Dear SPPH Community,
As we prepare to bid farewell to 2024 and welcome the winter break, I want to take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt congratulations and deep gratitude to our community. This year brought its share of challenges and triumphs, and I am proud to reflect on the resilience, dedication, and achievements that define the School of Population and Public Health.
This year, we celebrated 88 graduates of SPPH whose research addresses vital topics including the impacts of COVID-19, anxiety and depression, cancer risks, digital health interventions, maternal health, and dementia. Notably, we also celebrated the first graduate from our part-time PhD program. I am so proud of all our students have accomplished and how much each one of them has overcome to reach graduation day. We know you’ll shape a better world for all of us.
I also want to acknowledge our dedicated faculty members. Your guidance, expertise, and unwavering support have been instrumental in shaping the success of our students and the school as a whole. Thank you for your tireless contributions.
This year, we welcomed new Program Directors, a Division Head, and Centre Directors over the summer, along with new students, faculty, and staff who joined us throughout the year. It has been wonderful to see our community continue to grow and thrive.
Let’s also take this moment to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our faculty and staff, several of whom were recognized for their exceptional contributions to service, teaching, mentorship, and research.
- Dr. Patricia Janssen was named a Leader in Digital Health by Digital Health Canada. Earlier this year, her prenatal and parenting education program, SmartParent, expanded from British Columbia to Nova Scotia, with plans for further rollouts across Atlantic Canada and Ontario.
- Dr. Nadine Caron, co-director of UBC Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health was inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame in recognition of her transformative leadership in Indigenous health and surgical practice.
- Professor Daniel Vigo was appointed as B.C.’s Chief Scientific Advisor for Psychiatry, Toxic Drugs, and Concurrent Disorders, where he focuses on improving care for individuals with severe mental illness, acquired brain injury, and exposure to toxic drugs.
- Clinical Professor Naveed Janjua was appointed as Director of the UBC Centre for Disease Control, a Senate-approved Centre within the Faculty of Medicine, strategically integrated with the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC).
- Dr. Mariana Brussoni received the Faculty of Medicine Award for Service to the University and Community, recognizing her significant contributions to improving population health outcomes locally, nationally, and internationally.
These are just a few examples of the exceptional accomplishments within our community.
Looking ahead, our commitment to fostering a diverse and equitable space remains steadfast. Achieving this vision requires the collective efforts of our entire community. Together, we can build a more inclusive environment that empowers everyone to reach their full potential. Thank you for your dedication to SPPH and the broader field of public health—it’s an honor to work alongside each of you.
Wishing you and your loved ones a winter break filled with joy and warmth. See you in the New Year!
Aslam Anis PhD, FCAHS (He, Him, His)
Professor and Director
School of Population and Public Health | Faculty of Medicine