The Corporation of Brown University has approved creation of a School of Public Health in July. The new school will allow Brown’s already strong research and teaching in public health to expand further. Terrie “Fox” Wetle, associate dean of medicine for public health, will serve as the school’s inaugural dean. Her first task is to gain national accreditation, which should take about two years.

“Areas of public health inquiry and action, such as addiction, geriatrics, epidemiology, health behavior, and biostatistical analysis are of vital social importance as matters of health and policy,” said Brown President Christina Paxson. “Brown is widely known for excellence in these areas and more. With this vote to elevate the program to the status of a school, the University provides our public health faculty and students with an even greater ability to realize their potential as leaders and scholars.