Oregon State University wants to create an accredited college of public health, the first of its kind in the state.

The move could protect Oregonians by addressing current and emerging health needs and provide much-needed graduates in the field, said Tom Eversole, director of strategic development for the effort to establish the college.

“The proposed college will serve Oregon students well, and I think it will be a drawing card for students from throughout the west and even other countries,” added Eversole, an employee within OSU’s College of Health and Human Sciences.

That college, Eversole said, would change its name slightly to include the “public health” if it becomes accredited.

Accreditation also would result in new degree programs and boost OSU’s ability to compete for research funding, Eversole said.

While OSU is spearheading the project, the venture likely would be a collaboration including Portland State University and Oregon Health & Science University. The institutions already are work together on a masters of public health degree program.

“Each of the schools would focus on a certain area,” Eversole said.

Eversole said he hopes that OSU will turn in its application in 2011. Starting that year, if the application is accepted, “People could graduate and this could be called a college of public health,” Eversole said. After a two-year study, accreditation could follow in 2014.

Start-up costs for accreditation would initially come from vacant jobs within the department of public health at OSU.

OSU has about 260 undergraduate students in its department of public health, as well as about 115 graduate students. Eversole expects those figures to grow with accreditation.

The university offers masters degrees in three of the five disciplines required to become an accredited institution. One strong area of study at OSU that isn’t required is international public health.

“That’s actually our most popular because of Oregon’s connections with Asia,” Eversole said.

New graduates in public health are needed throughout the United States. Nationwide, a quarter of the workforce is close to retirement and the field also is becoming more complex, Eversole said.

According to a recent study by the Coalition of Local Health Officials, nearly 400 more trained public health workers are needed in Oregon.

Health, including pharmacy and veterinary medicine, is one of five thematic areas the university sought to focus on in its 2004 strategic plan.

Traditionally, colleges of public health are part of medical schools, but Eversole said OHSU wasn’t in as strong as a position to apply as OSU.

Colleges of public health, however, are much more than modern medicine. They also apply behavioral and social sciences to keep populations healthy.

“How to change behavior is the real key,” Eversole said.

Kyle Odegard covers Oregon State University. He can be contacted at kyle.odegard@lee.net or 758-9523.