Nancy Messonnier, MD (Dean and Bryson Distinguished Professor in Public Health)
The dean reflects on a challenging year and outlines priorities in North Carolina, AI innovation, and clean air and water to strengthen public health.
This has been a year of complex challenges for public health — locally, nationally and globally. The work of our profession involves sustainable, meaningful change led by communities with public health experts providing information, data, best practices and infrastructure. This, by nature, can mean that our work is easily overlooked until health challenges arise.
But our field is no stranger to these challenges. The strong legacy of our work in public health endures, both at the Gillings School and broadly. Times of trial reaffirm our commitment to the well-being of the people we serve — the state of North Carolina and communities across the world — and they underscore how necessary our mission continues to be.
What gives me hope is you, our extraordinary community who supports public health because we believe a healthier, more just world is possible.
What sets the Gillings School apart as a top school of public health is not just our expertise but the drive and creativity that our students, faculty, staff and alumni bring every day. Our reputation stems from teaching and learning, research and practice, support operations, and community engagement — all working together to make an enormous positive effect.
As you read this report, you’ll see our collective impact in every program and partnership, not only in the immediate outcomes but in the long-term changes that unfold over years. Public health often works quietly and persistently, with research and community action laying the groundwork for policies, behaviors and systems that evolve gradually to improve lives.
Standing on a resilient legacy, we will continue to build the future of public health together.
Dr. Nancy Messonnier, Dean and Bryson Distinguished Professor in Public Health, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health
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Our Priorities
This year, we focus on three critical priorities that reflect urgent needs and extraordinary opportunities.
1. State of North Carolina
We’re promoting healthier lifestyles and informed health choices while improving prenatal care and reducing maternal and infant mortality, all with the goal of increasing the state’s health ranking, which currently sits at 30th in the nation. Our comprehensive approach to the opioid crisis has contributed to a remarkable 27% reduction in overdose deaths in the state between 2023 and 2024 — demonstrating what’s possible when research meets community action.
2. Generative AI
We’re empowering outstanding interdisciplinary AI research that optimizes public health efforts, such as cancer screenings, infectious disease tracking and the development of large language models that support patient treatment adherence. Our portable AI ultrasound devices assist pregnancy care providers in low-resource settings, demonstrating how innovation bridges gaps in access and equity.
3. Clean air and water
We’re conducting cutting-edge studies on pollution sources and health impacts, collaborating with communities to respond to disasters like Hurricane Helene and improve well water quality, and developing innovative methods to address harmful chemicals like PFAS in both air and water. Protecting these vital resources safeguards health and ensures a sustainable future.
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