When I first walked through the doors of the Milken Institute School of Public Health one year ago, I brought high aspirations for the future of our School, a blank notebook, and a simple goal: to listen, learn, and understand what makes this community so special.
Looking back through that notebook today, I find pages filled with extraordinary “Only at GW” moments, ideas for strengthening our School, recommendations for making the most of Washington, DC, and, most of all, stories about the people who make Milken Institute SPH such a special place.
From the moment I arrived, you welcomed me with extraordinary warmth and generosity. It has been a real pleasure to get to know you, hear about your work, and see firsthand the many ways you contribute to our School. As I reflect on my first year as Dean, I feel incredibly grateful, proud of what we have accomplished together, and excited about what lies ahead.
Celebrating what we accomplished together
This year, we graduated more than 1,100 students and welcomed our largest undergraduate class. With 55 degree programs, students from all 50 states, DC, Puerto Rico, and more than 75 countries, and more than 17,000 alumni worldwide, Milken Institute SPH has an extraordinary reach. We are now ranked No. 11 by U.S. News & World Report and remain home to the nation’s largest MPH program.
But what makes me most proud is what lies behind those numbers. It is the faculty who inspire and mentor our students, the staff who make so much of what we do possible, and the students who choose public health, science, healthcare administration, prevention, equity, and public service at a time when the world needs them most.
I have been equally inspired by the strength and breadth of our research. Milken Institute SPH ranks No. 8 nationally in NIH funding among schools of public health, with $88.5 million in research grant expenditures, more than 600 active projects, and more than 400 peer-reviewed publications. This year, we celebrated important investments, including the Gates Foundation’s $9.5 million renewal of PRISMA, additional support for clinical trials, new awards advancing PFAS research, and new HIV funding for research and training.
We also celebrated wonderful milestones across our community, including four faculty promotions, Susan Anenberg’s appointment as the inaugural Lynn R. Goldman Professor, Emily Smith’s appointment as Chair of Global Health, and Wanda Nicholson’s election to the National Academy of Medicine. Our faculty and experts also generated more than 2,000 media mentions, bringing public health evidence and expertise into important national conversations.
Behind every one of these accomplishments are people who care deeply about their work and about Milken Institute SPH. I know that much of what makes our School successful happens behind the scenes and often goes unrecognized. I want to take this opportunity to say a heartfelt thank you for the countless ways you contribute to our teaching, research, service, and community.
Looking ahead
One of the most meaningful parts of my first year has been hearing from you directly. Through faculty and staff meetings, coffees, classroom visits, and hallway conversations, I have learned so much about what you value, what you hope we can accomplish, and where you believe we can do better.
Those conversations have challenged and sharpened my thinking, and your input is helping shape our strategic plan and priorities for the years ahead.
We have so much to be proud of as we reflect on Milken Institute SPH’s first 30 years. At the same time, I believe we have an important opportunity to build on our strengths and create an even better School for the people who learn and work here.
I want Milken Institute SPH to be a place where our students receive an exceptional education, where faculty have the support and opportunity to pursue innovative and impactful research, and where staff feel valued, supported, and excited to come to work. I also want us to keep strengthening our partnerships and ensure our work translates into meaningful improvements in health.
These ambitions will take all of us. I look forward to continuing this conversation with you and to shaping our future together. We will continue to build on this strong foundation of good work, meeting our challenges and evolving to meet the best interests of our students and science.
Thank you for your candor, your collaboration, and your commitment to this School. Thank you for making me feel so welcome and for sharing your ideas, challenges, and aspirations with me. I have learned a tremendous amount from you this year, and I am grateful for the opportunity to work alongside you.
One year ago, I arrived with big hopes, a new notebook, and a desire to listen. Today, its pages are filled with stories of the innovative, dynamic, and impactful work happening across Milken Institute SPH, along with inspiring ideas for what we can accomplish together.
I am proud of what we have achieved, grateful to lead this remarkable community, and genuinely excited about the year ahead.
With deep appreciation,
Kelly A. Gebo
Michael and Lori Milken Dean
Milken Institute School of Public Health