NYU School of Medicine creates new department that focuses on population health

NYU School of Medicine announced the creation of a new Department of Population Health focused on research to improve human health at the population level. Marc Gourevitch, MD, MPH, professor of population health and medicine at NYU School of Medicine was appointed inaugural chair.

A field of rapidly escalating importance, its focus on populations of persons rather than individuals fosters a proactive approach to disease through prevention and interventions at the level of health care systems and communities. By bridging diverse yet related disciplines of health care delivery, social and environmental determinants of health, biostatistics and epidemiology, the department will advance discovery, translation and dissemination of health-related interventions to optimize their impact on the health of populations in New York City communities and around the world.

"The creation of this department reflects NYU Langone's deep commitment to improving healthcare at the population level by focusing on a wide range of factors affecting health and quality of life," said Robert I. Grossman, MD, dean and CEO of NYU Langone Medical Center. "I am confident that under Dr. Gourevitch's leadership this department will foster collaboration among researchers with a broad spectrum of expertise, resulting in the advancement of evidence-based research and improvements in the health of entire communities."

By linking the Divisions of Biostatistics and Epidemiology with initiatives in comparative effectiveness and decision science, behavior change research, health policy and economics, global and community health, and delivery system analysis and design, the new department will provide a unique intellectual and training environment, drawing investigators from diverse disciplines across the medical center and NYU. "A focus on improving the health of populations is fundamental to 21st century healthcare and I am excited to lead NYU Langone's efforts to discover and apply new strategies to advance that goal," said Dr. Gourevitch. "The complexity of the real-world challenges we face demands solutions that bridge diverse disciplines and approaches."