Prevention and Community Health
Harnessing the power of community to promote health, well-being and equity.
The Department of Prevention and Community Health engages in research, training and practice that is founded in cutting-edge social-structural and behavioral theories and methodologies and driven by diverse community voices and partnerships. Our students are prepared to respond to pressing public health challenges using a variety of approaches including community mobilization and policy advocacy, and individual behavior change.
Academic Programs
Academic degree programs in PCH include: a Social and Behavioral Sciences PhD and MPH programs in Community Health and Prevention Science; Community Oriented Primary Care; Health Promotion; Maternal and Child Health; Public Health Communication and Marketing. Our graduates are making significant contributions across a range of sectors, including government, nonprofits, academia, and private industry.
Meet Our Department Chair
Amita N. Vyas, PhD, MHS
Interim Department Chair and Professor
Welcome, and thank you for your interest in the Department of Prevention and Community Health at The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health. On behalf of our incredible faculty and staff, I’m honored to introduce you to our work, our people, and our purpose.
At its core, public health is about people. We listen to communities, learn from them, and partner to create healthier lives for all. In PCH, we are deeply committed to working in and with communities to understand the root causes of health challenges and to co-create solutions that are practical, lasting, and grounded in evidence. Best of all, our students can take advantage of all that the Washington, DC Metro area has to offer in terms of places and opportunities to gain practical experience.
Our department is home to five specialized Master of Public Health (MPH) programs:
- Community Health and Prevention Science
- Community Oriented Primary Care
- Health Promotion
- Maternal and Child Health
- Public Health Communication and Marketing
We also offer a PhD in Social and Behavioral Sciences. Across all programs, students are immersed in learning that spans theory, research, and application. You’ll gain skills in community engagement, program design, social and behavioral science methods, and evaluation.
What makes our department truly unique is how we connect research to real-world impact. Whether addressing maternal and child health, chronic disease prevention, or health communication, our faculty and students work on the front lines — not only producing new knowledge, but also translating that knowledge into effective programs, evidence-informed policies, and meaningful change.
Our graduates go on to lead in diverse settings, community-based organizations, healthcare systems, schools, government agencies, and global initiatives, applying what they’ve learned to improve health at every level.
We invite you to explore our programs, meet our faculty, and discover how you can be part of
our community. You’ll find links below to learn more about our courses and people. If you have
questions or want to connect with a program director, faculty member, or current student, reach
out to our Admissions team at gwsphadmit
gwu [dot] edu (gwsphadmit[at]gwu[dot]edu).
Thank you again for your interest in PCH. We hope to work with you and learn with you as we
build a healthier future, together.
Warmly,
Dr. Amita Vyas
Interim Chair and Professor
Student Opportunities
PCH Internationally
International Opportunities
Each semester, faculty, staff and students from PCH practice what they teach and learn in the classroom with the goal of better health for all.
PCH in DC
In Our Own Community
PCH offers a unique location in the capitol allowing students to work with federal agencies on the most pressing public health problems facing the world.
PCH at GW
Here on Campus
GW is home to a wide range of public health research and practice activities both within GWSPH and across the university.
New In PCH
Prevention & Community Health Students Receive School and Departmental Research Awards
The excellence of student research in the Department of Prevention and Community Health (PCH) was recently recognized at both the Milken Institute School of Public Health’s Research Day and the department’s annual awards ceremony at the George Washington University. Master’s students from all four programs—Community-Oriented Primary Care, Health Promotion, Maternal and Child Health, and Public Health Communication and Marketing—as well as doctoral students in the PhD and DrPH programs, were honored for projects that spanned diverse populations, methods, topics, and geographic areas.
Explore PCH
Research
Faculty, staff and students study and intervene on health outcomes in areas such as: HIV, cancer, mental health, substance use, violence, child and adolescent development, and sexual and reproductive health.
Practice Experience
Drawing on deep connections with community and governmental partners, our faculty, staff and students work in collaboration with these partners to improve the health of multiple underserved populations.
Centers
PCH is home to 4 centers and its faculty, staff and students are affiliated with many other centers throughout both the Milken Institute School of Public Health as well as the University as a whole.
Department News
PCH Teaching Associate Professor Tammy Henry Receives the 2025 GWSPH Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Award
August 25, 2025
PCH Teaching Associate Professor Tammy Henry receives the 2025 GWSPH Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Award.
New Study: Anti-Smoking Chatbots Provide Sound Advice — Most of the Time
Researchers found significant variation in adherence to public health guidelines, highlighting the need for improved chatbot accuracy
February 10, 2025
Anti-Smoking Chatbots Provide Sound Advice — Most of the Time. Researchers found significant variation in adherence to public health guidelines.
The Public Health Scholars Program Announces New Incoming Cohort
December 12, 2024
The Public Health Scholars Program (PHSP) at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health (Milken Institute SPH) is delighted to announce a new incoming cohort of PHSP Scholars.