UGA College of Public Health

UGA College of Public Health Pursue understanding and take action at the University of Georgia College of Public Health.

Founded in 2005 as a response to the state's need to address important health concerns in Georgia, the UGA College of Public Health is dedicated to excellence and innovation in instruction, high-quality research and positive impact on communities through outreach and engagement activities. Faculty, staff and students at the College work with community and governmental partners to improve the healt

h and lives of the people we serve in the state of Georgia, the nation and in other countries through our meaningful and evolving international programs and projects. The UGA College of Public Health offers degrees in biostatistics, disaster management, environmental health, epidemiology, gerontology, health promotion and behavior, public health, health policy and management, health administration, and toxicology. Certificates in gerontology, disaster management, infectious disease epidemiology, and global health are also offered.

Alumni Spotlight: Meet Chao Li (MPH ’12, PhD ’17), the senior director of biostatistics for Aura Biosciences, a pharmace...
06/23/2026

Alumni Spotlight: Meet Chao Li (MPH ’12, PhD ’17), the senior director of biostatistics for Aura Biosciences, a pharmaceutical company focused on ocular and urologic oncology. During her time as a student at the UGA College of Public Health, Li knew the career she wanted to pursue but didn’t know the path she needed to take to get there.

She credits mentorship and guidance from Ye Shen, Ernest Corn Professor and epidemiology and biostatistics department head, for helping her identify the steps to reach her professional goals.

To read more about how CPH continues to support Li, visit https://publichealth.uga.edu/alumni-spotlight-chao-li-mph-12-phd-17/

On Juneteenth, the UGA College of Public Health reflects on the past and continues working toward a healthier, more equi...
06/19/2026

On Juneteenth, the UGA College of Public Health reflects on the past and continues working toward a healthier, more equitable future for all.

At the UGA College of Public Health, we know how valuable hands-on learning and community engagement are for our student...
06/18/2026

At the UGA College of Public Health, we know how valuable hands-on learning and community engagement are for our students.

DrPH student Crystal Spears-Jones and Natalie Cann, who graduated in May with her Master of Public Health degree, worked with District 2 Public Health for their Applied Practice Experience. Spears-Jones supported disaster preparedness efforts for the Unity Project in Gainesville. Cann's projects in District 2 included analysis of influenza-related illness data and participation in routine notifiable disease investigations.

We love seeing how our students take what they learn in the classroom and apply it to support local communities!

Corbin Blum is a health promotion major and on a Double Dawgs pathway pursuing a Master of Public Health in health polic...
06/17/2026

Corbin Blum is a health promotion major and on a Double Dawgs pathway pursuing a Master of Public Health in health policy and management. You've probably seen him all over social media (he's a Digital Dawg, after all), but what is he up to this summer?

"I'm working with UGA Parent and Family Engagement as an intern, helping with orientation, planning Family Weekend 2026 and assisting with social media," said Corbin. "On top of that, I'm taking classes in chronic disease prevention and foundations of environmental health science. In chronic disease prevention, I'm currently working on a group project to develop a strategic plan to address nonalcoholic fatty liver disease among overweight and obese individuals in the Southern United States."

"I'm also continuing my undergraduate research with Dr. Christina Proctor this summer," said Corbin. "I recently found out that my abstract, 'Predictors of Alcohol Use in a Sample of Members of the Agricultural Industry,' was accepted for presentation as a student poster in the student award poster section of the 2026 American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Expo in November."

"And I have to keep public health a focus in my life, too — I'm getting more into running this summer as well.

06/11/2026

You may not realize it, but public health is all around us. When it’s working well, you don’t know it, and that’s the point.

Public health professionals address health in our communities, our environment, and in the systems that shape everyday life. We work to prevent disease before it begins, to avoid a crisis before it happens, and to reduce risks before they have the potential to harm anyone. That’s the power of public health—its success is measured not only in what happens, but in what never has to.

The clean water you drink? That is public health.
Food safety standards? That is public health.
Airbags, seatbelts and workplace safety laws? That is public health.
Vaccination programs? That is public health.

The list goes on, but you get the idea.

At the UGA College of Public Health, our vision is a healthier, safer, more equitable world for all in Georgia and beyond. Graduates from the College of Public Health—nationally known for its work related to aging, disaster preparedness, evidence-based practice, global infectious disease, and workplace health—typically go on to a diverse range of careers, including medicine, health education, emergency management, public health policy, environmental science and social work.

So, why does public health matter? Because it changes everything.

06/09/2026

Who can you help if you choose a career in public health? Everyone.

Public health protects and improves the health of communities. It aims to prevent disease, prolong life and strengthen policy. At the UGA College of Public Health, our mission is to advance the health of all. Through research, hands-on learning, and community engagement, we commit to improving the public’s health in Georgia, our nation, and the world.

Classes (well, some of them) might be out for the summer, but our Public Health Dawgs are still making an impact in comm...
06/05/2026

Classes (well, some of them) might be out for the summer, but our Public Health Dawgs are still making an impact in communities here and around the world.

Meet Amber Kim, an incoming third-year health promotion major with a minor in gerontology. She’s on the Double Dawgs pathway pursuing her Master of Public Health in epidemiology. Amber just wrapped up a study abroad program in Thailand.

"This Maymester, I participated in the Comparative Health Systems study abroad program in Thailand, where we analyzed how the country successfully achieved Universal Health Coverage, said Amber. "A major highlight was transitioning from classroom lectures at Chulalongkorn University to real-world application during our academic field visits, including observing local healthcare delivery at Hua Hin Hospital and exploring insurance mechanisms at the National Health Security Office in Bangkok."

"This experience deepened my understanding of the intersection between health governance and local equity," Amber said. "I saw firsthand how Thailand is navigating a major demographic shift by prioritizing preventative care to extend health spans, while simultaneously observing how local administrative organizations manage healthcare resources. It reinforced my belief that effective health promotion requires structural resilience and community-driven allocation that meets people exactly where they are."

What's it like to be a Public Health Dawg? The best.
06/01/2026

What's it like to be a Public Health Dawg? The best.

05/29/2026

We're the lucky ones. 💖 Counting down the days until campus is full again.

Eating healthy doesn’t just lead to better health. It may also lower how much Americans spend on healthcare, according t...
05/27/2026

Eating healthy doesn’t just lead to better health. It may also lower how much Americans spend on healthcare, according to new research from the University of Georgia

Researchers from the College of Public Health and the College of Family and Consumer Sciences examined data from more than 4,000 households across the United States.

CPH Professor Janani Rajbhandari said respondents who reported eating healthy spent less overall monthly and spent less on health expenditures. They were then able to apply those savings to other household needs.

You can learn more here: https://publichealth.uga.edu/eating-healthy-could-lower-health-expenses-for-families/

Address

105 Spear Road
Athens, GA
30606

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Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

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+17065422300

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