Dr. Peck to lead new public health school in Wisconsin

Magda Peck, Sc.D., who was instrumental in the building the UNMC public health infrastructure during the last 22 years, will head to Wisconsin to build another school of public health.

Magda Peck, Sc.D.

Dr. Peck, associate dean for community engagement and public health practice at the UNMC College of Public Health has accepted the position of founding dean of the Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The appointment is effective March 1.

“I thank Magda for her years of service to UNMC. She has been a persistent and passionate change agent for public health,” said Ayman El-Mohandes, M.B.B.Ch., M.D., M.P.H., dean of the College of Public Health. “She translates great ideas into reality. Through her commitment to service and long-standing community relationships, she has been a great advocate and liaison for UNMC.”

Lasting legacy

Among her numerous contributions to UNMC, Dr. Peck founded:

• The UNMC/UNO Graduate Program in Public Health;
  
• UNMC’s Great Plains Public Health Leadership Institute; and
  
• CityMatCH, a national public health organization based at UNMC dedicated to improving the health and well-being of women, children and families in urban communities.

Grant success

She also is principal investigator for the newly funded Great Plains Public Health Training Center, which continues her long history of success in securing grant funding. In her time at UNMC, the graduate of the Harvard School of Public Health has secured more than $14.3 million in research funds.

All of her current grants and programs will remain at UNMC.

“I’m grateful to have helped pioneer public health in Nebraska and beyond,” she said. “I am proud to leave the public health system stronger than when I came to Nebraska, and I’m confident that all we created will be continued by the very capable people I leave behind.”

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