ALBANY, N.Y. (May 22, 2007) -- Officer in Charge and Provost Susan Herbst today announced the appointment of Philip Nasca as the Dean of the University at Albany's School of Public Health. Nasca, an epidemiology professor in the University of Massachusetts at Amherst's School of Public Health and Health Sciences and associate dean for research in the School of Nursing, will replace interim Dean Mary Applegate, who assumed the role after the retirement of former Dean Peter Levin.
Nasca's research interests focus on the etiological studies of cancers of the breast and female reproductive organs, and childhood cancers. Nasca has served as a member of numerous grant review boards for national agencies, including the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society. Prior to his work at the University of Massachusetts, Nasca worked with the New York State Department of Health where he held a number of positions, including the Director of the Bureau of Cancer Epidemiology. He currently serves on the Editorial Board of both the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice and the Annals of Epidemiology.
"Dr. Nasca is a seasoned public health administrator, and a distinguished scholar and researcher," said Herbst. "We look forward to his leadership in positioning UAlbany among the top ranks of our nation's schools of public health. I am also grateful for the work of Dean Susan Phillips and the search committee, as well as Dean Applegate for their support and dedication to the University and the School of Public Health."
Nasca was selected to lead the School following a national search, chaired by School of Education Dean Susan D. Phillips. The Search Committee included School of Public Health faculty and department chairs, Department of Health officials, community leaders and partners, and University faculty. Nasca will assume the post in June.
Through its partnership with the New York State Dept. of Health, UAlbany's School of Public Health offers students immediate access to internships at the Health Department, Albany Medical College, and a variety of other public and private health institutions throughout New York. Students have unique access to study the most profound health issues facing us today: the threat of bioterrorism, the spread of HIV/AIDS and other emerging diseases, the lack of affordable and accessible health care for individuals and families, environmental hazards, substance abuse and social violence, maternal mortality in developing countries, the promises and threats of genetic engineering, and protecting food and water supplies.
