Students in the Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health get a robust academic experience that combines theoretical understanding of the complex factors that affect local and global health with skills-based training that prepares them to hit the ground running in roles as researchers, practitioners, policy advocates, evaluators and - often - future leaders in their field. The Department uses varied interdisciplinary scientific and technological approaches and a justice framework to understand factors undermining health and wellbeing to shift policy and practice. Informed by a combined focus on the impact of law and global governance on public health, complex health systems analysis, and insights from implementation science, the Department seeks to address public health threats in low-income, unstable, and inequitable environments locally and around the globe. As such, the Department trains public health leaders using an action-based curriculum designed to foster both local and global partnerships.