Ricardo Izurieta, MD, DrPH. MPH, an internationally known expert on tropical and infectious diseases, is leaving his long-time post as associate professor at the University of South Florida’s College of Public Health (COPH) to become dean of the new School of Health Sciences and Public Health at California State University Los Angeles.
“I believe it’s now time for me to assume a leadership position focused on developing new programs that address the educational needs of our younger generations of health sciences professionals,’’ said Izurieta, director of the global communicable disease concentration at the COPH. “Los Angeles has a large young Latino population that would greatly benefit from my contributions and innovative programs in the health sciences field.’’
He leaves Aug. 19 after two decades in Tampa, where he also served as director of the public health scholar concentration at USF Health Morsani College of Medicine.
In 2003, he joined USF as a founding faculty member of the Department of Global Health. His specialties evolved into vector and waterborne diseases, vaccinology and ecological changes and emerging diseases.
“It’s been extremely satisfying to see how the department, which started with just four faculty members, grew to become one of the most prolific departments in teaching, research and service within COPH,’’ he said. “The greatest satisfaction has come from seeing the students I’ve trained succeed in their careers.’’
One of those students is Shohana Shahreen, MD, a clinical research intern with Synergy Healthcare, a clinical research center.
“While I’m both happy and excited for you, I must admit that it’s bittersweet news,’’ Shahreen said in a letter to Izurieta. “It will be a significant loss for USF to lose a living legend like you. Your contributions have been invaluable and you will be greatly missed.’’
Izurieta received his MD from the Central University of Ecuador – where he was born − and after graduation, he carried out his postdoctoral training in public health and tropical diseases. In 1991, he faced the cholera epidemic that spread through Latin American countries as national director of the Cholera Control Program in the Ministry of Public Health of Ecuador.
(Photo courtesy of Izurieta)
In 1997, Izurieta was appointed chief of the Department of Epidemiology and director of the Vaccine Center of the Armed Forces of Ecuador. In 2003, he became vice president of the Gorgas Memorial Institute of Tropical and Preventive Medicine in Panama. He has served as director of the Donald Price Parasitology Center at USF, as a consultant for WASTE International in the Netherlands and the Stockholm Environment Institute of Sweden.
In 2024, he became a member of the United Nations Task Force to address future pandemics and help manage funds allocated by the World Bank. This money is used for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response; and to encourage international advocacy in fighting diseases.
His many accolades include induction into the Academia Ecuatoriana de Medicina and serving as president of the American College of International Medicine (ACAIM).