SPH dean Dr. Shafik Dharamsi named to ASPPH global engagement and partnerships advisory committee

March 27, 2024 • News

By Sally Crocker

Dharamsi
Dr. Shafik Dharamsi

Dr. Shafik Dharamsi, dean of the School of Public Health at The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, has been selected to serve on the Global Engagement and Partnerships Advisory Committee of the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH).

ASPPH is the voice of accredited academic public health, representing schools and programs accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health. The association’s mission is to advance academic public health by mobilizing the collective power of its members to drive excellence and innovation in education, research and practice.

Advisory committees offer insight and guidance to the ASPPH board of directors on a range of issues related to activities and policies. Dharamsi will serve a two-year term on this committee.

Dharamsi joined the HSC School of Public Health as dean in August 2022. He is an educator who brings more than 25 years of transdisciplinary and international teaching, research and leadership to his role.

In recent months, the dean led the school in development of the new SPH strategic plan, IMPACT 2030 – Commitment to Community, which is focused on the same principles as ASPPH – building collaborative solutions, engaging in community-responsive research and fostering a culture of health for all. The school’s vision of building healthier communities aligns with the U.S. Healthy People 2030 plan, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and HSC’s Whole Health initiative, which empowers people to discover, receive and participate in care for their body, mind, spirit and environment within and through their communities.

During his career, Dharamsi has served on a number of national and international boards and has been recognized for his work in the areas of ethical global engagement and advancing social accountability and health advocacy through transformative approaches to health professions education.

He was recently named to the international advisory board for The Network: Towards Unity for Health, an official non-state actor of the World Health Organization that serves as a “network of networks” for improved global health.