However the most cost-effective approach to human health is prevention of disease. The School of Public Health at Health Science Houston is ranked among the top 10 in the nation. It has four regional campuses that work in collaboration with other UT institutions in San Antonio, Brownsville, El Paso and Dallas.
Strengthening the research and practice of public health in Texas is extremely important. Childhood immunization rates in Texas place us 47th among the 50 states. Mammography rates for breast cancer screening are well below the national average. Whooping cough, tuberculosis, diabetes and high blood pressure are areas in which Texas does not do well. Texas Commissioner of Health Eduardo Sanchez reports that 85 percent of those who work for the Texas State Department of Health do not have professional training in the field.
"The Regents of The University of Texas System have recognized these challenges in a very substantive way."
Earlier this year a task force of faculty from UT produced a report on the Future of Public Health. They recommended the development of a state of the art network for distance learning, to include all of the health science campuses and their academic partners throughout the state as well as the State Department of Health. In collaboration with UT Austin, the School of Public Health now offers certificates to health professionals who wish to improve their professional skills in public health. Several undergraduate campuses are initiating the Bachelor of Arts in Public Health degree. Strategic plans are under development at each of the regional campuses to more fully integrate public health with the other academic programs.
Unfortunately, Texas’ investment in public health is inadequate. In 2003-04 the state spent $49 per resident on public health compared to a national average of $98 per person, i.e. half the average national investment. Yet dollars in public health are repaid as much as ten-fold or more in disease prevention. Moreover the developing epidemic of obesity in Texas with its attendant impact on diabetes and high blood pressure would be extraordinarily costly unless it is stemmed with public health preventative efforts.
"...the remarkable decline in death and disability from heart disease... will be lost unless Texas dramatically improves its efforts in public health."
The Regents of The University of Texas System have recognized these challenges in a very substantive way. In August 2005 they authorized the use of $10 million in endowment money for equipment and renovations to facilitate public health initiatives.
As a cardiologist, I am very proud of the technologies which have been developed to treat heart disease, ranging from heart transplants to implanted defibrillators. But equally important is the remarkable decline in death and disability from heart disease from 1963, at least half of which is the result of improved nutrition, decreased cigarette smoking, increased exercise and, more recently, better medications to reduce heart attack. Unfortunately much of this will be lost unless Texas dramatically improves its efforts in public health. UT will do its very best to support these efforts.
The two feature stories located in the upper right corner demonstrate the way UT students and faculty are working hard to make these changes happen.
Best regards,
Dr. Kenneth I. Shine
Executive Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs
The University of Texas System
Dear Friend of the UT System,
