Gillings alum named founding dean of new College of Global Population Health

April 4, 2022

Dr. David Steeb

David Steeb, Pharm.D, MPH ’17, was named dean of a new school of public health in March 2022. University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis, Missouri (UHSP) established the College of Global Population Health as part of the University’s larger vision for health education and research with a global focus. Steeb, an alumnus of the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, most recently served as associate professor and director of global engagement at UNC’s Eshelman School of Pharmacy, where he made significant contributions to the program’s global footprint. As dean of UHSP’s College of Global Population Health, he will lead the new college as it prepares to accept students, giving him the opportunity to help shape the school’s priorities and collaborations for the future.

“It’s an honor to have been selected as the founding dean of the College of Global Population Health during such a historic and transformational time for the University,” Steeb said. “In learning about UHSP and its mission to create and advance communities of discoveries to foster a healthier society, I could tell this was an institution that was strong, ambitious, and ready to learn, serve and grow, and that resonated with me from an ideological and personal perspective. I’m ready to work with the members of this incredible University community to build this new college that I hope will transform health outcomes and make a tangible difference on society.”

The new college will house academic and research programs related to global and population health and will engage with global communities as well as those closer to home, where it aims to promote health equity and improve health outcomes in the St. Louis area. The addition of population health expertise will ensure students at UHSP can develop competencies necessary to practice in a field that is evolving rapidly. Steeb’s experience in global health training and research, as well as development of international partnerships and programs, will inform his work as dean.

“Drawing on experience I gained during my time with the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, I will be working to build a college that is focused on developing and training a contemporary workforce and a new generation of health leaders who will be able to make a transformational difference in health outcomes in the years to come,” he explained.

As a faculty member at UNC Eshelman, Steeb helped raise nearly $1 million for global student exchange programs, placing more than 220 students. His contributions to PharmAlliance – an international partnership among three leading pharmacy schools established to improve global health care through innovation in pharmacy education, professional practice, research and student collaboration – saw a 3:1 return on $1.5 million in research seed funding.

At the outset, one of his primary areas of focus with UHSP’s College of Global Population Health will be building partnerships, which he sees as key to establishing the new college.

“My initial goal as dean will be to meet with 100 different people in 100 different organizations, both locally and globally, in order to begin establishing a diverse partnership ecosystem for the college,” Steeb noted. “We will need stakeholders on the ground who will help us determine the needs and opportunities that exist in their geographic areas and how this college can accomplish work that is relevant and impactful to meeting those needs.”

Showing no signs of intimidation, he expressed enthusiasm for the task ahead.

“There is amazing potential that exists for this new college, and I am excited to have the opportunity to work with our campus community to build this program from the ground up,” he said.

Steeb earned a Master of Public Health degree from the UNC Gillings Public Health Leadership Program in 2017 after earning a Doctor of Pharmacy in 2013 and a certificate in public health leadership in 2015, both from UNC. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and biology from the University of Miami.

Contact the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health communications team at sphcomm@unc.edu.