About the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine

Mission statement

"To improve and protect public health, locally and globally, through excellence in teaching, research, and service."

We endeavour to work in partnership with tangata whenua, under te Tiriti o Waitangi, aiming for equitable health and well-being outcomes for Māori and for other populations with whom we work. We strive to oppose racism and to amplify the voices of Māori, Pacific, and other oppressed and marginalised ethnic groups in our teaching, research, and service.

Research

The Department of Preventive and Social Medicine includes staff who research a very wide range of public health issues, including cancer, injury, infectious diseases, medicine and vaccine safety, health policy, health systems, harm from tobacco and alcohol, child development, biostatistical methods, and international health.

There are a number of major research groups:

• AIDS Epidemiology Group
• Cancer Society Social and Behavioural Research Unit
• Hugh Adam Cancer Epidemiology Unit
• Injury Prevention Research Unit

The Biostatistical Group collaborates with members of the Department and many other University staff on research projects, as well as undertaking research on biostatistical methods.

Teaching

The Department teaches many postgraduate papers in public health, occupational health and research methods. We are also involved in the teaching of medical students and offer undergraduate papers in epidemiology, health promotion, and health policy and politics.

Undergraduate teaching includes:

• Health Science First Year (HSFY)
• Public health and evidence-based practice in the medical programme
• The Minor in Public Health, available as a minor subject for a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Music (MusB), Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA), Bachelor of Theology (BTheol), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Applied Science (BAppSc), Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHealSc) or Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) degree.

Postgraduate teaching includes:

• The Diploma in Public Health programme
• The Master of Public Health programme
• Postgraduate qualifications in health management, occupational and, postgraduate papers in health science that contribute to other programmes

There is an active research student programme that supports the Master of Public Health and PhD students, who may be supervised by staff from any area of the Department.

Strategic plans

Department of Preventive and Social Medicine strategic plan 2023–2026:

• Department of Preventive and Social Medicine research strategic plan 2023–2026 (PDF)