The Faculty of Health’s vision is to create a healthier world. Through excellence in education, research, and through collaboration, we harness transdisciplinary teaching and research activities that encompass the full scope of research-to-practice-to-policy and aim to enhance all aspects of quality of life for individuals, communities and populations.
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HLTH 480 isn’t a typical university lecture — it is an opportunity for Health Sciences students to work together in a collaborative, interdisciplinary setting that aims to strengthen their problem-solving skills and tackle real-world health challenges.
“The community-embedded classroom is an important part of growing the capstone ecosystem. It gives students a chance to work with partners — including non-profits, municipalities, health-care organizations, campus services and researchers — often with a focus on positive social change.” Dr. Jennifer Yessis, Assistant Professor, School of Public Health Sciences
From exploring how people experience access to health care to developing tools to raise awareness of cancer symptoms, students work on projects that address real community needs. Transforming traditional education into experiential learning that reaches beyond labs and lecture halls to build solutions that combine evidence and empathy.
“The way we’re teaching and collaborating across departments shows what’s possible when disciplines connect,” Yessis says. “Together, we’re preparing students to take on important health challenges — and to lead meaningful change in their communities.”
Through this exciting initiative, the Faculty of Health will turn the University of Waterloo campus community into a living lab and harness our extensive expertise to explore how to measure, implement and sustain real-world solutions that transform health and well-being.
This world-class “lab” will look to develop and scale proven innovations for measuring and monitoring health markers, test solutions that improve physical and mental health and be a hub for health data, pairing technology with AI to gain insights into community health while maintaining privacy.
This scalable initiative will allow us to create a future where health doesn’t start at the hospital door, but starts in our homes, our schools, our workplaces and our communities – inspiring a healthier world.
The Faculty of Health’s Centre for Community, Clinical and Applied Research Excellence (CCCARE) is transforming lives through the power of exercise. By bringing together leading-edge research, hands-on student learning, and community-based programs, CCCARE helps people living with stroke, dementia, cancer, and other health challenges improve their strength, independence, and quality of life.
Programs like STEPS, Brain and Body, and UW WELL-FIT provide safe, evidence-informed exercise led by qualified professionals, while also giving University of Waterloo students invaluable real-world training experience. Support for CCCARE fuels innovative research, expands access to life-changing programs, and helps build healthier communities.
The Faculty of Health Student Experiential Learning Fund has been created in support of initiatives and programs that support Health students as they gain valuable experience outside of the traditional academic classroom setting.
Funds raised will be used to enhance students' education and enable them to gain knowledge and skills through extracurricular opportunities and work experiences with registered charities, not-for-profit organizations, start-ups and other corporations.
In 2022, Margaret Burnett, long-time and beloved staff member, retired after 40 years of outstanding career service in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences in the Faculty of Health.
To celebrate Marg's tremendous impact, we initiated a fundraising effort to honour her legacy and achievements and to support graduate students in Kinesiology and Health Sciences. The goal is to create an endowed fund.
The Faculty of Health (Area of Greatest Need) fund provides flexible, immediate support for critical priorities, including student emergency funds, research initiatives, and community outreach. This unrestricted fund allows the Faculty to respond to urgent, evolving needs, such as technology, equipment, or program expansions, ensuring resources are directed where they make the most impact.