Mission 

The overarching mission of the Harvard School of Public Health is to advance the public’s health through learning, discovery, and communication.

In support of the school’s mission, our goals are the following:

• Create a strong and vibrant intellectual community
• Train leaders in public health science and practice to solve public health problems of the twenty-first century
• Generate new discoveries that lead to improved health for the people of this country and all nations
• Engage in service activities that strengthen the capacity of local, regional, national, and international communities to advance population health
• Employ innovative communication strategies that increase public awareness of public health problems and solutions

The field of public health is inherently multi-disciplinary. So, too, are the interests and expertise of the School’s faculty and students, which extend across the biological, quantitative, and social sciences. With our roots in biology, we are able to confront the most pressing diseases of our time—AIDS, cancer, and heart disease—by adding to our knowledge of their underlying structure and function. Core quantitative disciplines like epidemiology and biostatistics are fundamental to analyzing the broad impact of health problems, allowing us to look beyond individuals to entire populations. And, because preventing disease is at the heart of public health, we also pursue the social sciences to better understand health-related behaviors and their societal influences—critical elements in educating and empowering people to make healthier lifestyle choices.
From advancing scientific discovery to training national and international leaders, the Harvard School of Public Health has been at the forefront of efforts to benefit the health of populations worldwide. Shaping new ideas in our field and communicating them effectively will continue to be priorities in the years ahead as we serve society’s changing health needs.