Population & Family Health

Welcome to the Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health!

I have the distinct honor to work alongside some of the most motivated and committed people I have ever met: our faculty, staff and students. Here, every day, this team integrates public health service, population-based research, excellence in education, human rights thinking, and effective advocacy, through a broad array of public health programs and research projects – both in New York City and in more than 60 countries around the world. We work in partnerships with Ministries of Health and local governments; UN and other intergovernmental agencies; and community-based and non-governmental organizations.

Effective public health programs and policies are based on strong science and strong principles. In this department, we strive to promote the utmost respect for the human rights of individuals, as we work to improve the health and well-being of individuals, families, communities, and entire populations.

We are hopeful about political and policy changes occurring in our nation’s capital. As we move toward a new era, we find much cause to celebrate (the end of the Global Gag rule, prospects for universal health insurance, and a reassertion of the importance of science in public policy formation). However, far more remains to be done. My colleagues and I continue to apply scientific understanding and human rights principles to the current challenges in our work, and to transmit these to the next generation of public health leaders: our students.

Since 1996, a key benefactor of the Department has been the Harriet and Robert H Heilbrunn family. We acknowledge once again our gratitude to the Heilbrunn family for the depth of their support over the years.

Sincerely,

John S. Santelli, MD, MPH
Harriet and Robert H Heilbrunn Professor
Chair, Heilbrunn Dept of Population and Family Health