The air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink and even the roads we drive and the healthcare provided - are all safer as a result of public health policies and programs.

Perennial health threats such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, depression, malnutrition, malaria, AIDS, and influenza epidemics continue to plague our society, as do a host of medical concerns, such as smoking, the rising rate of obesity, sedentary lifestyles and the adverse health effects of stress and poverty.

The school of public health was founded at the University of Haifa less than a decade ago to address the well-being of Israel's citizens and to advance these global health issues through learning, discovery and communication.

From its inception, the School of Public Health has adopted an interdisciplinary approach and draws upon an interweaving of social sciences to better understand these health-related behaviors while preventing disease.

The School of Public Health is training the next generation of Israel's public health professionals in the areas of community health, health promotion, health services management, environmental and occupational health, epidemiology and nutrition behavior.

Academic curriculum and programs are structured to prepare students for positions in the health care system, the medical industry, research and academic institutions, as well as international and non-governmental organizations.

Interdisciplinary Approach - The School of Public Health is a crossroad of knowledge where ideas and people from the biological, physical, social, and managerial sciences meet. The school draws upon resources in the University's departments of Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Human Resources, Gerontology and the School of Social Work. Joint courses are offered with the Faculties of Humanities, Law and Natural Sciences.

Emphasis on Vulnerable Populations - Israel's poor and minority populations suffer disproportionately from illness and disability, and many of the school's research projects focus on populations with special needs, including new immigrants, foreign workers, the disabled and the elderly. These projects seek to better understand social inequalities in health as related to socioeconomic status, different racial and ethnic groups, and social networks, support and isolation

Research Intensive - The School of Public Health engages in research that strives to improve physical, mental and social well-being of Israel and our global community. These studies are making a significant impact on the prevention of disease, promotion of patient care, intelligent decision-making and high-quality administration.

The school offers PhD program and Master's degrees programs in Public Health (MPH), Health Administration (MHA) and Applied Nutrition (MAN), with the following specialized tracks:

Epidemiology, Health Promotion, Community Health, Environmental Health and Occupational Hygiene, Health Systems Management, Biostatistics, Bioethics, Physical Activity, Exercise and Health, Health Systems Administration, Nutrition, Health and Behavior.

The School of Public Health is a member of the Association of Public Health Schools in the European Region