Department of Public Health

The Department Office is located on the 5th Floor of the Student and Faculty Support (SF) building, Room 502.

Open 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday - Friday.

Dept. Phone: (510) 885-3481

Faculty

Professor

Chandrakala Ganesh (Chair), Ph.D. Pennsylvania State University

Oscar Wambuguh, Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley

Associate Professors

Alina Engelman, Dr.P.H. University of California, Berkeley

Ryan Gamba, Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley

Andrew Kelly, Ph.D. Northwestern University

Nidhi Khosla, Ph.D. Johns Hopkins University

Juleen Lam, Ph.D. Johns Hopkins University

Arnab Mukherjea, Dr.P.H. University of California, Berkeley

Michael Schmeltz, Dr.P.H. City University of New York, Graduate Center

Michael Stanton, Ph.D. Duke University

Assistant Professors

Nicholas Lam, Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley

Maria Livaudais, Ph.D. University of New Mexico

Kelsi Perttula, Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley

Mary (Kristina) Wharton, Ph.D. Tulane University

Department Statement

The Department of Public Health at California State University, East Bay (Cal State East Bay) is committed to providing a comprehensive and inclusive education that emphasizes the social determinants of health, social justice, health equity and prepares undergraduate students to address the complex health challenges facing individuals, communities, and populations. Through a rigorous curriculum, experiential learning opportunities, and interdisciplinary collaborations, our students develop the knowledge, skills, and critical thinking needed to become leaders and change-makers in the field of public health. Whether pursuing careers in public health practice, research, policy-making, or advocacy, our graduates are well-equipped to lead change and improve health outcomes for populations everywhere. We welcome you to join us in our mission to create healthier communities and advance a more equitable future for all.

Mission

Working together to improve the health of the San Francisco Bay Area, California, and beyond through teaching, research, and service.

Vision

We work for a future where:

The students in the Department of Public Health at Cal State East Bay are committed to tackling the health challenges facing the communities of the East Bay and California, to eliminating health disparities, and to creating resilient communities. The program students are change agents driving improvements in health across the East Bay.

The majors in the Department emphasizes public health and environmental health. Rooted in principles of solidarity, health equity, and social justice, the program values an interdisciplinary approach that emphasizes teamwork, problem solving, adaptability, ethics and strong evidence-based practice.

The Department of Public Health is an active and integral part of both the University and the East Bay communities with strong relationships to community organizations, hospitals, medical centers, and health departments. The Department is a leader in the institutional focus of Cal State East Bay on health and health-related programs and is a critical part of the mission of Cal State East Bay. It is nationally-recognized for its innovations in pedagogy and curriculum, and its faculty are active in their respective fields of research with work appearing in a wide range of publications.

The Department’s alumni are leaders and pioneers in their fields and work across all sectors in health and public health. They are adaptable to the changing demands of their fields and are lifelong learners. They take pride in their alma mater and are active donors and volunteers to the program, helping to build a resilient program that is a key part of the health of the East Bay and California.

About the Department

Faculty in the Department of Public Health are committed scholars and teachers who are passionate about health and bringing current issues into the classroom. They value interdisciplinarity and have backgrounds in public health, epidemiology, community health, law, political science, environmental health, biology, ethics, humanities, and the social sciences.

The Department emphasizes teamwork, real-world problem-solving, addressing health inequities, and the health effects of shifting physical, social, and political environments that impact human health. Rooted in principles of solidarity, health equity, and social justice, the program values an interdisciplinary approach that emphasizes teamwork, problem solving, adaptability, ethics and strong evidence-based practice

The Department also emphasizes problem-based learning which is core to its approach. The Department’s goal is to help students develop critical thinking skills, team work, and strong problem-solving skills rooted in a population perspective.

Visit the Public Health website for more detailed information about the Department and advising.

Programs

Bachelor of Science

Minors

Health Policy Minor

Courses

Public Health