OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Recognized with Top Honors for Excellence and Equity in Assessment
As a joint school, it can be challenging to rise to the standards of two institutions with distinct structures and goals—but the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health rose to the challenge and has swept the awards this season, earning university-wide recognition for both excellence and equity in program assessment.
The School’s graduate programs – MPH Epidemiology, MS and MPH in Biostatistics, MPH in Health Promotion, and MPH in Health Management & Policy – received the 2025 OHSU Provost Award for Excellence in Program Assessment, a prestigious recognition that honors academic programs demonstrating the highest standards in assessment planning, reporting, and continuous improvement. These awards will be presented to all five programs as a part of OHSU’s Symposium for Educational Excellence on Friday, May 16th, 2025.
Selected from a pool of programs across Oregon Health & Science University, the School of Public Health graduate programs earned perfect scores on both its assessment plan and report, as reviewed by the university’s Assessment Council in January 2025. The Council commended the school for its comprehensive and thoughtful approach to assessment, noting that it “does it all”—from clearly articulating measurable learning outcomes to aligning with institutional goals, reflecting transparently on areas for growth, and making meaningful, data-informed changes to improve both courses and the program overall.
“This program is a shining star,” the review stated, highlighting the school’s deep engagement with stakeholders and its commitment to a culture of continuous improvement.
Adding to this significant achievement, the MPH in Epidemiology program has also been honored with the 2025 Equity in Assessment Award, an accolade that recognizes programs advancing inclusive and culturally responsive assessment practices.
The Epidemiology program stood out for its intentional efforts to disaggregate data to identify disparities in student outcomes, apply universal design principles to assessments, and empower students as partners in shaping the curriculum. The review committee was particularly impressed with the program’s innovative use of multiple modalities for the culminating assessment in EPI 514, a move that supports varied learning styles and enhances accessibility.
Moreover, the program’s equity-focused curriculum review process—driven by student engagement—was praised as a model for integrating student voice in meaningful ways.
“These awards highlight our Program Directors’ tremendous commitment to ensuring our students receive the best training possible to promote public health and advance healthy equity,” said Dawn Richardson, Senior Associate Dean of Academic Operations at the School of Public Health. “We’re honored by this recognition and proud of the collaborative work that brought it to life, in particular the efforts of Lydia Gillespie, our Director of Assessment and Evaluation,” said Richardson.
We share this exciting achievement not only as a moment of pride, but also as a model that a joint school can shine and thrive—meeting high expectations across institutions while centering equity, excellence, and impact.