The Future of Public Health is Happening at the Yale School of Public Health

The Yale School of Public Health offers specialization in biostatistics, chronic disease epidemiology, environmental health sciences, epidemiology of microbial diseases, health policy, health management, and social and behavioral sciences. The school offers an 11-month Advanced Professional MPH Program or a hybrid, online and on-campus Executive MPH program for individuals who already have an advanced degree and/or substantial work experience. There is also an accelerated MBA/MPH in addition to several other joint degree programs with other professional schools at Yale.

MPH students from any department may add a secondary academic dimension to their degree by completing the Global Health Concentration, Public Health Modeling Concentration, or Implementation Science Track.

All students are encouraged to take courses throughout the Yale campus in complementary disciplines such as law, environmental studies, social sciences, management, divinity, and more as part of their MPH, MS, or PhD studies.

YSPH research spans a wide range of topics, including cancer, HIV/AIDS, LGBTQ+ health, global health, environmental hazards and climate change, infectious and chronic diseases, health policy, and much, much more. Innovative work on personal monitors and e-health, implementation science, modeling, and -omics enhances YSPH’s impact in the field. With more than 16 YSPH-based centers and numerous partnerships across the University, Yale offers a fertile environment for collaboration and developing innovative approaches to improving health and well-being.

Shown here: An intern with Professor Nicole Deziel's Water Study overlooks a fracking site in Ohio.

Research and practice are intertwined at the Yale School of Public Health. Since C.-E. A. Winslow, the school's founder, did his first health survey upon arrival in New Haven over 100 years ago, our faculty and students have applied their research in real-world settings to advance efforts in achieving health equity, disease prevention, and wellness. We actively work with partners, both local and global, to improve health through community-engaged research and training, program evaluation, policy analysis, lifestyle interventions, leadership and management capacity building, and more. Through a variety of centers, initiatives, and partnerships, the applied practice experience for the MPH degree, case-based course work, and volunteer opportunities, the School brings together practice and research to train students in the real-world application of public health scholarship, skills, and advocacy.

Shown here: The Community Alliance for Research and Engagement at the Yale School of Public Health has conducted two city-wide surveys to steer health interventions in the city of New Haven.

The School’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is demonstrated not only by the values and culture that we foster at YSPH but also through our research, teaching and community engagement focused on reducing health inequalities. Faculty, staff, and students investigate the role of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and other factors in health outcomes. Our alumni and student affinity groups are actively involved in helping to advance YSPH’s diversity initiatives and supporting efforts to recruit and retain a more diverse faculty, staff, and student body. YSPH’s Student Diversity Ambassadors play a key role in organizing activities and events aimed at fostering a culture and environment that not only emphasizes a genuine sense of belonging for all but also creates a deeper understanding of our shared humanity and struggles.

Shown here: A staff member joins students to assemble living walls in several YSPH classrooms.

Each summer, MPH students travel across the globe for their applied practice experiences. These internship projects expose students to real-world challenges and give them a chance to apply what they have learned in the classroom directly. The Career Management Center and Office of Public Health Practice help students identify their placement and plan their projects to meet their Applied Practice Experience (APE) requirements for graduation.

Shown here: Shankeri Vijayakumar, MPH ‘25, inside the General Assembly Hall, the main deliberative, policymaking, and representative arm of the United Nations, during an internship with the United Nations Development Programme.

Founded in 1915 by Charles-Edward Amory Winslow, the Yale School of Public Health is among the oldest schools of public health in the country. Throughout its history, the School has made many important health contributions in areas including environmental sanitation, polio, and cancer. The school has trained thousands of researchers, practitioners, administrators, and educators and continues to draw upon this rich history and tradition as it evolves to meet the health challenges of the 21st century.

Shown here: Dorothy Horstmann broke gender barriers while demonstrating that the polio virus reached the nervous system by way of the blood, a discovery that contributed to the development of an oral vaccine.

Global health is public health, and Yale has been committed to working around the world for over 50 years. The Yale Institute for Global Health was launched in 2017 as a university-wide effort to address global health issues and serve as the focal point for research, education, and engagement with global partners to improve the health of individuals and populations worldwide. Students in the YSPH Global Health Concentration are encouraged to develop a broad interdisciplinary approach to their work on the world stage.

Shown here: Downs Fellow, Harry Hyunteh Kim studied hookworm infection in the northern region of Ghana.

Our 6,900-plus alumni remain an integral part of the YSPH community long after earning their degrees. They share their experiences through career service and recruitment events, mentor job-seeking students, and serve as preceptors for summer internships. Graduates can continue their professional development by engaging the Public Health Career Board, joining Yale School of Public Health Alumnifire networking platform, and attending various networking opportunities like the annual alumni symposium and awards luncheon.

Shown here: Students and Alumni meet in Washington, D.C., after a career tour sponsored by the Office of Career Management.

Yale School of Public Health students have a remarkable University at their disposal. With well over 10,000 students, 175,000 living alumni, and 5,500 faculty members, Yale has something to offer every academic interest. The campus is renowned for its beautiful Gothic architecture, theater, concerts, museums, and forums with eminent speakers that further enhance student life.

Settled in 1638, New Haven is known for its rich history and great food. Home to Noah Webster, Eli Whitney, Samuel Colt, the Amistad trials (with defense led by John Quincy Adams), and Emeline Robert Jones (the first woman to practice dentistry in the U.S.), the city was a hub of activity during the Revolutionary and Civil wars. Today, New Haven is a cultural and entertainment destination. Dining options include the famous Pepe’s and Sally’s pizzerias as well as numerous Zagat-rated restaurants.

Shown here: New Haven Farmer's Market at Wooster Square.

Community service is a shared value not just at the Yale School of Public Health but throughout Yale University at large. With leadership from the Office of Public Health Practice, YSPH is bringing together research strengths and volunteer efforts around five areas of focus: maternal and child health, climate change and health, opioids and substance use, ensuring food security, and public health workforce development.

Shown here: Students with the New Haven PAWS Project (Poverty Alleviation through Washing Soles) distribute shoes and provide footcare to people experiencing homelessness in New Haven.