Form Follows Function: A New Structure for a School of Public Health in the 21st Century

National discussions around education in public health in the early 2010s and the subsequent revisions to accreditation criteria for schools of public health in 2016 resulted in a dramatic shift away from the traditional 5 core discipline model in requirements for core curricula and the offering of specific master of public health degrees. With greater flexibility and opportunities for innovation, the College of Public Health at the University of South Florida embarked on a reexamination of its organizational structure, which, like many accredited schools, was based on the old 5 core discipline model. A transparent, inclusive, and deliberative process ultimately resulted in the elimination of departments in favor of a unified faculty whose collective discipline is public health. Decisions made along the way, unexpected opportunities that arose in the implementation, as well as challenges and early results are discussed.