Wayne State University plans standalone School of Public Health to address Detroit's severe health disparities

Wayne State University is planning to establish a standalone School of Public Health, leveraging its Detroit-based relationships to address severe local health disparities. Detroit faces critical public health challenges including a 51% child poverty rate, high asthma-related complications, elevated maternal mortality rates for Black women, and an infant mortality rate of 14.1 per 1,000 live births — more than double Michigan's average. The university aims to use its urban location and community ties to tackle these issues both locally and beyond.