Prior to his appointment as co-director of Washington State University’s new Bachelor of Science in Public Health program, Todd Sabato spent 11 years as director of the public health program at the University of North Dakota. He also served as an affiliate faculty member of the Master of Public Health program at UND’s School of Medicine and Health Sciences and shepherded the undergraduate public health program at Texas A&M University. Sabato has more than 20 years of diverse academic experience, providing him with a deep understanding of the intricacies of global health promotion, disease prevention, and community development. His extensive background in HIV/AIDS prevention education, as well as Asian and Pacific Islander wellness, has been recognized by the Pacific Island Jurisdictions AIDS Action Group (PIJAAG).
What drew you to WSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine?
The land grant mission of the university is highly reflective of my personal and professional values, and parallels my approach to teaching, engagement, and community growth through public health. My prior experiences throughout Asia and the Pacific Islands illuminated the realities of disparities in access to education, and subsequently their impact on health outcomes. As an educator, I feel a responsibility to ensure structural or social factors don’t serve as an impediment to attaining the highest quality of life for any person. It was clear during my time on campus that my colleagues in the College of Veterinary Medicine shared similar ideals and also acted on those values. I’ve been greatly impressed to see the research and programmatic outreach that exists through the Allen School, where our program is housed.
What is your area of expertise?
My research and programming foci are on issues of minority health, with a specific focus on Asian and Pacific Islander communities, tribal and indigenous wellness, and the health outcomes of our LGBTQ+ communities. As an educated white male, I’m mindful of my responsibility to lend a voice to those whose voices are overlooked, undervalued, and unheard. While recognizing my privilege, I similarly self-identify as a member of a minority community and recognize that we’re only as healthy as our least healthy community. To that end, I’ve had the extraordinary privilege to travel across Asia and the Pacific Islands, engaging communities in capacity building and programmatic development. Those experiences are personally and professionally fulfilling, and I look forward to exploring avenues across the region to do the same as we engage in program growth.
What drew you into this area?
It’s often said we’re a product of our childhood, and my approach to public health and equity is certainly a reflection of that. I was raised in a town of 15,000 people in rural western New York and understood at an early age the value of community connectedness and engagement. My mother is a retired educator, and my father similarly had a teaching certificate. I was the one who was always being told to be quiet in class, so to have been given the opportunity to be in the front of the classroom is quite remarkable.
As a teenager during the early stages of the AIDS pandemic, I began to understand the impact of policy, politics, and empathy on people’s sense of belonging. This was further amplified during my time as a doctoral student at the University of South Carolina. Understanding the landscape of culture, religion, and politics at a time when the Confederate flag was still being flown on State House grounds was incredibly illuminating and taught me that health equity is something to be fought for, and worth my energy and passion.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge that sometimes those influences are the result of fortuitous timing. Much of my work in the field of Asian and Pacific Islander wellness, as well as HIV prevention, came because of a chance encounter many years ago at the United States Conference on AIDS. I’m thankful every day for the friendships and professional opportunities that have resulted from that meeting and do my best to pay that gratitude forward.
What about your research work are you most proud of?
As a researcher, I’m proud my approach has shifted from traditional to application-based. The last chapter of every dissertation suggests that “more research is needed.” While I don’t deny that I think there’s significant value in exploring current or future implications of our findings, from a public health policy, behavior, or community-driven perspective, working with communities to apply research findings to further their specific public health goals and/or needs is incredibly humbling.
What is something most people don’t know about you?
Despite my outgoing personality, I’m actually incredibly shy! I’m that person who observes the room, explores the dynamics, and waits for the right time to introduce myself. In fact, it took me nearly two weeks to introduce myself to my department secretary in my last job!