Public Health

On this page

• Latest updates
• Key Strengths
• Estimated accreditation timeline
• Executive Committee
• Workgroups

Wayne State University is poised to expand its legacy of impact with the establishment of a new school of public health. This initiative builds on Wayne State’s history of addressing disparities in health outcomes, advancing urban health education and preparing the next generation of public health professionals. The planned school will align Wayne State’s educational, research and community resources to prepare a well-trained workforce equipped to address public health needs in our region and beyond.  

Wayne State invites faculty, students and community members to join this journey as it redefines public health education and impact for Michigan. 

Latest updates 

Wayne State is making significant strides in establishing a school of public health, with a plan to introduce expanded master of public health (MPH) and Ph.D. programs in the fall 2026 and to gain full accreditation for a new school in spring 2028. The School of Public Health Executive Committee, alongside 10 working groups composed of nearly 100 individuals from within Wayne State and throughout the region, continues to guide the planning process. Please check this page regularly for the latest information.  

January 2025 

• In early January, Wayne State welcomed Bernard J. Costello, M.D., DMD, as senior vice president for health affairs. Dr. Costello will provide visionary leadership to unify Wayne State’s health sciences, lead clinical affiliations and partnerships, and coordinate on faculty appointments, academic programs and standards, and student affairs with Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Laurie Lauzon Clabo. Dr. Mark Schweitzer will continue to oversee the university-wide planning effort for the new public health school and report to Dr. Costello, until the national search for the inaugural dean is completed. 

• Faculty and staff engagement remains a priority, with listening sessions scheduled for early 2025 to gather input and feedback. 

Fall 2024  

• The Curriculum workgroup presented the curricular expansion recommendation proposing three MPH specializations: population health analytics, community health, and environmental health. The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) requires a minimum of one MPH program with two concentrations, two specialized Ph.D. programs and a general undergraduate program.  Curricular review and approval will follow the university’s shared governance process.   

• The Student Services Configuration/Space Workgroup presented its building design recommendation supporting the unique space needs of our students, faculty and staff. The group proposed renovating Schaver Music Building to serve as the school’s primary location, with some offices and classrooms to be located in nearby buildings.  

• Wayne State was awarded a $1M Congressionally Directed Project to support the establishment of the school of public health and grow the public health workforce in Michigan. Efforts are underway to secure additional funding for the school, demonstrating Wayne State’s commitment to investing in the health of Detroit and Michigan communities. 

Why a school of public health at Wayne State? 

Michigan faces persistent challenges in its public health care outcomes, including high rates of chronic disease and preventable hospitalizations, alongside severe public health workforce shortages. As the state’s urban, public research university, Wayne State is uniquely positioned to address these challenges through education, research and community engagement. 

Key strengths 

• Urban leadership: Wayne State leverages its Carnegie R1 research and Community Engagement classifications to address urban health challenges and is Michigan's only member of the Coalition of Urban Serving Universities. 

• Academic excellence: Wayne State’s undergraduate public health program is Michigan’s largest, complemented by a wide range of robust undergraduate and graduate degree programs focused on improving health for all. 

• Community partnerships: Through the Michigan Area Health Education Center and other initiatives, Wayne State builds collaborative solutions to enhance team healthcare access and outcomes in Michigan communities. Our partnerships with leading health organizations, including McLaren Health, the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Ascension Michigan, Corewell Health, the Detroit Medical Center, Henry Ford Hospital, and Trinity Health, among others, improve medical education and health outcomes across our city, region, state and beyond.  

• Innovative health outreach: Initiatives like the Wayne Health Mobile Unit and the Taylor Street Primary Care Clinic exemplify Wayne State’s ability to launch and scale community health efforts. The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute – one of only 71 NCI-designated Cancer Centers in the country – serves nearly 40 percent of new cancer patients on the eastern side of the state and offers targeted and impactful outreach and prevention programs through 17 locations.  

Estimated accreditation timeline 

Dates are approximate and subject to change.

January 2024 – March 2025 
Workgroups initiate Phase II school of public health planning 
Focus areas: Curriculum, facilities, fiscal planning and application development  

Launch a national search for a founding dean. 

