Message from the Dean

When an outbreak or natural disaster strikes, the CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) officers are often first on the scene. For more than 60 years, this elite troupe of disease detectives has been on the front lines investigating public health threats.

Rollins enjoys unique and close ties to the EIS program. In many years, Rollins graduates claim a good proportion of the 60 to 80 positions available in the coveted program. The current EIS director, Dr. Eric Pevzner, is a Rollins alum. Many of our current and emeritus faculty have served in the EIS, including the late Dr. Philip Brachman, who was the second chief of the EIS program from 1970 to 1981. Others include, Drs. Gene Gangarosa, John Boring, Stan Foster, Bill Foege, Godfrey Oakley, John McGowan Jr., Patrick Sullivan, Ruth Berkelman, Scott McNabb, Jeff Koplan, and more.

Our students have several opportunities to interact with the EIS program, whether through a Rollins Earn and Learn post, with the Student Outreach and Response Team, or by having an EIS officer as a mentor. The connection between Rollins and the EIS strengthens both our school and the program. This issue takes a look at some of the more interesting cases handled by Rollins alumni during their EIS service.

We continue to search for solutions to some of today’s most pressing public health problems. The South has emerged as the epicenter of the AIDS epidemic, and Rollins is at the forefront of confronting the challenge. Rollins has been selected as a coordinating center for the COMPASS Initiative (Commitment to Partnership in Addressing HIV/AIDS in the Southern States), a new 10-year, $100 million initiative that aims to build the capacity of local organizations to fight the epidemic from within. Another new endeavor, the Center for Reproductive Health Research in the SouthEast (RISE), aims to bring scientific rigor to understanding issues surrounding family planning and reproductive health services in the region.

On a more personal note, two valued professors have recently retired. Dr. John McGowan Jr. and Dr. David Kleinbaum have enriched many students’ lives throughout their long careers. We will miss them at our school and wish them well in their next endeavors.

James W. Curran, MD, MPH
James W. Curran Dean of Public Health