About the Department

In 1972 Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine established the Department of Preventive Medicine in response to national, community, and school needs. Since then, the department has played a vital role in promoting health education and public policy through its teaching programs, research, and administration.

The department's main goal in medical education is to inspire students to reach beyond the diagnosis and treatment of illness and scientifically address the major challenges in American medicine today, which include disease prevention and control, improved health care for all, and better organization and financing of health care services. Some of the country's finest researchers in epidemiology, cardiovascular disease, nutrition, behavioral science, and biostatistics help the department meet these challenges.Faculty members' work is supported by on-site research space, administrative personnel, and a fully staffed research clinic.

The Department of Preventive Medicine is home to several nationally and internationally renowned landmark collaborative studies, including the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), the CARDIA study, INTERMAP, and Multiethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). See the Research page for information on departmental research projects. Also based in the department is Northwestern University's Master of Public Health Degree Program (MPH).

Northwestern's Department of Preventive Medicine is at the leading edge of medicine in research, education, and public policy and will continue this leadership into the next century.