Dean Pettigrew

So it's really truly a one health threat. In terms of the bigger overall threats, Climate change, I think, is huge. And it really impacts everything that we do. Violence, war, mobile populations, conflict is huge. And then there's all the stuff that kind of got lost during COVID, vaccines, the chronic diseases, just the health care system and how we function. as a whole. It costs too much.

So it's really truly a one health threat. In terms of the bigger overall threats, Climate change, I think, is huge. And it really impacts everything that we do. Violence, war, mobile populations, conflict is huge. And then there's all the stuff that kind of got lost during COVID, vaccines, the chronic diseases, just the health care system and how we function. as a whole. It costs too much.

There are challenges with access.

There are challenges with access.

Yeah, well, grants are... Absolutely core to our mission. I don't know the exact number off the top of my head. It's probably 70, 80%. I'd have to double check that of our budget model is funded by research grants and indirects. So it's a huge part of what we do and will continue to be a huge part. The University of Minnesota School of Public Health has a long history of

Yeah, well, grants are... Absolutely core to our mission. I don't know the exact number off the top of my head. It's probably 70, 80%. I'd have to double check that of our budget model is funded by research grants and indirects. So it's a huge part of what we do and will continue to be a huge part. The University of Minnesota School of Public Health has a long history of

high quality, impactful research. And so we definitely have to continue that. Where I see a shift or hope to see a shift is more focused on the interdisciplinary and the collaborative grants across the school. These larger center grants being known for areas of expertise, collaborations with the other health science schools on these grants.

high quality, impactful research. And so we definitely have to continue that. Where I see a shift or hope to see a shift is more focused on the interdisciplinary and the collaborative grants across the school. These larger center grants being known for areas of expertise, collaborations with the other health science schools on these grants.

And so I think those are the types of grants that are going to be needed to really move the field forward and to address many of these complex issues. So, you know, less of a focus on the sort of rugged individual. I'm going to sit in my basement and work on my one esoteric question that I'm interested in. And, you know, there's a value of that.

And so I think those are the types of grants that are going to be needed to really move the field forward and to address many of these complex issues. So, you know, less of a focus on the sort of rugged individual. I'm going to sit in my basement and work on my one esoteric question that I'm interested in. And, you know, there's a value of that.

There are many basic science discoveries that were done with that method. But the world is increasingly interdisciplinary. And it's increasingly clear that one individual can't be expert at all things. to address these challenges. So collaborative grants, I think are gonna have to be the way moving forward.

There are many basic science discoveries that were done with that method. But the world is increasingly interdisciplinary. And it's increasingly clear that one individual can't be expert at all things. to address these challenges. So collaborative grants, I think are gonna have to be the way moving forward.

Yeah, I think we've learned several things. We learned that what we are in public health already knew is that public health has been underfunded for far too long. And so the infrastructure and the skills weren't, And we really need to rebuild the workforce so that we're prepared for the next challenge. I think we also learned, especially I learned, you know, you mentioned mental health before.

Yeah, I think we've learned several things. We learned that what we are in public health already knew is that public health has been underfunded for far too long. And so the infrastructure and the skills weren't, And we really need to rebuild the workforce so that we're prepared for the next challenge. I think we also learned, especially I learned, you know, you mentioned mental health before.

That wasn't discussed enough, in my opinion, early on. You know, I think I'm an infectious disease person. We talked about flattening the curve, slowing transmission.

That wasn't discussed enough, in my opinion, early on. You know, I think I'm an infectious disease person. We talked about flattening the curve, slowing transmission.

But really thinking from a system-wide view of all the aspects of health, you know, the isolation, the mental health challenges that arose, the problems with school that, you know, people who were inside for a long time, that was very real.

But really thinking from a system-wide view of all the aspects of health, you know, the isolation, the mental health challenges that arose, the problems with school that, you know, people who were inside for a long time, that was very real.

The importance of the social determinants of health was really brought to the forefront, health inequities, the disparities, and who was more severely impacted. And I think a big lesson and something that we really need to work with our students and trainees on is how do you communicate? There was a lot of trust and increased polarization and division.

The importance of the social determinants of health was really brought to the forefront, health inequities, the disparities, and who was more severely impacted. And I think a big lesson and something that we really need to work with our students and trainees on is how do you communicate? There was a lot of trust and increased polarization and division.