Overview
The Division of Population Health & Community Medicine advances the science of improving health at the population level. Our faculty study how biological, behavioral, environmental, social, and healthcare system factors influence health and develop evidence-based strategies to prevent disease, reduce health disparities, and improve the health of individuals and communities across the lifespan.
Drawing on expertise in epidemiology, biostatistics, cancer prevention, implementation science, health equity, and community-engaged research, the Division conducts innovative research that informs clinical practice, public health policy, and healthcare delivery. Through interdisciplinary collaboration across the University and with regional, national, and international partners, our faculty translate scientific discoveries into meaningful improvements in population health.
The Division brings together faculty with expertise in medicine, public health, epidemiology, biostatistics, and population health, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration in research, education, and community engagement. Faculty within the Division also contribute statistical expertise and collaborative methodological support to investigators through the Biostatistics Consulting Core, an institutional resource housed within the Department of Family, Population and Preventive Medicine.
Education
The Division is committed to educating the next generation of physicians, scientists, and public health leaders. Faculty teach, mentor, and collaborate with medical students, preventive medicine residents, postdoctoral fellows, and junior investigators through classroom instruction, research mentorship, and interdisciplinary training.
As the academic home of the Preventive Medicine Residency, the Division prepares physicians to integrate clinical medicine, epidemiology, and population health approaches to disease prevention and health promotion.
Research & Scholarship
Division faculty lead innovative, externally funded research spanning epidemiology, cancer prevention, implementation science, health services research, biostatistics, environmental health, behavioral interventions, and community-engaged research. Their work generates evidence that informs clinical practice, public health policy, and strategies to improve the health of populations.
Supported by federal, state, foundation, and industry funding, the Division's research portfolio addresses critical public health priorities, including chronic disease prevention, cancer prevention and control, health equity, social determinants of health, and evidence-based interventions that strengthen healthcare delivery and improve community health.
Areas of Expertise
Population Health
Faculty advance the health of populations through research that informs disease prevention, healthcare delivery, health policy, and public health practice, improving health outcomes across diverse communities.
Epidemiology
Faculty investigate the distribution, causes, and prevention of disease through observational studies, clinical research, and population-based investigations that inform healthcare practice and public health policy.
Biostatistics
Faculty develop and apply advanced statistical methods that strengthen biomedical, clinical, and population health research through innovative study design, data analysis, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Cancer Prevention and Control
Faculty conduct research that reduces cancer risk, improves screening and early detection, advances survivorship, and addresses disparities in cancer outcomes through evidence-based prevention strategies.
Health Equity and Social Determinants of Health
Faculty examine how social, economic, environmental, and structural factors influence health outcomes and develop interventions that reduce disparities and promote equitable access to high-quality care.
Implementation Science
Faculty study strategies that accelerate the adoption, implementation, and sustainability of evidence-based interventions across healthcare systems and community settings to improve health outcomes at scale.
Community-Engaged Research
Faculty partner with patients, healthcare organizations, public agencies, and community organizations to co-develop sustainable solutions that address community priorities, improve health, and reduce disparities.