10 facts you might not know about public health and the West Virginia University School of Public Health

To help us celebrate 10 years since the West Virginia University School of Public Health was founded, Dean’s Ambassador Aleah Stevenson compiled 10 important facts about the public health field and our school. 

1. In 2012, when the School of Public Health was founded, we were the first school that WVU had established in 50 years!

2. The School of Public Health is the only accredited public health school in West Virginia. 

The school is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health, which means that our programs meet the standards developed by public health academics and practitioners.

3. There are over 20 majors and minors that are related to public health here at WVU.

4. The career path in public health is diverse!

Public health professionals can serve in medical (clinical-based), scientific and non-medical (community-outreach) careers.

5. Did you know The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)  is in our very own backyard?

Many public health students have volunteered and completed internships here!

6. Public health is the practice of prevention and promoting healthy habits from populations such as small communities to large countries. 

7. The first modern public health agency in the U.S. was created in 1866 in New York City.

8. In 2020 and 2021, we were one of 60 colleges and universities that participated in a national mask use study led by the CDC.

9. The first written book about Public Health is called Leviticus.

10. We have partnerships with organizations and agencies at the local, state and national levels.

Our partnerships with organizations like the Monongalia Health Department, the WVU Center for Excellence in Disabilities and the Pantry Plus More. This allows students to get experience both in and out of the classroom.