In January, two doctoral programs, Health Systems and Policy, and Epidemiology, in the Oregon Health & Sciences University-Portland State University School of Public Health (SPH) became eligible to receive ARCS awards. Ranked 32nd in the nation among schools of public health, the SPH brings together the expertise and vitality of two Oregon Universities. “We are thrilled to support promising scientists in the critical field of public health through this forward-thinking collaboration between OHSU and PSU,” said Elizabeth Bell, President of ARCS Foundation Oregon.  

The doctoral programs in the SPH were established to address the need for public health workforce development on the west coast and specifically in Oregon. Its vision is to promote a healthy, equitable society. 

The Health Systems and Policy doctoral program is remarkable for its focus on systems thinking, its research faculty and its foundation in Oregon, and is recognized for its national leadership in thoughtful transformation of health systems. 

Epidemiology, a core science of public health and medicine, is the study of the distribution, determinants, and deterrents of morbidity and mortality in human populations. The Epidemiology PhD program meets the demand for doctoral education in this field and in the region, building on two decades of the Master of Public Health (MPH) in Epidemiology and Biostatics at OHSU. 

These programs meet two growing needs for Oregon and our nation. First, COVID has stretched our health care providers and systems beyond current capacity.  Public health has and will continue to play a critical role in mitigating the impact of the pandemic. The scholars ARCS supports in the SPH will join forces with faculty, scientists, and other students to push innovation and scholarship in this important field.    

“Adding the SPH to ARCS Oregon’s portfolio aligns perfectly with our Chapter’s interest in expanding access to graduate education and diversifying its programs,” said Meleah Ashford, VP of the ARCS University Relations Committee and member of the DEI Committee. PSU is the only urban university in Oregon and draws a diverse student body.  Overall, 48% of PSU’s student body identifies as persons of color and 25% have children. Within the STEM fields at PSU, 80% are Oregon residents and 32% are first-generation college students. The SPH not only brings science together with policy to solve big health issues, but it also provides opportunities for graduate education to promising scholars from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences.