William Cooper is the new director of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine's Master of Public Health program.

Cooper, professor of pediatrics and preventive medicine, has been associate director of the program since 2001. He takes over the program from Wayne Ray, professor of preventive medicine, who has led the newly-accredited program since it's launch in 1996.

There are currently 27 students in the MPH program, which provides training for patient-oriented researchers who conduct studies with large sample sizes.