About the Department of Health Behavior & Health Equity

The Department of Health Behavior & Health Equity at the University of Michigan School of Public Health houses seven interdisciplinary research centers and offers master of public health (MPH) and doctoral (PhD) degree programs, as well as many dual degree options for students.

Our unifying mission is to advance health, reduce preventable illness, and improve health equity through the application of research, teaching, service and practice that promotes quality of life within and across diverse population groups. 

  • Our passionate students leave their program prepared for a wide range of professional careers where they can change the world for the better.
  • Our esteemed faculty create engaging experiences for students in and outside of the classroom and lead research centers across the University of Michigan campus that study today’s most important health equity questions.
  • Our purpose-driven curriculum integrates theory, research, and practice through case studies, small group discussions, and hands-on experiences with community partners. 
  • Our impactful research uses multiple approaches and methods to examine the root causes of health inequity and apply findings to develop interventions and change policies.

Health Behavior & Health Equity At A Glance

  • 22 Tenure Track Faculty
  • 4  Research Faculty
  • 2 Clinical Faculty
  • 19 Faculty with Joint Appointments
  • 138 Students
  • 1,700 Alumni
  • 75 Staff
  • 7 Research Centers 

Our History

Our legacy began with the work of Mabel Rugen, one of the founding faculty members of the University of Michigan School of Public Health in 1941.The Department of Health Behavior & Health Education was established in 1975, and was renamed to the Department of Health Behavior & Health Equity in 2024 to reflect the department’s increasing focus on issues of health equity in research, teaching and service. 

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

We are actively engaged in DE&I efforts within the department, school and University.  Current Health Behavior & Health Equity initiatives include:

  • DEI Health Behavior & Health Equity Collective. This group is made up of the following three committees:
    • Student DEI  Committee
    • Staff DEI Committee
    • Faculty DEI Committee

Contact  Jenny Crawford ([email protected]) with questions about department DEI efforts and any of the opportunities listed here. 

Contact Information

Health Behavior & Health Equity Faculty and Staff Directory

E-mail: [email protected]

Phone: 734-764-9494

Mail:

Department of Health Behavior & Health Equity
School of Public Health
University of Michigan
1415 Washington Heights
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029