Who We Are

Cornell Health is proud to be recognized as a national leader in college health.

As a unit within the Division of Student and Campus Life, our goal is to support campus health, and foster student readiness to learn and participate fully in the Cornell experience (see “Our mission and vision,” below). We strive to provide high-quality care that recognizes the experiences, values, and needs of the individuals who make up Cornell’s diverse community.

View this four-minute video for an overview of the services and support options you can find at Cornell Health:

[see video transcript]

Cornell Health at a glance

Cornell Health …

  • Provides integrated medical and mental health services on Cornell’s Ithaca campus [see Services]
  • Serves more than 80% of Cornell students each year, with about 22% of students accessing our mental health services (equaling 110,000+ in-person and virtual health care visits annually) [see Who We Serve]
  • Welcomes an average of 800 students each day during the academic year for medical and mental health visits, visits to the pharmacy, consultations with our Student Health Benefits and Student Disability Services offices, and community meetings
  • Employs more than 250 staff members, including physicians, counselors, psychiatrists, nurses, technicians, pharmacists, physical therapists, and educators [see Our Staff]
  • Manages public health campaigns, and leads campus initiatives related to mental health, alcohol and other drugs, hazing, and sexual violence [see Initiatives]
  • Utilizes a funding model for core medical, mental health, and public health services that promotes access to care [see Cost for Service]

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Our Vision & Mission

Our Vision

Cornell Health’s vision is to cultivate a flourishing campus community in which every student has access to essential services and resources, health inequities are identified and actively addressed, and well-being is a fundamental priority for the entire community.

Our Mission

Cornell Health fosters a collaborative and inclusive environment that provides students with access to high-quality care, evidence-informed services, and innovative initiatives. We create a culture of compassion, belonging, and continuous learning, empowering students with knowledge, skills, and resources to navigate their health and well-being and pursue their optimal potential. 

Cornell Health's history

The original Gannett Clinic opened on Ho Plaza in 1956, named by the Gannett Foundation to honor media mogul Frank Gannett, CU 1898. In 1979, the facility was expanded to meet the needs of a growing student body. The clinic was renamed “Gannett Health Services” in 2000 to reflect the expansion of health services beyond the Ho Plaza facility, when several Gannett departments moved to other campus buildings due to space constraints.

Gannett was renamed “Cornell Health” in 2017 to coincide with the opening of its updated and expanded building. The new Cornell Health facility increased access to care for a student body that had more-than doubled in size since the Gannett Clinic first opened, and increased utilization of health services by 250%. 

In 2024, a generous gift from the Melissa and John V. Ceriale Family Foundation (announced in The Cornell Chronicle on October 17, 2024) significantly broadened university support for student mental health initiatives on the Ithaca Campus. As a result, the Cornell Health facility was renamed “The Ceriale Center for Cornell Health.” 

Contact us

We invite you to contact us with any questions or feedback you might have. Please visit our Contact Us page for information.