UofL names new dean for School of Public Health and Information Sciences

Indiana University’s Eric Walsh-Buhi has been selected as dean of the University of Louisville School of Public Health and Information Sciences (SPHIS). Pending a tenure vote by the SPHIS faculty and subject to the Board of Trustees approval, his appointment is effective Oct. 1. He also will hold the title of deputy director of cancer prevention and control at UofL Health - Brown Cancer Center.

“Dr. Walsh-Buhi brings a deep commitment to improving lives through education, research and community engagement. We are excited about the energy, vision and leadership he will bring to UofL as the next dean of the School of Public Health and Information Sciences,” said UofL Provost Katie Cardarelli, who served as the school’s previous dean. “We look forward to working together to advance the health and well-being of Louisville, the commonwealth and beyond.”

Walsh-Buhi is professor and chair for the Department of Applied Health Science and associate director of the Center for Community-Engaged Dissemination and Implementation Research at the Indiana University (IU) School of Public Health – Bloomington. 

Since stepping into the department’s leadership role in 2019, Walsh-Buhi has helped grow research awards by more than 70%, supporting almost $8 million in annual research expenditures. Together, his department also developed and launched several innovative degree programs at all academic levels.

During the past seven years at IU, he has served as an affiliated faculty member at the Kinsey Institute and a full member of Cancer Prevention and Control, Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center in Indianapolis. 

Prior to his tenure at IU, Walsh-Buhi held multiple positions at San Diego State University and the University of South Florida College of Public Health. 

He received a master of public health degree at Indiana University – Bloomington and went on to earn a doctorate in public health education at Texas A&M University.

Throughout his academic career, Walsh-Buhi has secured almost $10 million in international and national competitive grants for research projects. He currently leads multiple funded studies.

Walsh-Buhi said he is “thrilled to lead the UofL School of Public Health and Information Sciences into its next chapter of excellence and build on its strong foundation in the Louisville community. As transformative progress in health and societal well-being is central to the University of Louisville's strategic vision, SPHIS is uniquely positioned to improve the health of Kentuckians while strengthening its national impact.”