Newswise — Paul Brandt-Rauf, professor and chair of environmental health sciences at Columbia University, has been named dean of the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health.
The appointment is effective July 1, pending approval of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees.
Brandt-Rauf is a chemical engineer, medical doctor and doctor of public health, with an interest in occupational and environmental carcinogenesis. His research at Columbia's Mailman School of Public Health bridges population, biologic and environmental sciences to examine the relationship between exposure to certain environmental factors, genetics and cancer.
"We are delighted to have recruited such an engaging and renowned scholar and researcher to head a school known for its innovative research and service initiatives in Chicago and abroad," said R. Michael Tanner, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. "The School of Public Health and UIC will benefit tremendously from his broad vision of public health and his ability to bridge research and teaching across disciplines."
Brandt-Rauf said he is "thrilled and honored" to join the faculty at UIC, and considers the School of Public Health to have "extremely innovative programs targeted at some of our greatest public health threats facing Chicago and the world today."
"I am eager to build on the school's long-standing mission and explore opportunities for multi-disciplinary collaborations to advance the highly regarded faculty and research programs," he said.
Brandt-Rauf received bachelor's, master's and doctor of science degrees in applied chemistry and chemical engineering, as well as his medical degree and master's and doctor of public health degrees in environmental sciences, all from Columbia. He completed a residency in internal medicine at Georgetown University Medical Center and a residency in internal medicine and occupational medicine at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center.
Since 1985, Brandt-Rauf has held various faculty appointments at Columbia and is currently deputy director of the Columbia Center for Environmental Health in Northern Manhattan and professor of earth and environmental engineering and medicine.
He has conducted global research on biomarkers of vinyl chloride and asbestos exposure and has published more than 200 articles in peer-reviewed publications, focused primarily on cancer-related proteins and their role as biomarkers for disease.
Brandt-Rauf has served as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine since 1992 and contributing editor of the International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health since 1996.
He will succeed Sylvia Furner, who has been serving as interim dean since 2006. Furner will continue at UIC as associate professor of epidemiology.
The UIC School of Public Health includes 600 students and more than 100 faculty. It is the only accredited school of public health in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. For more information about the School of Public Health, visit http://www.uic.edu/sph.
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