Stories this week include: The State of the University address will be given Tuesday, Augusta University welcomes a new addition with its School of Public Health, and a new health study gives a look at how Georgia stacks up against the rest of the country.

Augusta University president to give State of the University address

President Brooks A. Keel, PhD will give the State of the University address at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 31 at the Lee Auditorium on the Health Sciences Campus. Keel will review the past year and look ahead into 2022, which includes a look at the first steps in the new strategic plan.

For those who cannot attend in person, the event will be streamed and will also be recorded for later viewing.

School of Public Health to be added at Augusta University

Augusta University will launch the School of Public Health, which is expected to see its first students in the fall of 2023. The new school will be a critical tool in helping promote public health in today’s rapidly changing environment. Dr. Neil J MacKinnon, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, is excited about the possibilities of the new school.

“With this new school, we’re interested in research growth and in public health in particular, and the community outreach part is critical,” MacKinnon said. “We are truly excited about the future possibilities.”

Inaugural Healthy Georgia report shows how state compares to rest of U.S.

For the first time, Georgia has a snapshot of what health in the Peach State looks like in the inaugural Healthy Georgia report. The report compared the prevalence of several chronic conditions as well as behavioral and preventative health issues among Georgians compared to the southeast and the rest of the country.

“We are trying to sell this report as a positive vibe through this report, showing that while we may lag in some areas, we are doing well in others,” said Dr. Biplab Datta, assistant professor in the Institute of Public and Preventive Health and the Medical College of Georgia’s Department of Population Health Sciences.

Interview opportunities are available for these stories. Call 706-993-6719 to schedule an interview. Check out the Augusta University Expert Center to view our list of experts who can help with story ideas.