Joseph J. Zilber College of Public Health: Advancing Health Equity and Well-being

The Joseph J. Zilber College of Public Health at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) stands as Wisconsin's only accredited school of public health. Named in honor of Milwaukee philanthropist Joseph Zilber, whose $10 million donation in 2009 facilitated its establishment, the college is dedicated to advancing population health, health equity, and social and environmental justice within Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and beyond.

A Foundation Built on Philanthropy and Accreditation

The Zilber College's origins trace back to 2009, when it was founded with state approval and the generous support of Joseph Zilber. Demonstrating its commitment to excellence, the college initiated the accreditation process with the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) in 2013 and achieved national accreditation in 2017. This milestone solidified its position as the first CEPH-accredited dedicated school of public health in Wisconsin.

Comprehensive Academic Programs

The Zilber College of Public Health offers a wide array of academic programs, encompassing bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. These programs span seven key public and population health areas:

Biostatistics/Health Informatics
Community and Behavioral Health Promotion
Environmental Health
Epidemiology
Kinesiology
Nutrition/Dietetics
Public Health Policy

This comprehensive curriculum equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to address diverse public health challenges.

A Hub for Research and Innovation

The Zilber College is a significant contributor to research activity at UWM. Over the past 10 years, the Zilber College was the second-most NIH-funded unit on campus, despite its relatively small size and recent founding. The college's faculty members are actively involved in cutting-edge research across multiple health fields, applying public health principles to a wide range of issues, from cells and physiology to societal concerns, and from prevention to treatment.

Faculty expertise covers critical issues such as:

Air pollution and autism
Cancer
Cardiovascular disease
Health disparities
Big data on health
Infant mortality
Mass incarceration
Nutrition
Tobacco and e-cigarettes
Water health

The Zilber College embraces a wide range of methodologies, including statistical genetics, laboratory experimentation, surveys, community-based intervention trials, implementation studies, epidemiology, content and thematic analysis, media analysis, and policy analysis.

Addressing Atherosclerosis and Cardiovascular Disease

Atherosclerosis, the primary cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD), is a major area of research at the Zilber College. Researchers are investigating the intricate roles of innate and adaptive immune systems in regulating atherogenesis. The goal is to enhance the fundamental understanding of dynamic immune regulation in atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction (MI), and ischemic stroke (IS) by examining the transcriptional network structure of toll-like receptor and T-cell receptor signaling pathways.

Predicting Acute Coronary Syndrome in PAD Patients

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) significantly elevates the risk of mortality and acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Recognizing the limitations of existing risk factors in predicting near-term risk, Zilber College researchers are focused on identifying novel pathways that may signal impending ACS events in PAD patients. The objective is to develop a multi-metabolite classification system for near-term ACS events, thereby improving risk discrimination and advancing the understanding of ACS pathogenesis.

Promoting Health in the Lindsay Heights Neighborhood

The Zilber College is actively engaged in community-based initiatives, such as the Lindsay Heights Neighborhood Health Alliance. This project addresses socio-economic and health challenges faced by the community, particularly African American men who experience significant disparities in social determinants of health and health outcomes.

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Empowering Youth Through Culinary Skills

The Fondy Food Center Youth Chef Academy, in collaboration with the Zilber College, aims to connect young people with healthy foods and empower them with culinary skills. By learning to prepare healthy, plant-based meals, participants gain an appreciation for their role in the local food system. The college is involved in testing the feasibility of conducting the Youth Chef Academy in a classroom setting and evaluating its effectiveness in achieving its goals.

Addressing Food Security and HIV Vulnerability in Malawi

Recognizing the link between poverty, food insecurity, and HIV/AIDS, Zilber College researchers are examining how improvements in economic status and food security translate into changes in HIV vulnerability. This research is particularly relevant in Malawi, where poverty, food shortages, and high HIV infection rates create severe health vulnerabilities.

Reducing Hospital Readmissions for Diabetes Patients

Hospital readmissions among patients with diabetes are a significant concern. Zilber College researchers are working to identify biomarkers that can predict readmissions 30, 60, and 90 days after a diabetes-related event among patients with Type 2 diabetes. The study also explores whether predictors of readmissions differ by race/ethnicity or sex.

