Department renamed Health Behavior & Health Equity to reflect longstanding commitment to health equity

August 15, 2024

The Department of Health Behavior & Health Education at the University of Michigan School of Public Health will become the Department of Health Behavior & Health Equity, effective August 15, 2024. The new name reflects the department’s increasing focus on issues of health equity in research, teaching and service. 

“Health equity is at the core of our mission and actions in public health,” said F. DuBois Bowman, dean of Michigan Public Health. “I am grateful to the many members of the Health Behavior & Health Equity community who were instrumental in supporting this effort.”

With more than 40 faculty members, 135 students, 75 staff, and 1,700 alumni working across the globe, the Department of Health Behavior & Health Equity is committed to advancing health, reducing preventable illness, and promoting health equity through the application of research, teaching, service and practice that promotes health and quality of life across diverse populations. Established in 1975, the department houses eight interdisciplinary research centers and initiatives, and offers master of public health (MPH) and doctoral (PhD) degree programs, as well as many dual degree options for students (e.g., in social work and genetic counseling).

“This new name underscores the department’s longstanding commitment to placing health equity at the core of our mission and actions,” said Scott Roberts, interim chair of the department of Health Behavior & Health Equity. “Our commitment to health equity is reflected in the content of our core and elective courses, the aims of our research projects, and the local, national, and global service in which our students, staff, faculty, and alumni are engaged.”

The years-long process to change the name of the department was initiated by former chair Cleo Caldwell, who retired in 2023 after leading the department since 2017. Throughout the process, the department engaged with the internal School of Public Health community of faculty, staff, and students as well as with alumni, community partners, and other external stakeholders. After garnering multiple layers of endorsement, the department submitted a proposal for the name change to the Michigan Association of State Universities and received approval earlier this year. 

Health equity scholar named department chair

In July 2024, the University of Michigan Board of Regents approved leading health equity researcher Darrell Hudson, MPH ‘05, PhD ‘09, as the next chair of the department. Hudson’s 5-year appointment begins August 26, 2024.

For Hudson, the name change to the Department of Health Behavior & Health Equity could not be a better fit.

“My entire research agenda centers on equity,” Hudson said. “I like to say that my ultimate goal is to put myself out of business. I want to completely eliminate racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic inequities in health. And at this stage of my career, I believe that collective impact is the way to advance health equity. I believe that with colleagues, students, staff, alumni, and partners within HBHE, throughout the School of Public Health, and beyond, we will continue to make substantial strides toward equity.”

Media Contact

Andrea LaFerle

Director of Public Relations and Marketing

University of Michigan School of Public Health

alaferle@umich.edu

734-764-8094

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