Diversity and Inclusion
At the Gillings School, diversity and inclusion mean we welcome, value and learn from individual differences and perspectives. By cultivating inclusion within the School, we better prepare our students, faculty and staff for the diverse world that awaits them. A globally-interconnected world needs culturally competent people to serve as its leaders. Diversity and inclusion are assets that contribute to our excellence.
Our Mission
Our mission is to improve the public’s health by training epidemiologists and by advancing knowledge concerning the causes and prevention of disease and the promotion of health. We strive to creatively integrate substantive knowledge and methods from many fields into epidemiologic research, teaching, and practice, with an ultimate commitment to benefit public health.
Our History
Since the “father of preventive medicine” was founding dean of UNC’s public health school, infectious disease is not a surprising focus for research at the School. Milton J. Rosenau, MD, an epidemiologist and self-described “disease detective,” was invited to UNC following his mandatory retirement as dean of Harvard’s public health school.
One of the School’s first major research projects in the early 1940s was aimed at controlling and eradicating venereal diseases. John Wright, MD, MPH, who headed the epidemiological study, adopted a number of innovative techniques in the project, including using computer technology to collect data, recording nurse-patient interviews to help train public health nurses, and developing filmstrips as an alternative instruction method for patients.
Today, the School continues its commitment to the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases among those with limited access to health services.
Read more about “Our First 40 Years, 1936-1976”.
Contact Information
Our offices are located on the second floor of McGavran-Greenberg Hall.
Office of Student Affairs
Academic Coordinator – PhD and MSCR Programs
Bretney Waller, MA
bnwaller@unc.edu
Academic Coordinator – Applied Epi MPH Program
William Gillison
wgilliso@unc.edu
Academic Coordinator – Health Equity MPH Program
Adia Ware, MS
aware@unc.edu
Contact page for all Academic Coordinators: https://sph.unc.edu/students/osa/
Assistant to Chair
Jackie Dark: jackie_dark@unc.edu
Phone
(919) 966-7430
Mailing Address
Department of Epidemiology
UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health
135 Dauer Drive
2101 McGavran-Greenberg Hall, CB #7435
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7435
