School Notes: School of Public Health
January/February 2014

Encouraging innovations in health

The Yale School of Public Health is launching a new academic program that encourages public health advances by harnessing the power of entrepreneurship. InnovateHealth Yale (IHY) will prepare students to solve some of the pressing health challenges of the twenty-first century through the creation of organizations, enterprises, and improved products that measurably prevent disease and promote better global health. YSPH will partner with other schools and organizations on campus to fully leverage all of Yale’s resources and expertise. Beginning in the spring of 2014, IHY will offer the Thorne Prize for Social Innovation in Health and award $25,000 to the best student-led venture on a social innovation in health. This program will also offer a course in health innovation, support summer internships in social enterprises, and bring to campus successful social entrepreneurs in health.

New MBA/MPH joint degree

The School of Public Health and the School of Management will offer an accelerated MBA/MPH program in health-care management, slated to launch this summer. The first of its kind in the United States, this program will allow students to complete their studies in just 22 months, as opposed to the typical 34 months. This collaboration between the schools will offer students a diverse selection of required and elective courses at each school. Other highlights of this program include a two-week Yale-organized international experience and a summer internship in the health-care industry. 

Health partnership with Russia

A long-standing partnership between the Yale School of Public Health and Saint Petersburg State University in Russia was solidified recently when leaders of the two institutions signed a memorandum of understanding to formally work together on an array of health-related projects. The two institutions have already worked jointly on a number of health projects of mutual concern, including on HIV/AIDS, drug addiction, tuberculosis, hepatitis, sexually transmitted diseases, and childhood sexual abuse, said YSPH professor Robert Heimer, who has extensive research experience in Russia. With the agreement, the schools hope to create a behavioral health research center in Saint Petersburg that combines the pedagogical and scientific skills of faculty from both universities.