The Department of Environmental & Public Health Sciences within the College of Medicine contributes to all components of the college's tripartite mission of education, research, and clinical service.  Founded in the 1920s, the Department has continued its rich history of seminal contributions to our understanding of the impact of environmental and industrial factors on human health.  Furthermore, the Department translates these discoveries into improved methods of clinical care, public health advocacy, and public health policy. 

Our Mission:

"To improve quality of life by identifying the mechanisms of disease and injury due to environmental exposures and genetic factors, and by developing and implementing effective methods of prevention and intervention through Research, Education, and Service. Our nation’s need for sound scientific research and public health application of that research has never been more apparent. Our goal is to lead the way by nurturing science and scientists and training practitioners to meet this challenge."

This mission is accomplished through:

RESEARCH: To obtain new scientific knowledge on the process by which environmental agents produce adverse human health effects.

EDUCATION: To prepare tomorrow’s professionals for leadership roles in research, education, service, and patient care.

SERVICE: To diminish adverse health effects through interaction with governmental agencies and community groups