Addressing Obesity in the Latino Community

Proyecto Salud, a Zilber College initiative, recognizes the detrimental impact of obesity in the Milwaukee Latino community. By taking a public-will building approach, Proyecto Salud aims to reduce obesity rates and promote social change within the community.

Supporting Young Unmarried Parents

The Zilber College is committed to supporting young, unmarried parents as they navigate the transition to parenthood. Researchers are testing the Father Inclusive Prenatal Healthcare (FIPH) model, which aims to develop coparenting relations and fathering skills as part of routine prenatal healthcare. This project focuses on improving relationship skills, parent behavior, job stability, and financial support for children.

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Preventing Child Abuse Through Family Support

In collaboration with The Parenting Network, the Zilber College is using a multilevel approach to engage parents in family support and parenting education activities in neighborhoods with high rates of child abuse reports. The goal is to diminish racial/ethnic health disparities in child welfare involvement.

Promoting Positive Coparenting in Peru

In collaboration with the Peruvian National Institute of Mental Health, the Zilber College is testing the effectiveness of an adapted version of the Young Parenthood Program in preventing domestic violence and promoting positive coparenting relations among young fathers and mothers in Lima, Peru.

Understanding Mental Health Service Access for Youth

The Zilber College is conducting research to understand and address disparities in access to mental health services among children, adolescents, and young adults. This research explores parents' beliefs and perceptions of mental health providers and services.

Studying Adolescent Brain Development

Paul Florsheim is a co-investigator on the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development Study (ABCD), which is following the neurocognitive development of 11,000 children from preadolescence to adulthood.

Addressing Toxic Blue-Green Algae in Lakes

The increasing presence of toxic blue-green algae in lakes poses a threat to public health. Zilber College researchers are studying the environmental factors that lead to toxin production by these algae, with the goal of mitigating the risks associated with recreational activities and drinking water consumption.

Investigating the Effects of Nicotine Exposure

Researchers at the Zilber College are studying the effects of embryonic exposure to nicotine using a zebrafish model. This research aims to link behavioral abnormalities caused by nicotine exposure to developmental alterations in spinal neurons and associated spinal musculature.

Monitoring Beach Water Quality

In partnership with the Milwaukee Health Department, the Miller Laboratory at the Zilber College conducts regular daily monitoring of Milwaukee beaches for fecal coliforms and other water quality indicators to protect public health.

Studying Breast Cancer in Young Women

Dr. Velie is leading a large population-based case-control study of breast cancer in young African American and non-Hispanic White women, known as the Young Womenâs Health History Study (YWHHS).

Promoting Social Justice in Mental Health

The Zilber College supports critical and intersectional approaches to mental health research and policy that center social justice ethics. This work challenges mainstream approaches that rely heavily on biomedical paradigms and individualistic interventions.

Examining Race and Ethnicity in Health Disparities Research

Researchers at the Zilber College are examining the uses, definitions, and concepts of race and ethnicity in health disparities research to ensure a sound scientific basis for their use.

Investigating the Impact of Segregation on Health

The Zilber College is conducting research to understand how segregation and neighborhood conditions interact to influence health. This research examines the effects of metropolitan and neighborhood-level segregation on individual health.

Addressing the Causal Impact of Neighborhoods on Health

Researchers are using longitudinal data to investigate the link between neighborhood poverty and body weight, addressing potential biases in estimating the causal impact of neighborhoods on health.

Community Engagement and Impact

The Zilber College is deeply committed to community engagement, working with diverse partners to improve public and population health. This commitment is exemplified through various initiatives, including:

MPH Information Sessions: The college hosts free online events to provide information about the Master of Public Health program and answer questions from prospective students.
Public Health Seminars: The Zilber College hosts seminars on relevant public health topics, such as firearm harm prevention and the latest federal dietary guidance.
Global Health Policy: Faculty members are actively involved in shaping global health policy, such as Dr. Strath's work with the World Health Organization on physical activity surveillance.
Supporting Student Initiatives: The college supports student-led movements, such as the Iranian Student Association's efforts to raise awareness of human rights crises.

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