Message from the Dean
Even though summer is officially underway, I want to take a moment to reflect on the many accomplishments and milestones across our SPHIS community this past spring. We proudly celebrated more than 100 graduates as they completed their degrees and prepared to make meaningful contributions to public health. Their dedication and passion give us great confidence in the future of our field.
I’m also happy to share the announcement of the endowed Heidi S. Margulis Scholarship, which was made possible through the generosity of Humana’s $300,000 starting gift. This investment will directly support our students and expand access to public health education. In the coming weeks, SPHIS will select the first recipient of a full-ride scholarship, and I look forward to sharing that announcement with you.
This spring also marked a significant step forward for our campus with the groundbreaking of the new Health Sciences Center building. This state-of-the-art facility will become the future home of SPHIS, with an anticipated opening in Fall 2029. We are eager to see how this new space will enhance collaboration, learning and innovation across the health sciences campus.
"I'm excited to share some of the exciting initiatives and events that are on the horizon for our school."
Since construction is underway, the Gray Street Farmers Market has relocated just down the street to LOUMED Commons at 316 E. Chestnut Street. While we will certainly miss having it right outside our doors, the new location offers a vibrant and welcoming space for the market to thrive. The dates and hours remain the same. It is still open rain or shine on Thursdays from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. through the end of September. If you have some free time, I encourage you to visit the market this summer to support our vendors and community partners.
I’m also pleased to report that the search for the next Dean of SPHIS is well underway. We recently welcomed candidates to campus, where they engaged with faculty, staff and students. We look forward to announcing new leadership later this year.
Finally, SPHIS is beginning the reaccreditation process with the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). This important process ensures that we continue to meet the highest standards in public health education and remain well-positioned to serve our students and community.
I hope you have a wonderful and restorative summer, and I look forward to sharing even more exciting updates with you in the months ahead.
Kathy B. Baumgartner, MA, MS, PhD
Interim Dean & Professor of Epidemiology and Population Health
UofL School of Public Health and Information Sciences