Virtual Event: Celebrating the Life of Phil Nasca

Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020

Time: 4:00 –5:00 p.m.

Location: Online / Zoom

Dr. Nasca returned to the Capital District from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where he had been a faculty member and administrator, to become Dean of the University at Albany's School of Public Health in 2007.

He was well known and respected for his expertise in cancer epidemiology, especially those cancers affecting women and children. He served on numerous grant review boards for national agencies including the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society.

His return to Albany was a homecoming of sorts as he had previously served in the New York State Department of Health as the Director of Cancer Epidemiology before accepting the academic appointment in western Massachusetts.

In 2001 a Fulbright Fellowship took him to Vietnam where he worked closely with colleagues at two schools of public health there, collaborations that lasted throughout the remainder of his life. He and his wife, who joined him in Hanoi on the first Fellowship and a subsequent one, formed lasting friendships there which took them back to Vietnam frequently and they hosted visiting Vietnamese friends and colleagues often.

Dr. Nasca will be especially remembered for his creation and support of the Center for Global Health at the UAlbany School of Public Health and for the many worldwide partnerships that were established and have thrived since the Center was established early in his tenure as Dean. He traveled extensively to partner public health schools and agencies and encouraged students to study and to undertake internships abroad. Dr. Nasca also played a critical role in positioning the School of Public Health as a leader in online graduate education, making early strategic investments in the development of new programs.

He will also be remembered for being able to establish new programs and manage effectively even during times of budget restraints. He especially enjoyed interactions with students as a teacher and mentor.

We hope that you can join us as we celebrate Dr. Nasca's life on Wednesday, December 9, 2020. If you have any questions about the event, please email John Justino at [email protected].