Urban Health. Global Impact.

The Dornsife School of Public Health at Drexel University was founded on the principle of health as a human right and the recognition of the importance of social justice as a means to achieve health for all.

Located in Philadelphia, PA, Drexel Dornsife is one of the top schools of public health in the United States, ranking as the #1 school of public health in Philly and tied for #27 out of 219 in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2025 rankings of the best public health schools. The school is fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).

Mission of Drexel Dornsife’s School of Public Health

Our mission is to advance health as a human right, improve population health, and eliminate health disparities through impactful research, integrative education, and meaningful partnerships with communities.

We provide transformative educational programming for undergraduate and graduate students (in-person + online) anchored by Drexel's renowned experiential learning opportunities.

A Strategic Focus on Public Health Challenges

Our story weaves together three public health challenges: urban health, health equity, and policy translation in a way that is inclusive and broad, that allows us to have focus but at the same time engages new ideas and new areas. Most importantly, we recognize the value of diversity (where we come from, who we are, what we know, what we do, our history) to all of our work, because this diversity is critical to our ability to develop, embrace new things, and achieve our goals.

30 Years of Teaching Public Health Students

Our history honors 30 years of training public health students using a curriculum focused on problem solving and real-life practical experiences.

Drexel Dornsife stands out thanks to our faculty, academic advisors, and career services team, who provide student-centered, personalized mentorship and guidance tailored to each individual's success.

Academic Departments

Drexel Dornsife has four different academic departments offering in-depth training to undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate students. Working together, these departments cultivate and foster sustainable partnerships.

Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Community Health and Prevention

Health Management and Policy

Environmental and Occupational Health

Championing the Right to Health for Every Individual

Drexel University Dornsife faculty, students, and staff share five core values that guide how we work together and make decisions:

• Collective Well-Being: Cultivating a culture of care, healing, and justice by prioritizing mental health, addressing root causes of disparity, and sustaining people, connections, capacities, and the planet through shared strength.
• Partnership: Building authentic and trust-based relationships with individuals, communities, and organizations by sharing power, meeting partners where they are, and cocreating solutions—recognizing that lasting change is community-led and grounded in mutual respect.
• Social Responsibility: Acting with a moral and institutional obligation to advance health, human rights, and the common good, while actively preventing harm and addressing systemic inequities.
• Systematic Excellence: Pursuing high-quality, evidence-based education, research, and practice rooted in public health science and a growth mindset.
• Integrity: Upholding honesty, accountability, and transparency by aligning words with actions, welcoming feedback, acknowledging mistakes, and building trust.

Our school "is not a place where apathy wins. This is a community where we challenge each other to live our values," said Dean Gina Lovasi, PhD, MPH in a 2023 Q&A.

The Dornsife School of Public Health is located in Nesbitt Hall at the corner of 33rd and Market Streets, at the heart of University City in Philadelphia, with easy access to Center City and a few blocks from the main train station (30th Street Station).

About Drexel University

Philadelphia's Drexel University is a nationally ranked global research university with over 21,000 students worldwide.

Drexel holds the prestigious "R1 Doctoral University: Very High Research Activity” ranking from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions. Learn more about Drexel's rankings and achievements.

Drexel University's unique academic model balances world-class academics with real-world experiences including our signature co-op program. A Drexel education delivers strong value for our graduates including career opportunities and long-term earning potential. Learn more about Drexel's outcomes and the value of a Drexel education.

Lead by Drexel President Antonio Merlo, the university is committed to a student-centered culture where every student feels welcome and supported here. Learn more about student success at Drexel.

The Drexel campus is located within a short walk of the Amtrak and regional rail stations in the University City section of Philadelphia, a vibrant city with a rich array of health care, educational, nonprofit, corporate, and cultural institutions.

Experience What Education Can Be at Drexel