L to R: Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum and Gov. Charlie Crist present the COPH 25th Anniversary resolution to USF President Judy Genshaft and USF Health CEO Dr. Stephen Klasko.

The outstanding contributions and dedication of the USF College of Public Health in addressing the complex health challenges of a diverse and growing state were recognized by Florida Gov. Charlie Crist on June 9 in Tallahassee.

The 25th Anniversary of the College of Public Health was recognized with a formal resolution offered by Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum and unanimously passed by the Florida Cabinet.

Crist presented the resolution to USF President Judy Genshaft and Stephen Klasko, MD, MBA, CEO for USF Health.

They were joined by a USF contingent comprised of Sam Bell, chair of the USF COPH Advisory Board and a former Florida legislator instrumental in founding the College; Paul Burress, a COPH alumnus living in Tallahassee; Cindy Burress, a master’s student in COPH; Betty Castor, director of USF’s Patel Center; Doug Kerr, director of USF Health Development; Charles Mahan, MD; dean emeritus of COPH; John Phelps, member of the COPH Advisory Board and former clerk of the Florida House of Representatives; and Deanna Wathington, MD, MPH, COPH interim associate dean of academic affairs.

L to R: USF President Judy Genshaft, COPH founder Sam Bell (holding signed resolution), USF Health CEO Dr. Stephen Klasko, COPH Interim Associate Dean Dr. Deanna Wathington; Betty Castor of USF Patel Center, and USF Health Development Director Doug Kerr.

The USF College of Public Health was created by the Florida legislature in 1984 to provide leadership for the Florida public health system through the development of academic programs and by serving as a resource for the state’s public health officials.

Since then, the College has graduated more than 3,000 public health professionals with master’s and doctoral degrees and graduate certificates, and nearly 300 undergraduates have completed a new public health minor. Faculty have generated more than $275 million in external research funding, and the College’s endowment has topped $13 million.

“Today, we are recognized leaders in distance learning, social marketing, maternal and child health, and global infectious diseases research,” said Donna Petersen, ScD, dean of the College of Public Health. “For 25 years, public health has been our passion and our promise.”

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist welcomes USF Health’s Dr. Stephen Klasko to Tallahassee.

Dr. Klasko, with the USF contingent, addresses Gov. Crist and his Cabinet.

Dr. Wathington, center, with COPH alum Paul Burress and COPH master’s student Cindy Burress

Betty Castor snaps a photo of President Genshaft, Sam Bell and Dr. Klasko with the state resolution recognizing COPH’s 25th anniversary

USF President Judy Genshaft leads a toast to Sam Bell for his vision and leadership in helping establish the College of Public Health.

– Photos by Colin Hackley