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Institute will serve health needs of state
June 24, 2011
Dr. Lee Pearson will be
executive director of the
S.C. Institute of Medicine
and Public Health.
Dr. Donna Richter will be a
senior advisor to the institute
and continue to serve
on the Arnold School faculty.
The S.C. Public Health Institute (SCPHI) has received a three-year grant from The Duke Endowment to enhance its mission of advancing initiatives to improve the health of South Carolinians.
The $725,000 award, which begins July 1, will further develop the scope and organizational capacity of SCPHI by linking it with the vision to establish an Institute of Medicine in our state. The expanded organization, to be known as the S.C. Institute of Medicine and Public Health, will tackle key health issues in the Palmetto State by bringing together academia, healthcare providers, businesses and community leaders to target challenges in healthcare delivery and disease prevention and to develop solutions.
Dr. Lee Pearson, SCPHI director, will serve as executive director of the expanded institute. Beginning July 1, Dr. Donna Richter, the founding executive director of SCPHI, will return to teaching and research opportunities in the Arnold School's department of health promotion, education, and behavior. She also will serve as a senior advisor to the Institute of Medicine and Public Health. Kester Freeman, former CEO of Palmetto Health, will be the CEO of the new institute and will focus on establishing its board of directors and leveraging the investment of The Duke Endowment to garner broader support for the new enterprise.
In assessing the broadened opportunities of the Public Health Institute, Richter said, "With the many health issues facing our state, having a strong resource for evidence-based information is essential. The work of SCPHI has created a solid foundation for the expanded Institute of Medicine and Public Health. I am confident this new enterprise will be a catalyst for improving the health outcomes in our state."
SCPHI was established in 2007 through a partnership between USC and the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) to advance the public health priorities of South Carolina through services and programs that addressed three key areas -- policy, prevention and leadership. SCPHI, a member of the National Network of Public Health Institutes, has been funded by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The Duke Endowment, DHEC, USC and the Arnold School.
"The new funding from The Duke Endowment builds on the work of SCPHI and the solid relationships that the institute has developed in addressing public health needs throughout the state," said Pearson.
Dr. Tom Chandler, dean of the Arnold School of Public Health, said the plans for the new institute continue the focus on improving health and health policy for the people of South Carolina.
"The expansion of the S.C. Public Health Institute comes at a critical time in the needs of our state," Chandler said. "Reduced state and federal funding for healthcare make the work of this institute vital to the future health and wellness of our children and adults."
SCPHI has had a leading role in bringing nonprofit and private sector groups together to develop plans for health care reform through the implementation of the federal Affordable Care Act in South Carolina. Other initiatives within SCPHI include the provision of reports and evidence-based information on key health policy considerations and public forums that address health issues in South Carolina.
The Duke Endowment, in Charlotte, N.C., seeks to fulfill the legacy of James B. Duke by enriching lives and communities in the Carolinas through higher education, health care, rural churches and children's services. Since its inception in 1924, the Endowment has awarded nearly $2.8 billion in grants.
