Message From the Chair

I am honored to lead the Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health at a time marked by profound changes globally. Significant demographic shifts and rapid technological innovations dramatically impact health disparities, particularly among marginalized communities. Widening inequality, growing conflicts, and a climate crisis not only exacerbate these health disparities but also deepen poverty, presenting unparalleled challenges in global public health that reverberate on campus and across our communities.

Our Department is deeply committed to human rights, equity, and social justice, and dedicated to advancing population and family health through innovative research, transformative education, and impactful community and policy engagement. We have been at the forefront of pioneering new frameworks and scientific solutions that safeguard population health and address pressing issues such as the rising generation, an aging society, increased migration, gender disparities, and the critical intersection of health with climate change. As an interdisciplinary scholar, I will be focused on strengthening our capacity for multidisciplinary research and teaching that generates actionable knowledge to improve health and well-being, particularly for the most vulnerable and marginalized, and developing innovative approaches in population science and public health solutions that promote demographic resilience.

I am committed to the growth of our educational and training programs and to equipping the next generation of public health leaders we are nurturing with critical thinking skills, hands-on experience, and ethical grounding necessary to drive change in their communities and globally. Our curricula are continuously evolving, incorporating the latest scientific advancements and experiential learning initiatives to remain at the forefront of global health education, preparing our students to tackle present and future public health challenges.

One of my goals is to create a vibrant environment for our talented team of faculty, scientists, educators, practitioners, and students as they innovate and develop solutions, generating critical evidence to address the most urgent challenges of our era. Collaboration is vital to our mission, and I am dedicated to fostering robust partnerships within our university, with communities in New York City and the U.S., and with global policymakers, practitioners, and funders. These partnerships are crucial for enriching our research and educational endeavors, ensuring that our solutions are relevant and responsive to the populations we serve, creating lasting impacts.

As the Department's 50th anniversary in 2025 approaches, I look forward to a new chapter of excellence in research, education, and service to protect and enhance health and well-being both in our neighborhood and across the world.

In solidarity,

Thoai D. Ngo, PhD, MHS

Chair, Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health

Professor of Population and Family Health