Mission

Our Mission: To provide academic, professional, and service excellence in preparing public health professionals who demonstrate competent leadership, innovation, and technical expertise at local, state, national, and international levels, with a particular emphasis on the U.S./Mexico border, rural, and tribal communities.

Our Vision: Health equity for all.

Our Values: The departments mission, goals, objectives, and curricular elements are grounded in a set of core values that reflect the importance of health to the citizens of the southwest border region.

 

We Believe in

  • Integrity. An environment of integrity with a commitment to highest ethical standards.

  • Respect. Respect for one’s self, their community, the people they work with, and the profession as a whole.

  • Good health. Health-related quality of life is essential to human existence.

  • Cultural competence. New Mexico’s proximity to the Mexico border, and with our 23 tribes and Colonias means that public health practice throughout New Mexico has international and multicultural implications.

  • Health equity. Public health programs can improve health status and reduce health disparities throughout New Mexico.

  • Social justice. Social justice and health equity translate into public health efforts that promote more inclusive outreach, better access to resources, more thoughtful advocacy and determination to work on difficult and complex health and social issues.

Our Goals:

  • Prepare and produce competent professionals who have essential knowledge and skills for public health practice with diverse populations and in varied settings.

  • Conduct ethically and scientifically sound research/demonstration and translational projects to protect, improve, and/or restore the health of diverse populations.

  • Engage in service activities benefiting the university, New Mexico and regional communities, and professional associations throughout the southwest, the country, and international venues.