Riverside University Health System – Public Health (RUHS – PH) is celebrating 100 years of serving the residents of Riverside County, marking a century of leadership in disease prevention, nutrition, and beyond.
The year-long celebration, themed “Honoring Our Past and Shaping Our Future,” officially kicked off off February 17 through February 24 with events held in Riverside, Perris, and Indio. Dignitaries, including Riverside County CEO Jeff Van Wagenen and COO Juan Perez, joined RUHS – PH leadership to commemorate the founding of the department in 1926.
One hundred years ago, polio was a prominent concern for public health officials. Moving into the 1930s and 1940s, public health functions expanded beyond communicable disease control for diseases like polio, diphtheria, smallpox, tuberculosis, syphilis, and gonorrhea to include public health nursing, sanitation work, nutrition programs, improved data collection, and broader health education.
Over the decades, RUHS – PH has expanded its programs and services to meet the evolving needs of the community. The department added California Children’s Services, providing critical medical support to children with special health care needs. Its Tobacco Control Project helped to shift cultural norms and drive down smoking rates. In the 1980s and 1990s, RUHS – PH played a leading role in the region’s HIV response.
The department achieved national accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board, marking a major milestone in quality and accountability. Strategic plans were adopted to improve community wellness through Blue Zones and the Community Health Worker Hub.
RUHS – PH has also adapted to face new epidemics, such as bird flu, and continues to respond to disparities in infant and maternal mortality as well as to challenges of substance use and overdoses, and climate-related heat illness.
In addition, Injury Prevention Services programs were expanded to include road safety and reduce car accident deaths. Nutrition services have grown to ensure families receive vital support. Through the WIC program, the department continues to provide formula and nutritional assistance to women, infants, and children. A map of food pantries and food bands was also developed to improve access to essential food resources for residents in need.
“Change is constant, and here in Public Health, we understand that the future will require that we identify, adapt, and meet emerging health challenges as they come,” Riverside County Health Officer Dr. Jennifer Chevinsky said. “For that reason, the lessons of the past make us stronger so that we will be ready.”
Part of the celebration was a display of the department’s Vital Signs—an introspective study by each of the agency’s programs that looks at the health and impacts of the work being done in local communities and identifying opportunities for continuous improvement.
RUHS – PH plans to create a timeline and time capsule, which will be stored at its headquarters in Riverside, and will engage the public with trivia and historical milestones via its social media outlets.
A webpage was created for the public to learn about the history of RUHS – PH and hear from each of the department branches about the work being done in Riverside County and the resources available to residents. Each month will highlight a different branch and topic area. To follow RUHS – PH Centennial celebrations, visit www.ruhealth.org/public-health/centennial.
