Our Mission
The mission of UC Merced’s Public Health Department is to understand, promote, and protect health in the San Joaquin Valley, California, and the world through our research and training of the next generation of public health leaders.
Guiding Principles
Health Equity, Social Justice, and Environmental Justice. Because health is a fundamental right, our work aims to identify and address the multilevel determinants of health and health disparities.
Research Excellence. We uphold and support the principles of scientific inquiry, ethics, and academic conduct in our quest to achieve research excellence.
Interdisciplinarity. Our faculty represent multiple disciplines, and our work requires an interdisciplinary lens—a hallmark of public health—and is in part demonstrated by collaboration across traditional disciplines.
Diversity and Inclusion. We embrace diversity as a source of strength. Our differences—of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, socioeconomic status, abilities, lived experience, and more—enhance our ability to achieve the university’s core missions of public service, teaching, and research. We welcome faculty, postdoctoral scholars, staff, and students from all backgrounds, and we promote an environment where everyone feels safe, respected, and valued.
Learning and Innovation. We develop local, state, and national leaders, scholars, and public health practitioners through rigorous training and mentorship.
Regional Centering. We respect and acknowledge the diverse history, culture, language, and natural resources of our region, and aim to combine resources to achieve health equity and social and environmental justice in this region.
Community Engagement. We believe in collaborative approaches to research that engage community members to develop and implement innovative, culturally affirming, evidence-based solutions. Our relationships and our commitment to community capacity building are integral to our efforts.
