Appointment of Dr. Jorge Delva as Director, Center for Innovation in Social Work and Health (CISWH)
From Dr. Jean Morrison, University Provost and Chief Academic Officer
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Jorge Delva, Dean of the School of Social Work (SSW), as Director of the BU Center for Innovation in Social Work and Health (CISWH). Dr. Delva has led CISWH in an interim role since September 19, following former director Dr. Sally Bachman’s departure to become Dean of the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice. As the new, permanent Director of the Center (in addition to his decanal duties at SSW), Dean Delva is the holder of the Paul Farmer Professorship. His appointment became effective November 6.
A national leader in his field, Dr. Delva was appointed Dean and Professor of Social Work in January 2018. His multi- and trans-disciplinary research seeks to reduce health disparities and improve the lives of low-income and racial and ethnic minority populations. His scholarship has made substantial contributions to advancing our understanding of psychosocial-cultural mechanisms associated with substance-using behaviors among racial and ethnic minority populations, as well as with populations in Latin America. Dr. Delva is an elected Fellow of the Society for Social Work Research and of the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare. He has received significant, continuous grant support from federal agencies and private foundations for his research, and he is a past Editor-in-Chief of Social Work, the flagship publication of the National Association of Social Work.
In the CISWH, Dr. Delva leads one of the nation’s premier interdisciplinary centers for social work and healthcare scholarship and practice. Since opening in 2017, the CISWH has worked to expand the impact of social work and social workers in healthcare delivery, public health, and global health – an effort targeted at reducing costs, improving outcomes, improving patient experience, promoting population health, and stimulating health equity nationally and globally. Overseen by the School of Social Work and working in partnership with public health, medicine, health economics, technology, and other relevant disciplines, the Center promotes social work leadership in health through inter-professional and trans-disciplinary collaboration. It accomplishes its mission through outcomes-oriented research, community partnerships, policy development, education, and training activities and through collaborations among BU faculty, particularly those in the Schools of Social Work and Public Health, and institutions nationally.
Please join me in congratulating Dean Delva on his appointment to this additional leadership role as he works to advance the Center’s mission of finding innovative solutions that improve healthcare for vulnerable populations.