At UC San Diego, public health is more than a discipline — it’s a driving force for transformation.
As the world’s health challenges grow more complex, public health practitioners are translating science into action. They develop community-based solutions that improve health outcomes locally and globally, driving innovation that connects research, policy and practice.
Across UC San Diego Health Sciences and the broader university, public health principles guide how we prepare future professionals to address population-wide health challenges, reduce health disparities and advance preventive care. This commitment takes root both in the academic environment and at UC San Diego Health, where prevention and population health are embedded in world-class care — from early cancer screening and stroke prevention resources to community partnerships that promote mental and physical wellness and disease prevention.
Public health ensures that evidence-based services and treatments reach the people and communities who need them most. An example of this impact can be seen in a recent School of Medicine study showing how community health workers played a pivotal role in reaching underserved populations and reducing unhealthy alcohol use.
UC San Diego’s longstanding leadership in tobacco control research continues to shape major public health policies — from California regulations on flavored and online tobacco sales to the FDA’s proposed menthol cigarette ban. This reflects the Health Sciences’ impact not only on our local communities, but also on the nation as a whole.
Our newest school, the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, advances bold solutions that address the most persistent public health challenges and forge the necessary partnerships to build a healthier future for all.
Now celebrating its five-year anniversary, the school continues to grow in scope and excellence:
