CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy

CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy
Name	CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy
Established	2007
Type	Public
City	New York City
State	New York
Country	United States
Campus	Urban
Parent	City University of New York

CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy is a public graduate institution within the City University of New York system located in New York City, serving as an academic hub for applied public health education, policy analysis, and community practice. Founded in 2007 amid local and national calls for expanded public health capacity after events such as Hurricane Katrina, the school aligns with municipal and federal partners including New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York State Department of Health, and federal agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to train practitioners, researchers, and policymakers. The school situates itself at the intersection of urban health delivery and population-level policy, interfacing with institutions such as Columbia University, New York University, Mount Sinai Health System, and Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

History

The school's creation followed advocacy from New York City officials including leaders from the Office of the Mayor of New York City, policy advisers associated with the Koch administration (New York City) and the Bloomberg administration, and public health figures linked to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Trust for America's Health. Early planning involved stakeholders from City University of New York, the New York City Council, and community organizations like RWJBarnabas Health affiliates, while curriculum models drew on programs at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and the University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health. Accreditation efforts connected the school with entities such as the Council on Education for Public Health and collaborations with local healthcare providers including NYC Health + Hospitals and research partners like The Rockefeller University.

Campus and Facilities

The school operates in Manhattan with facilities proximate to major urban landmarks including Times Square, Grand Central Terminal, and the World Trade Center complex. Campus spaces include classrooms, simulation labs, and offices that support partnerships with nearby institutions such as Hunter College, Queens College (CUNY), and Brooklyn College (CUNY), while research labs engage with hospital systems like Mount Sinai Beth Israel and research institutes like The New York Academy of Medicine. Student life draws on city assets such as the New York Public Library, Museum of the City of New York, and public transit hubs like the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Academic Programs

Degree offerings include professional and research degrees modeled on curricula from Johns Hopkins University, Columbia University, and Yale University, with programs in epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health sciences, health policy and management, and community health practice. The school confers Master of Public Health, Doctor of Public Health, and doctoral degrees, and hosts joint programs with institutions like CUNY School of Law, Hunter College, and Lehman College (CUNY), while certificates and continuing education align with standards from the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health and the Council on Education for Public Health. Internships and practica place students with partners such as New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, American Red Cross, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and research centers at Weill Cornell Medicine.

Research and Centers

Research initiatives span infectious disease epidemiology, chronic disease prevention, environmental exposure assessment, and health policy analysis, with faculty-led centers collaborating with funders such as the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and private foundations like the Ford Foundation. Centers and labs have partnered with organizations including Montefiore Medical Center, NYU Langone Health, The Rockefeller Foundation, and international partners linked to the World Health Organization and Pan American Health Organization. Projects have examined topics relevant to events and crises such as the H1N1 influenza pandemic, the COVID-19 pandemic, and urban responses to Hurricane Sandy, producing policy briefs used by agencies such as the New York State Governor's Office and the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

Public Health Practice and Community Engagement

Community engagement emphasizes collaborations with community-based organizations like NOAH (New York City) affiliates, neighborhood health centers associated with Federally Qualified Health Center networks, and advocacy groups such as The AIDS Institute and Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. Practice partnerships include placement of students in municipal programs with NYC Health + Hospitals, local initiatives run by the New York City Housing Authority, and joint efforts with statewide entities including the New York State Department of Health and national coalitions such as Public Health Association affiliates. Outreach has focused on populations affected by disasters like Hurricane Sandy survivors, immigrant communities connected to advocacy groups such as Make the Road New York, and chronic disease initiatives referencing guidelines from the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society.

Administration and Accreditation

The school is administered under the governance structures of the City University of New York system and reports to bodies including the CUNY Board of Trustees, while its academic programs maintain accreditation through the Council on Education for Public Health. Administrative leadership has interacted with municipal and state offices including the Office of the Mayor of New York City and the New York State Education Department on workforce development initiatives, and collaborative agreements involve partners such as CUNY Graduate Center and professional organizations like the American Public Health Association.

Notable Alumni and Faculty

Faculty and alumni include public health leaders who have worked with institutions such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and academic partners like Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health; some have served in municipal positions under administrations of Michael Bloomberg and Bill de Blasio, while others have affiliations with research hospitals including Mount Sinai Health System and NYU Langone Health. Alumni have gone on to roles in agencies such as the New York State Department of Health, nonprofits like The Rockefeller Foundation, and academic posts at institutions including Rutgers University and CUNY Graduate Center.

Category:City University of New York