WSU announces new public health degree

Washington State University has launched a new undergraduate degree program to train and prepare students to meet the evolving public health needs in Washington, particularly in the state's underserved and rural regions.

Classes for the new Bachelor of Science in Public Health will begin this fall on the Pullman campus but additional courses will be offered on the WSU Spokane and Vancouver campuses as the program expands in coming semesters. The program's curriculum is designed to prepare graduates for diverse careers in community health care, education, environmental health, policy and administration, or for advanced degrees in professional or graduate schools.

"This program affirms WSU's commitment to addressing the critical health needs of our state, particularly in those areas where public health services are lacking," College of Veterinary Medicine Dean Dori Borjesson said. "Investing in public health education is investing in the future of our communities. We believe this program will make a lasting impact on the health and vitality of our state."

The degree will be offered through the College of Veterinary Medicine, however, the program is being developed with significant contributions and input from colleges across the WSU system, including the College of Medicine; College of Arts and Sciences; College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS); the Murrow College of Communication; the College of Pharmacy; the Carson College of Business; and the College of Nursing.

Majors can select from specialization tracks in infectious disease and behavioral health.

The infectious disease track will be available only at the Pullman campus and will leverage the expertise of the College of Veterinary Medicine's faculty and staff in the School of Molecular Biosciences, the Paul G. Allen School for Global Health, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology and Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. Study will focus on vector-borne and zoonotic diseases, including coronaviruses and poxviruses. The track features a microbiology-intensive curriculum with experiential learning and local internships in health surveillance, diagnostic testing, infectious disease education, outreach, and project management, targeting rural and underserved areas.

The behavioral health track, centered on addiction science, draws on the expertise at WSU's Spokane and Vancouver campuses to prepare students to engage with populations facing homelessness, mental health challenges, chronic health conditions, and substance use disorders. Majors can complete their first two years of study in either Pullman or Vancouver and the second two years in Spokane or Vancouver.

Newly appointed associate professors Kimberly McBride and Todd Sabato will lead the program as co-directors. McBride previously served as an associate professor in women's and gender studies at the University of Toledo. Sabato was the director of the Bachelor of Science in Public Health Education Degree Program at the University of North Dakota.

"It is incredibly humbling to be a part of something we really hope and believe is going to be a transformative opportunity for education and community building, not only here in Pullman but across the state and beyond," Sabato said.

The COVID-19 pandemic underscored significant gaps in Washington's public health infrastructure, particularly in rural regions. These areas, also heavily impacted by the opioid crisis, have highlighted the urgent need for more robust public health resources.

"One of the reasons this program came about is because the pandemic exposed the lack of infrastructure in the eastern part of the state," McBride said. "There are immense opportunities and needs in the rural areas of the state. It is exciting to get in on the ground level of a program that will have such a huge impact."

While there is a dearth of public health professionals in rural areas throughout the state, the shortage is especially acute for underrepresented communities. McBride and Sabato both emphasize the importance of addressing health disparities and ensuring the public health workforce reflects the diversity of the populations it serves.

"Census data suggests that, demographically, one-quarter of our country is comprised of underrepresented populations. Yet only one in 10 members of the public health workforce identifies as a member of a minority community," Sabato said. "It's in the best interest of personal and public health outcomes that our systems of education, care, and treatment represent those we serve."

In the coming years, WSU plans to expand the program to include a master's program to further bolster the state's public health infrastructure and workforce.

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