The first three candidates to earn Ph.D.s from the University of Utah's highly ranked Public Health Program will receive their degrees, along with 40 master's students, on May 23. The graduation takes place at 4 p.m. in the Little America hotel in downtown Salt Lake City.
The three Ph.D. recipients include two University researchers鈥攁 research assistant professor in pediatric genetics and a research associate in occupational and environmental health鈥攁nd a director with the Salt Lake Valley Health Department.
The University of Utah School of Medicine's Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, home to the Public Health Program, started the doctorate program in the fall of 2004. It is Utah's only program offering a doctorate in public health. A. Peter Catinella, M.D., M.P.H., director of the Public Health Program and Associate Professor of Family and Preventive Medicine, will give the commencement address.
The need for well-trained public health professionals is increasing and the U of U's public health program has an important role in filling that need in Utah and the entire Intermountain West. Graduates with a Ph.D. in public health can teach the next generation of public health workers, conduct leading research, and fill high-level administrative positions with local, state, and national public health agencies and non-profit health groups.
The students receiving master degrees in public health will serve in many frontline positions in local, state, and national public and private agencies dedicated to improving public health and furthering public knowledge and education in the field.
The University's Public Health Program consistently ranks among the top 10 in the country in the U.S. News & World Report listings of the country's best graduate schools.