Who We Are

The Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health (HDPFH) addresses a wide range of challenges to health, focusing on sexual and reproductive health and rights, forced migration, child and adolescent health, environmental justice, and complex health systems.

From school health programs in New York City to bolstering maternal health in Ghana, we join with community partners to identify and address the most urgent community health needs.

Vision

Our vision is to affirm health as a basic human right and actively work to achieve that right for everyone. By combining our understanding of the impact of law and global governance on public health with advanced health systems analysis and implementation science, HDPFH effectively prevents and addresses public health threats in low-income, unstable, and inequitable environments worldwide and our communities.

Mission

The Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health (HDPFH) at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health is a global and local leader in practice-based, values driven public health policy and action. HDPFH uses varied interdisciplinary scientific and technological approaches and a justice framework to understand factors undermining health and wellbeing so as to shift policy and practice. The Department educates leaders in sexual and reproductive health and rights, wellbeing of migrant populations and people confronting health emergencies and humanitarian crises, the health of children facing adversity, environmental justice, and human rights. We shift global health policy and practice to improve health systems and health outcomes for populations in low-income, unstable, or inequitable environments worldwide.

Support Our Work 

Do you believe in our mission? Please consider supporting our work. Your gift goes directly and immediately toward our efforts to strengthen public health via research, education, and sharing information with community stakeholders.