June 12, 2015

More than 160 graduating students gathered along with family, faculty and staff for the School of Public Health's annual graduation celebration on June 12, 2015.

Jonathan E. Fielding, MD, gave an inspirational keynote address during the Awards Celebration, giving attendees an added job title: public health ambassadors.

Fielding has contributed to the fields of public health and prevention for 45 years. For 16 years, he served as the director of one of the nation’s largest health departments, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, where he was responsible for all public health functions for the county’s 9.8 million residents. In recognition of his many contributions to improve the health of Californians and all Americans, Fielding received an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from Drexel University.

During his address to Public Health graduates, he stated, “with this title comes a number of responsibilities: First, we must all educate the public on what public health is. Second, we must be an advocate for public health with policies, laws, regulations, which don’t happen without support. Lastly, we must continue to learn and educate ourselves.”

Fielding closed by noting that public health challenges will arise in the near future, but that he is confident that Drexel School of Public Health graduates are up for the challenge. “What you’re going to do in the future is going to make a difference for all of us,” said Fielding.

View the 20 minute video below.

View Dr. Fielding's speech from DrexelView on Vimeo.