Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health
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Department Overview
By adopting an interdisciplinary approach, the Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health (GDEH) focuses on chemical, physical, and microbial hazards present in natural and built environments that range from the molecular to planetary and local to global scales.
Examine how human health is influenced by our interactions with the environment.
GDEHWhy Environmental Health at Rollins?
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Collaborate with leading environmental experts and engage in meaningful work with public health professionals and scholars both at Rollins and beyond. Being a part of the GDEH means working alongside a diverse network of people who care about the environment and human health.
Practical Experience
Start making an impact early and gain experience through your applied practice experience. GDEH students have the unique opportunity to integrate and apply practical skills and training learned through course work and prior experiences in a professional public health environment.
Research Opportunities
Learn how to conduct research, share results, impact policy, and make a tangible difference.
Certificates for Specialization
Rollins students have the option to specialize their master’s degree with an additional certificate in your area of choice such as climate and health; water, sanitation, and hygiene; social determinants of health; data science; and more.
Department at a Glance
environmental health program in the nation in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Graduate School rankings
student to faculty ratio
of our department's graduates are currently employed or continuing education
Programs
Programs in Environmental Health
Our programs equip you with the skills you’ll need to tackle the environmental health challenges of the future.
The field of environmental health is interdisciplinary in nature and Rollins School of Public Health exemplifies this by facilitating multi-department collaboration between students and professors. The technical and social skills I have already gained and will continue to improve upon during my two years at Rollins will bring me closer to my goal of implementing projects in maternal public health."
Tiffany Eberhard, MPH '22 in Global Environmental Health
Our People
Strong Leadership & Diverse Expertise
The Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health is comprised of a diverse group of accomplished students, faculty, staff, and alumni. The large variety of backgrounds in the department allows for expertise in numerous aspects of environmental health.
Here, environmental health education reaches beyond the classroom. Many of our members can be found working in the community and putting public health into action. Whether learning in the classroom, conducting research in a lab, or trekking outside to test the water quality of a local creek, you will find a deep passion for public health among all members of our department and community.
Our Faculty on Pressing Issues
Leading the Field Forward
The Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health's PhD students are the future of climate change, exposure science, WASH, and more.
Research
Our Research
Research in the Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health spans across a wide range of environmental issues, from the molecular to the global. We tackle complex environmental health concerns from multiple angles with a variety of methods. Our department has a number of strengths in omics, air pollution, toxicology, chemical exposures, climate change, and more.
We pride ourselves on our dynamic partnerships with other universities, governmental agencies, non-profit organizations, and private companies. Our department is also home to a number of research centers tackling many of the most pressing environmental health issues facing our world today. Rollins students find a wide variety of work-study and other research opportunities through these research centers, individual faculty research projects, and our vast network of collaborative partnerships.
GDEH News
More News
Emory Study Finds Molecular Link Between Air Pollution and Pregnancy Risks
A new study by Emory University researchers found exposure to specific tiny particles in air pollution during pregnancy are associated with increased risk of various negative birth outcomes.
Public Health Victories Depend on Local and National Partnerships
Proposed cuts to NIH and CDC funding could have large implications for public health research and American health.
Rollins 2025 Annual Awards Ceremony Celebrates Exceptional Students, Faculty, and Staff
Rollins faculty, staff, and students came together on April 28 to celebrate community members during the 2025 Annual Rollins Awards Ceremony.
Study Finds Residents of Georgia County Have Elevated Toxic Chemical Exposure
A newly published study led by researchers at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health found that residents of a coastal Georgia county have elevated levels of industrial chemicals in their bodies.
Stay In Touch
Get in Touch:
Ariadne Swichtenberg, senior associate director of academic programs
Corinna Hansen, PhD program administrator
Ready to Move Forward?
We are the #2 school of public health in the nation on a mission to move public health forward—join us.