Welcome back!
To the Harvard Chan community,
Greetings! I am delighted to welcome everyone to the Fall semester, especially those of you new to our School, and I feel genuinely excited about what is in store for you and all of us this year.
Our campus is already buzzing with activity. I want to thank our colleagues who created and participated in such an engaging set of Orientation activities and express my appreciation to faculty and staff for all your efforts to prepare for the new academic year.
As the semester begins, let’s take a moment to reflect on why we chose the field of public health and what we aspire to do here at Harvard Chan School.
Around the world, communities and countries are facing urgent public health challenges, from a large Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to extreme heat and devastating wildfires in Europe and Canada, to a cyclosporiasis outbreak here at home that has sickened many people. But the headlines have carried news of public health progress as well, from new, long-acting HIV treatment and prevention medicines showcased at the International AIDS Conference, to a 21% decline in road traffic deaths since 2011, recently announced by the World Health Organization.
At Harvard Chan School, we work on these issues and much more. Our work stretches from “the gene to the globe.” When we read the headlines, we see not only the problems but envision their solutions. After all, we are problem solvers: Faculty, staff, and students come to campus each day to pursue a cycle of work in which teaching and learning are inextricably linked to research, interdisciplinary collaboration, testing and evaluation, and ultimately outputs that advance our School’s vision of “health, dignity, and justice for every human.”
This semester, whether you are returning to campus or arriving for the first time, you have the opportunity to connect what you are teaching, learning, researching, supporting, or simply discussing over lunch to the need for tangible progress in public health around the world. Indeed, you are part of a dynamic global Harvard Chan community; our alumni are making a positive difference every day. Over the summer, I traveled internationally and saw our network of alumni, partners, and research collaborators in action across government, industry, the non-profit sector, and academia.
And it all begins here, in our classrooms, offices, and laboratories. I love hearing from colleagues, students, and alumni about how connections and conversations forged in classrooms, hallways, or the cafeteria become collaborations, discoveries, and lifelong working relationships. These experiences remind me that meaningful learning begins when we have the openness to explore something new, the curiosity to ask thoughtful questions, and the willingness to learn from one another. Those qualities create the foundation for gratitude and mutual respect, which are the hallmark of our campus community.
Upcoming events
In addition to all the panels, information sessions, and fairs you already may have participated in, you can look forward to a multitude of stimulating events and activities this fall, such as:
- Women’s Health Conference, including a symposium celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Nurses’ Health Study
- 2026 Elisabeth B. Weintz Humanitarian Award and lecture recognizing Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
- Beyond Shelter: Building Homelessness Solutions Together, a Deep Dive conference hosted by the Initiative on Health and Homelessness
- Healthy Aging Symposium, From Cells to Society: The Science of Extending Healthspan, hosted by the Healthy Aging Initiative
- 40th Anniversary Celebration of the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (HPFS)
These are just a few upcoming highlights. Keep an eye on the calendar, newsletters, screens, and bulletin boards across campus for our full slate of activities.
Once again, I am thrilled to welcome everyone back to campus, wish you a most joyous, fulfilling semester, and look forward to seeing you around campus!
Best,
Andrea
Andrea Baccarelli, MD, PhD
Dean of the Faculty