What began as a modest initiative has blossomed into a renowned institution. It’s the École de santé publique de l’Université de Montréal. This school stands as a beacon of public health education.
In 1945, the École d’Hygiène was created. This was at the instigation of Dr. Armand Frappier. The provincial Ministry of Health also supported it. The ministry granted the school $40,000 annually for 20 years. The goal was to modernize public health in Quebec. It aimed to train public health officers in French. Before, they had to go to English Canada or the United States.
Dr. Frappier envisioned a school working with the Faculty of Medicine and the Institut de microbiologie et d’hygiène. He wanted it to conform to the American Public Health Association.
The École d’Hygiène comprised four departments. These departments formed the base for the current departments of the École de santé publique. These were Administration de la santé publique et médecine sociale. Also included were Microbiologie et immunologie. The list continues with Épidémiologie et biométrie and Hygiène des milieux.
Dr. Armand Frappier was a visionary. He significantly improved public health in Quebec. He founded the Institut d’hygiène et de microbiologie de Montréal in 1938. It was the first fundamental medical research center in Quebec. In 1975, it became the Institut Armand-Frappier. In 1945, he founded the first French-language hygiene school. It was at the Université de Montréal. He taught there for over 35 years.
Maurice Panisset became head of the Department of Immunology and Epidemiology in 1951. That same year, he became a tenured professor at the École d’Hygiène. He was also director of the Department of Immunology and Epidemiology from 1965 to 1969. From 1965 to 1971, he directed the École physique. In 1969 it became the École de santé publique.
In 1969, the École d’Hygiène was renamed École de santé publique. Though it ceased to exist officially, it laid the groundwork for French-language public health education. This paved the way for the official creation. It happened nearly 50 years later. It was the École de santé publique de l’Université de Montréal.
The Department of Management, Evaluation and Health Policy evolved over time. In 1945, the Department of Public Health Administration and Social Medicine was created. In 1969, it merged with the Institut supérieur d’administration hospitalière. In 2015, it was renamed the Department of Management, Evaluation and Health Policy.
The Department of Environmental Health and Occupational Health also has a history. In 1946, the Department of Environmental Hygiene was created. In 1978, it became the Department of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Hygiene. In 2000, it became the Department of Environmental Health and Occupational Health.
Research at the École de santé publique has grown. ERIS was created in 1977. In 1985, ERIS became GRIS. In 2009, GRIS became IRSPUM. In 2014, the International Health Unit joined ESPUM. In 2022, the Centre de recherche en santé publique was created.
The Université de Montréal committed to creating an École de santé publique between 2010 and 2012. The operational plan was prepared. In 2013, university authorities approved the plan. The École de santé publique was created. In 2014, the École de santé publique was inaugurated.
Today, the École de santé publique de l’Université de Montréal offers over 30 programs. These programs span thirteen specializations. They improve population health locally, nationally, and internationally.
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