News

Join Us to Celebrate the Launch of the Department of Population Science and Policy

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SIU School of Medicine is proud to announce the launch of its Department of Population Science and Policy, a new academic department focused on better understanding and advancing the health of communities in central and southern Illinois. Dr. Sameer Vohra, MD, JD, FAAP, has been named founding chair of the Department of Population Science and Policy.

The Department of Population Science and Policy is the first of its kind: a department uniquely focused on understanding the health of populations and integrating policy solutions to those populations. The department consists of three divisions: Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Human and Community Development and Health System Science. These divisions will work together to assess the health of populations, measure the impact of social, biological and behavioral determinants of health, gauge health disparities and design population level interventions and public policies to improve health outcomes. Furthermore, the department will create and implement academic curriculum to educate a new generation of physicians to practice a population health lens.

The Department of Population Science and Policy will celebrate its launch with a reception on Wednesday, September 19, from 5-7 p.m. in the Pearson Museum at 801 N. Rutledge in Springfield, Illinois. Interested individuals are welcome to RSVP to learn more about SIU Medicine’s newest department.

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