity in mind, we are excited to offer students, faculty and community stakeholders expanded and enriched opportunities under the umbrella of a forward-thinking, collaborative joint school that brings together the expertise from partner institutions with a history of exceptional public health education, research and community engagement.”
Within the JSPH, there will be two departments: the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Environmental Health, and the Department of Health Behavior, Policy and Management.

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