The Drexel University School of Public Health was granted full accreditation for seven years by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), school officials announced today. The seven year accreditation is the maximum amount of time that can be granted by the independent accrediting agency.

The School of Public Health at Drexel University is one of only two schools of public health in Pennsylvania, and the only school of its kind in the greater Philadelphia region.

“The approval of CEPH is a testament to the overall quality and excellence of the Drexel University School of Public Health,” said Marla J. Gold, MD, the dean of the Drexel University School of Public Health. “The accreditation illustrates how the School of Public Health effectively navigated the ever changing public health priorities and the evolving academic landscape of the region to become a national authority in promoting the health of communities.”

The accreditation also marks another major milestone for the growing school.

Earlier this year, the School of Public Health graduated its largest senior class to date. The mid-June ceremony featured a commencement address from the president of the University of Miami and former U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Donna E. Shalala.

According to school officials, research grants have quadrupled, community partnerships have grown and the amount of fulltime and adjunct faculty members has grown in number and breadth of focus over the past several years.

Initially offering a single Master of Public Health degree, the School of Public Health now offers distinct Master of Public Health degree programs, which integrate the five core disciplines of public health, and two doctoral degrees with a third to start shortly. A new MS in Biostatistics will soon be offered, as well as a joint JD/MPH degree.

The accreditation designation culminates a more than two and half year review process by CEPH, including a formal site visit to the school last year. During its review, the Drexel University School of Public Health fully met all criteria for accreditation and is not required to submit interim reports to the council during the next seven years.

The accreditation status attests to the high quality and integrity of the Drexel University School of Public Health’s academic programs, and that the school effectively prepares professionals who can address today's most pressing public health problems.

“This is a significant milestone for the Drexel University School of Public Health, and is a major achievement for our faculty, staff and students,” said Gold. “While the school has grown, the context of much of our work remains grounded within the foundation of health as a human right.”

The Drexel University School of Public Health works collaboratively with community groups, agencies, and populations to prepare professionals who can effectively address today's most pressing public health problems. The school’s curriculum combines knowledge of the disciplines of public health with practical applications of that knowledge. Through this curriculum, the School of Public Health creates rigorous and interdisciplinary academic, research and service programs that emphasize the unique role of human rights in public health.

For more information about the Drexel University School of Public Health, please visit publichealth.drexel.edu. To learn more about the benefits of accreditation, please visit www.ceph.org.