School Notes: School of Public Health
September/October 2019

Professor will lead diversity efforts

Mayur Desai ’94MPH, ’97PhD, an associate professor in the Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology and a four-time recipient of the Yale School of Public Health’s Distinguished Teaching Award, has been appointed the inaugural associate dean for diversity, equity, and inclusion, as of July 1. Desai, who also serves as director of the Advanced Professional MPH program, will work with school leadership to create a learning and working environment that promotes belonging, inclusion, social justice, and health equity. The associate dean’s responsibilities include developing and implementing training to reduce conscious and unconscious bias and aggression, and engaging students, staff, faculty, and alumni to increase diversity at the school. The associate deanship is a part-time faculty position that will report to the dean.

Study finds most sexual minorities hide orientation

The vast majority of the world’s sexual minority population—an estimated 83 percent of those who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual—keep their orientation hidden, according to a new study by the Yale School of Public Health that could have major implications for global public health. “Given rapidly increasing acceptance of sexual minorities in some countries, it might be easy to assume that most sexual minorities are out in 2019, but actually, most are probably not out,” said study coauthor John Pachankis, associate professor at YSPH.  Concealment is associated with depression and anxiety, substance abuse, and susceptibility to infectious disease.

YSPH launches new program in infectious diseases

With new infectious diseases emerging and older diseases re-emerging, the Yale School of Public Health is launching a new one-year master of science program with a concentration in the epidemiology of infectious diseases to train analysts and clinicians. The MS program is now accepting applications for the 2020–21 academic year and will focus on building technical and research skills and knowledge. It is intended for people seeking careers in research in academic, government, or industry settings or clinicians who want to perform research.