Public health is emerging from a post-war period. The acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic challenged public health like never before. It highlighted the strengths and enormous contributions public health can make.  It also highlighted challenges the field faces. This presentation will discuss both these strengths and weaknesses, aiming to find a consequential path forward for the field in coming decades.

Sandro Galea, MD, MPH, DrPH

Sandro Galea, a physician, epidemiologist, and author, is dean and Robert A. Knox Professor at Boston University School of Public Health. He previously held academic and leadership positions at Columbia University, the University of Michigan, and the New York Academy of Medicine. He has published extensively in the peer-reviewed literature, and is a regular contributor to a range of public media, about the social causes of health, mental health, and the consequences of trauma. He has been listed as one of the most widely cited scholars in the social sciences. He is past chair of the board of the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health and past president of the Society for Epidemiologic Research and of the Interdisciplinary Association for Population Health Science. He is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine. Galea has received several lifetime achievement awards. Galea holds a medical degree from the University of Toronto, graduate degrees from Harvard University and Columbia University, and an honorary doctorate from the University of Glasgow.

The School of Public Health recognizes the outstanding achievements of its alumni annually at our alumni awards celebration. Alumni are honored at various stages of their public health careers.

Gaylord Anderson Leadership Award: Kiri Ness, PhD, MPH, BA

Alumni Award of Merit: Ryan Newkirk, PhD, MPH

Alumni Innovator Award: Sean McEligot

Emerging Leader Award: Debashree Ray, PhD, MStat

Outstanding Mentor Award: Alicen Burns Spaulding, PhD, MPH

Outstanding Mentor Award: Donald Buckley, PhD, MHA, LFACHE

Learn more about the 2023 award winners.

University Avenue Parking Ramp

An adjacent 500-car ramp is connected by tunnel to the McNamara Alumni Center. Parking is $3.00 per hour with a daily maximum of $13.00. If the ramp is in event mode there will instead be a daily rate of $10.00, and no hourly rate. Once inside the parking ramp, take the East elevator to tunnel B or street level. The Alumni Center is the copper building adjacent to the ramp.

• McNamara Alumni Center parking map

Directions to University Avenue Ramp, adjacent to Alumni Center

Ramp address: 1926 University Ave. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455

From the north, heading south on 35W

1. Take Exit #18, 4th St-University Ave exit
2. Cross 4th Street SE; turn left on University Ave
3. Stay in the right lane, drive 9 blocks to the University Ave Parking Ramp — located on the right side of the street

From the south, heading north on 35W

1. Take Exit #18, 4th St-University Ave exit
2. Turn right on University Ave
3. Stay in the right lane, drive 9 blocks to the University Ave Parking Ramp — located on the right side of the street

From the east or west on I-94

1. Take Exit #235B, University of Minnesota/Huron Boulevard
2. Follow Huron Boulevard one block and turn left onto Fulton St (1st stop light)
3. Drive 3 blocks and turn right onto Oak St
4. Follow Oak St past the Alumni Center (on the left) and cross over University Ave.
5. Oak St will curve to the left and turn into 4th Street
6. Turn left at the first available street (18th Ave, 17th Ave or 16th Ave)
7. Drive 1 block and turn left onto University Ave
8. Immediately get into the right lane and turn right into the University Ave Parking Ramp

Other ramps if needed:

• Oak Street Ramp: 401 Oak St SE Minneapolis, MN 55455
• Washington Ave Ramp: 501 Washington Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455

Metro Transit- Green Line: 

The Green line stops a short block from the McNamara Alumni Center at the East Bank Station. It is on Washington Avenue across from the Graduate Minneapolis hotel. For specific route and schedule information visit www.metrotransit.org