This past year has been one of pride for us here at Florida International University.
Together with our faculty, staff, and students, we celebrated 50 years of FIU’s excellence in research, success, and growth. When FIU opened its doors in 1972, it opened the door for students to attend, what today is, a top-ranked institution in one of the most diverse cities in the country.
I am proud of how far our university has come and the path its paved for our Stempel College to be what it is today: an academic powerhouse making strides in the areas of public health, social work, dietetics and nutrition, and disaster preparedness. Disciplines that each have the force to make a true, lasting impact on the health and safety of communities near and far.
Every year, I reflect on the progress that we’ve made and the challenges we’ve overcome. Looking at the state of public health today, it’s no doubt that we’ve made a difference in the lives of many. But I’d be remiss not to say there’s still more work to be done. Looking forward, I see tremendous promise for us here at Stempel College.
In 2022, our college received $2 million, secured by Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, to jumpstart funding to develop a PET/Cyclotron Center at FIU—the first of its kind in the state university system. The center would allow our university to perform imaging studies on several diseases particularly prevalent in the community.
We also secured $2 million in state appropriations, with support from former state Senator Anitere Flores and current state Representative Bryan Avila, that will help fund new state-of-the-art robotic instrumentation, and pave way for CLIA certification, expanding our capacity to work with hospitals and patients nationwide.
Most recently, FIU’s Research Center in a Minority Institution won a $19.4 million National Institutes of Health grant to fight health disparities—the largest NIH award in FIU’s history. Faculty and staff from Stempel College and other FIU units played a significant role in securing the award and I couldn’t be prouder.
These are three significant achievements that will help our Stempel College to continue in its ascent in research and student success. I invite you to explore our latest Impact Report to learn more about the impactful achievements of our faculty, students, and staff.
With immense gratitude,
Tomás R. Guilarte, Ph.D.
Dean, Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work
Professor, Department of Environmental Health Sciences
Professor, Cognitive Neuroscience & Imaging
Director, Brain, Behavior & Environment
Member, Biomolecular Sciences Institute