Interim Dean Announced for Hudson College of Public Health

Dr. Dale Bratzler will serve as Interim Dean of OU’s Hudson College of Public Health, pending approval by the OU Board of Regents.

Dr. Bratzler’s institutional and public health knowledge make him a great fit during this transitional time on our campus. Over the past two years, he has especially distinguished himself through his public health service to our university community and to the people of Oklahoma, when reliable information from authoritative sources was critical to build trust. In June 2020, President Harroz asked Dr. Bratzler to take on the role of OU’s Chief COVID Officer to help coordinate the university’s response to the pandemic, and he continues to hold this position. He has become an established resource at local and national levels for science-based updates, and has made himself consistently available to multiple media outlets, including CNN, NBC Nightly News, Yahoo News, and others.

On top of this advisory role, Dr. Bratzler serves the university in multiple other capacities, including as OU Health Chief Quality Officer and Population Health Officer. He also is a professor at the Hudson College of Public Health and the OU College of Medicine, as well as a practicing physician. He has received numerous awards for teaching, service, and leadership. Just last spring, he was honored with the Award for Superior Professional and University Service and Public Outreach, as well as OU's Distinguished Service Citation - which, outside the awarding of Honorary Degrees, is one of the university's highest honors.

Outside of his work for the university and our hospital partner, Dr. Bratzler has been appointed to leadership positions on numerous national health organizations. As one example, last fall, he was selected to serve a two-year term as a member of the Medicare Evidence Development and Coverage Advisory Committee, which advises the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding specific medical matters and services to determine what is reasonable and necessary under Medicare law.

Dr. Bratzler’s background with the colleges of Public Health and Medicine provides a unique collaboration opportunity, bridging population health and health care delivery, which benefits students, researchers, providers and, most importantly, patients. His vast experience in this realm will be a significant asset that will greatly benefit the unique integration of our comprehensive academic health system – the only one of its kind in the state.

As Interim Dean, Dr. Bratzler will oversee the College’s finances, research, accreditations, and strategic plan implementation and will work with Health Sciences Center leadership in collaborations with the other colleges.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Bratzler in this new role.