Dean's Letter

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. We’ve probably all heard this quote at one time or another; it’s one my mother referred to her entire life. My mother lived a robust and healthy 94 years! The UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences considers prevention the backdrop in our training of physicians and allied health professionals, our core research projects and as a key component of our state outreach programs that serve North Dakota’s needs. Why?

The medical school is a supplier of health care professionals for North Dakota. We serve the majority of communities in the state ~ and we know that preventing adverse health conditions is the solution to many of tomorrow’s health care needs. Imagine the impact on disease if we, as a society, would make broad changes in our lifestyles. Imagine how proper diet and exercise would affect the rate of heart disease, stroke, obesity and arthritis, or how stopping the abuse of illegal drugs, alcohol and tobacco would positively affect our population. Our school has programs in place and research underway that are designed to positively influence school age children to recognize good choices in health and nutrition.

By combining and coordinating health education in the classroom, new physical activity and education programs, and healthier food choices in the cafeteria, the Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH) program shows elementary school children in eight schools across the state how to be healthy for the rest of their lives.  Nancy Vogeltanz-Holm, Ph.D. and the Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research report marked improvements in children’s health and we hope to expand this program to all elementary schools in the state.

Nearly 90 of our medical students belong to Docs Ought to Care (DOC), working with young people to promote healthy lifestyles.  One of their signature projects is “Tar Wars,” a tobacco-free education program for kids across the state to explain the health hazards and economic cost of smoking.

These programs are just a few that benefit the next generation of North Dakotans.  As both a pediatrician and a proud grandpa to the two beautiful girls pictured here (Katherine (left) and Madeline), I am an advocate for children. It has always been my personal passion to expand the programs and make them available to every child in every school in the state. Children are often the spokespeople to the family – it is often they who take home the message “Mom, I learned at school today that we should drink skim milk, it’s better for us.”

Making the investment now will lead to longer lives and lower health care costs for the future of North Dakota…our children.  Now that’s something I can stand behind.

H. David Wilson, M.D.

Vice President for Health Affairs and Dean

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