UCLA Fielding School of Public Health Listening Exercise

Attendees at the chancellor’s Listening Exercise at the Fielding School of Public Health on March 7, 2025 expressed gratitude for the chancellor’s leadership and communication style, particularly during challenging times.

They voiced concerns about the potential impact of federal funding cuts and policy changes on research priorities, particularly those focused on vulnerable populations, global health, climate change, and vaccines.

Faculty and staff expressed concerns about speaking out in the current political climate, citing potential repercussions for themselves and the communities with which they work. They sought guidance on how the institution could better support and protect those who engage in public health advocacy. The future of public health was a central theme, with discussions revolving around key priorities, challenges, and finding ways to encourage the next generation of public health professionals in the face of current political and social climates.

Themes

• Federal Research Funding: The potential for reduced funding for public health research, particularly from federal sources, was raised as a major concern. It was noted that the proposed reductions of federal grants for research pose a significant financial challenge for the school.  
• Impact of Federal Policies: Concerns were raised about the potential negative impact of federal policies on public health research and priorities.
• Protecting Research and Data: Discussion focused on the need to protect sensitive research data and the safety of participants, particularly given potential changes in federal funding and research priorities.
• Misinformation: Discussion centered on the challenge of the spread of misinformation and disinformation, and the need for strategies to combat it effectively.
• International Collaboration: Concerns were raised about the impact of strained US-China relations on international research collaborations.
• Public Health Workforce: Discussion focused on the need to encourage and support the next generation of public health professionals, especially in the face of current national trends.
• Public Health Priorities: Discussions focused on identifying the most pressing public health and research priorities for the future.
• UCLA Strategic Plan: A speaker celebrated the fact that the strategic plan emphasizes the importance of global health issues and the need for international and local collaboration.
• Internal Communications: Discussion focused on ways to improve internal communications while discussing the school’s public health, research, and academic priorities. 
• Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI):  The importance of health equity and social justice in the school’s mission was discussed.