|
Introducing "Net:Works"
> Greetings from Ken Warner
Innovation:
> A Lifetime Theme for Bert Askwith
A Scholarship Grounded in Values:
> Rachel Ross Honors Professor Feingold
The Big Payoff:
> A Different Kind of Gamble
Back in 1944...
> An Unusual Partnership
The Michigan Difference:
> A Deal Too Good to Refuse
> UM SPH Giving Opportunities |
Print | E-mail this article
Spring 2008
Back in 1944...
 An Unusual Partnership
The word "partnership" conjures up many interpretations.
In the case of NSF International and the University of Michigan School of Public Health, the partnership has been lengthy, positive, and a source of creative thinking.
Since the founding of NSF (then called the National Sanitation Foundation) in the basement of UM SPH in 1944, both organizations have worked toward the safety and health of individuals and communities. NSF has established national testing standards for products ranging from drinking water filters to food service equipment, while UM SPH has been training the professionals who help define such standards, test products, and support national health policies. A dedication to safer and healthier living defines both organizations' missions and continues to inspire their collaboration.
Partnership is expressed in many forms at NSF and UM SPH. The School has offered some of its best academic minds to help guide NSF's growth and professional standing. NSF in turn has hired our graduates in the areas of toxicology, risk assessment, and environmental health to help support food, water, air, supplements, and other product testing and evaluation. Together, these two organizations have made it safer for Americans to use or consume tens of thousands of products. And recently, both organizations expanded their focus on international health concerns.
NSF International donated $1.5 million to establish the NSF International Department Chair in Environmental Health Sciences. NSF made this gift on the heels of another generous pledge of $250,000 to establish an annual award for a graduate student pursuing a degree in environmental health, health management and policy, or epidemiology.
While financial gifts can be seen as the most tangible expression of NSF's support for public health, both organizations have created many opportunities to interact in mutually beneficial ways. UM SPH faculty and NSF scientists have the opportunity to collaborate on research while students benefit from NSF internships that help bridge the gap between theoretical learning and real-world applications. And additional training for industry personnel at NSF through UM SPH courses or degrees supports professionalism in the field of public health and safety.
Like any good marriage of interests, NSF and UM SPH are taking the long view of what it means to be partners for world health. They expect to be working together for a healthier and safer world for years to come.
|
