ASPPH Celebrates 85 Years of Advancing Academic Public Health

This year marks the 85th anniversary of the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH), an important milestone that reflects more than eight decades of leadership, collaboration, and impact in academic public health. To commemorate this occasion, ASPPH has launched a new History & Milestones webpage highlighting the organization's evolution and the key developments that have helped shape academic public health over time.

Founded in 1941 as the Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH) by the deans of accredited schools of public health, the organization was created to promote excellence in graduate public health education and strengthen the nation's public health infrastructure. In the decades that followed, ASPH became a central voice for academic public health, supporting collaboration among institutions, advancing research and education, and strengthening connections between universities, government agencies, and public health practice.

As the field of public health education expanded, the association evolved alongside it. ASPH played an important role in fostering partnerships with federal agencies, supporting workforce development initiatives, and helping ensure that schools of public health remained closely connected to the needs of communities and public health systems.

In 2013, the organization formally became the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH), reflecting an expanded membership that includes accredited public health programs as well as schools. This change recognized the growing and increasingly diverse academic public health landscape.

Today, ASPPH represents more than 150 CEPH-accredited schools and programs of public health across the United States and internationally. These institutions collectively educate thousands of students each year and conduct research that advances population health, strengthens public health systems, and addresses some of the most pressing health challenges facing communities worldwide.

"For 85 years, ASPPH and its members have helped shape the academic foundation of public health by preparing generations of leaders, advancing research that improves lives, and strengthening the systems that protect communities. This milestone is an opportunity not only to reflect on the extraordinary progress of academic public health, but also to reaffirm our shared commitment to preparing the workforce and advancing the science needed to address the complex health challenges of the future," said Dr. Laura Magaña, President and CEO of ASPPH.

Explore ASPPH's history, key milestones, and ongoing impact.