Skip to main content

Cornell University

Public Health News

Sustainability. Equity. Engagement.

Our Mission

To promote public health and well-being, through practice, teaching, and research, using a systems approach that recognizes the critical role of the environment in supporting life on earth.

Interested in pursuing a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree at Cornell? Click here.

See how we’re implementing our One Health and Planetary Health mission, here.

Overview

Public health takes a systems approach to prevent disease, promote health, and prolong life among the population as a whole. The nature of our interactive global community, and the effects of our activities on the global environment, mean that public health cannot be separated from global health.

  • Infections cross species
  • Diseases cross boundaries
  • Illnesses cross race and ethnicity
  • A healthy environment protects against disease and promotes well-being
  • Social and economic factors play important roles in the burden of disease

The “One Health” and “Planetary Health” approach helps us to assess and address public health needs using a broader perspective, considering the inextricable links between human health, animal health, and environmental health. In order to ensure a healthy world and healthy public, the One Health and Planetary Health paradigms:

  • Focus on the multiple types of relationships connecting humans, animals, and the environment
  • Recognize that we must take an interdisciplinary approach
  • Encourage us to draw from the best practices of complementary disciplines
  • Allow us to look beyond traditional human health models

Cornell University exemplifies cutting-edge research and innovation in the core elements of One Health and Planetary Health: human, animal, and environmental sciences. This includes human and animal-focused medicine, and cutting-edge research on biomedical sciences; climate change; biodiversity; soil, water and air quality; agricultural production; human nutrition; diagnostics sciences and epidemiology; urban planning; strategic leadership; and health care policy, delivery and management systems.

Building on its research strengths, its commitment to sustainability and community engagement for impact, and its strong educational programs, Cornell University is developing leaders who are inspired, trained, and deployed to ensure the health of people, animals, and the world in which we live.

This portal highlights some of our work.