Healthy people, healthy planet
Healthier communities make healthier people. The University of Washington is at the forefront of addressing the interconnected factors that influence how long and how well we live, from climate change and poverty to systemic inequities and health care. In partnership with community organizations, the UW transforms research into concrete actions that improve and save lives across the country — and around the world.
What is population health?
Population health is a broad concept encompassing not only the elimination of diseases and injuries, but also the intersecting and overlapping factors that influence health. The UW’s Population Health Initiative is defined by three major pillars: human health, environmental resilience and social and economic equity. Our work addresses the challenges that arise where these pillars intersect.
Spotlight on key issues
COVID-19 unequal impacts
COVID-19 has disproportionately affected Black, Native, Latino and Pacific Islander Americans because of systemic inequities in housing, jobs, education and health care. Learn how the UW is studying the pandemic’s unequal burden on some communities — and using that research to improve health outcomes for everyone, everywhere.
Location and lifespan
How long we live is affected by where we live. Learn what the UW is doing to understand why people in some regions of the United States and the world have a shorter expected lifespan, and how the University is using that research to improve the length and quality of everyone’s lives.
Maternal health
For many women around the world — including here in the United States — having a baby isn’t as safe as it should be. Learn what the UW is doing to better understand what causes disparities in pregnancy risks and use that research to improve the health of mothers everywhere.
The Hans Rosling Center for Population Health
The Hans Rosling Center for Population Health ushers the UW into a new era of collaboration and solutions for healthier populations. With spaces for collaborative group work, active learning, offices and training for global partners and multidisciplinary work in population health across the UW, the Rosling Center is a hub for addressing critical issues like poverty, equity, health-care access, climate change and government policy.