September/October 2025 
Complete Initial Application Submission (IAS) to the Council on Accreditation for Public Health (CEPH) 

October 2025 
CEPH Council action on IAS 

March 2026 
Formal consultation visit by CEPH 

April 2026 - July 2027 
Submit preliminary self-study document to CEPH 

August/September 2026 
Enroll first students in the doctoral programs 

April 2027 
Submit final self-study document to CEPH 

September 2027 
CEPH accreditation visit  

October 2027 
Receive draft accreditation visit report from CEPH 

November/December 2027 
Prepare and submit response to draft site visit report, as needed

January - April 2028 
CEPH expected action on Wayne State's SPH accreditation 

Executive Committee 

Linda Beale, Ph.D., J.D., LL.M.
Professor of Law, Wayne Law
President, Academic Senate

Ramona Benkert, Ph.D., ANP-­BC, FAANP
Dean and Professor, College of Nursing

James Blessman, M.D., M.P.H.
Assistant Professor – Clinical, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Workgroup, co-chair

Amanda Bryant-Friedrich, Ph.D.
Dean, Graduate School

Teena Chopra, M.D., M.P.H.
Assistant Dean, Faculty Development and Coaching, Professor of Internal Medicine (Infectious Diseases,) School of Medicine, Corporate Medical Director Infection Prevention, Epidemiology, and Antibiotic Stewardship, DMC and WSU Clinical Affiliates / Practice Placements Workgroup, co-chair

Laurie Lauzon Clabo, Ph.D., RN, FAAN
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Bernard J. Costello, M.D., DMD
Senior Vice President for Health Affairs

Brian Cummings, Ph.D.
Dean and Professor, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Donna Dauphinais
Director, Strategic Initiatives and Projects

Abdul El-Sayed, M.D., Ph.D.
Director and Health Officer, Department of Health, Human and Veterans Services for Wayne County, Scholar-in-Residence in Criminal Justice and Public Health, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Clinical Affiliates / Practice Placements Workgroup, co-chair

Darin Ellis, Ph.D.
Vice Provost for Academic Programs, Assessment and Accreditation, Professor of Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering
Accreditation Workgroup, co-chair

Lance Gable, J.D., M.P.H.
Professor of Law, Law School, Faculty Director, Minor in Law Program, Policies and Bylaws Workgroup, chair

Bethany Gielczyk
Senior Vice President for Finance and Business Affairs, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, Finance and Facilities Workgroup, chair

Stephanie Hartwell, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Sonia Hassan, M.D.
Associate Vice President, Founding Director, Office of Women’s Health, Professor, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Community Engagement Workgroup, co-chair

Hayden Johnson
President, Student Senate

Steven James Korzeniewski, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Research Workgroup, co-chair

Sheryl Kubiak, Ph.D.
Dean and Professor, School of Social Work

Doug Kuiper
Senior Associate Vice President, Marketing and Communications, Communications Workgroup, chair

Rachel Mahas, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Director, M.P.H. program, Assistant Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine Accreditation Workgroup, co-chair

Nate McCaughtry, Ph.D.
Director, Center for Health and Community Impact, Professor and Assistant Dean of Division of Kinesiology, Health and Sport Studies, College of Education, Faculty, Staffing and Curriculum Development Workgroup, co-chair

Carol Miller, Ph.D., PE
Director, Healthy Urban Waters, Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering
Research Workgroup, co-chair

Melissa Runge Morris, M.D.
Director, Center for Urban Responses to Environmental Stressors, Professor of Pharmacology and Oncology, School of Medicine
Community Engagement Workgroup, co-chair

Donyale Padgett, Ph.D.
Interim Vice Provost for Inclusive Excellence, Associate Professor of Diversity, Culture and Communication, College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Workgroup, chair 

Wael Sakr, M.D.
Dean and Professor, School of Medicine

Mark E. Schweitzer, M.D.
Special Associate for Public Health Planning, Professor of Radiology, School of Medicine Executive Committee, chair

Melissa Smiley, Ph.D.
Chief of Staff and University Relations Officer

Dionyssios Tsilimingras, M.D., M.P.H.
Associate Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Student Services Configuration/Space Workgroup, chair

Patricia A. Wren, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Professor and Chair, Department of Public Health, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Faculty, Staffing and Curriculum Development Workgroup, co-chair

Jinping Xu, M.D.
Professor and Chair, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Co-Principal Investigator, Michigan Area Health Education Center (MI-AHEC), Faculty, Staffing and Curriculum Development Workgroup, co-chair

Workgroups