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Speeches
Third International Conference on Urban Health
Thursday, October 21, 2004
8:30 a.m.
Curry Student Center
It is a pleasure to be here this morning to welcome you to the Third International Conference on Urban Health. As the Provost of Northeastern, I see many correlations between the goals of this conference and the mission of this university. This conference is important for all of us who care about the well being of our cities and the health of our urban communities.
At Northeastern, we take pride in the fact that our campus is in the heart of Boston. As a major institution in the city, we have developed many partnerships with the Boston schools, hospitals, social service agencies, companies, and government. Through our renowned cooperative education program, we have placed thousands of students in workplaces throughout Boston. Our research centers, most notably the Institute on Urban Health Research, has studied the issues that most affect our city and recommended policies for improving the well being of our citizens. We have numerous community service programs in which both faculty and students volunteer their time and resources to neighborhood schools and organizations. And we support the economic development of the city by offering educational opportunities to Boston residents, providing technical assistance for inner-city entrepreneurs, and helping women recovering from addiction transition back into the workplace.
Hosting this conference provides yet another opportunity for Northeastern to fulfill its proud and historic urban mission. This conference brings together a diverse cross-section of individuals -- academics, health care practitioners, researchers, social service providers, government officials and urban planners -- who bring unique perspectives and knowledge to the field of urban health. By collaborating amongst many different professions, we collectively strengthen our individual abilities and enhance our opportunities to achieve our shared goals.
The Institute on Urban Health Resarch is an example of this interdisciplinary approach. Professors from counseling and applied psychology, nursing, pharmaceutical sciences, cardiopulmonary sciences, business, and speech, language and pathology comprise the Institute's faculty scholars. And their research expands across many areas, including HIV prevention, substance abuse treatment, and asthma management in children.
The research and teaching of all our faculty is at the heart of what we do as an educational institution. In recognition of this, Northeastern has recently launched a $75 million Academic Investment Plan with the goal of hiring 100 new faculty over the next five years. We are hiring tenure-track professors in areas with high growth, including our health-related majors in pharmacy, physical therapy, psychology, and speech/language pathology.
It is through our faculty's research, our partnerships with community organizations, and our education of students who will pursue careers in urban-focused professions, that Northeastern commits itself to the enhancement of the nation's cities. While the work of the Institute on Urban Health Research helps advance the quality of life for the residents of Boston, I hope that your participation in this conference enhances your organizations' ability to improve the lives of the residents of your cities around the globe.
Thank you for coming.
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