Established in 1962 as the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, it was later renamed the Department of Community Medicine to reflect the growing scope and significance of the field. The department is dedicated to educating interns, medical graduates, and postgraduate students, focusing on community health, epidemiology, and public health research.

The department emphasizes public and community health through a commitment to ethical practices, empathetic care, and scientific inquiry. Its goal is to provide exceptional education and training in community medicine while fostering research and high-quality services for the betterment of society.

Two key centers operate under the department: the Urban Health Training Centre (UHTC) at Qila Road, situated in a periurban area, and the Rural Health Training Centre (RHTC) at Jawan, approximately 17 kilometers from Aligarh. These centers function six days a week, offering uninterrupted services. The Department also offers postgraduate training programs leading to the degrees of Doctor of Medicine (MD) in Community Medicine and Master of Public Health (MPH).

The MD in Community Medicine focuses on training physicians to address health challenges at the community level, emphasizing preventive medicine and public health initiatives. The MPH program offers a comprehensive education in public health principles, catering to graduates from diverse backgrounds and equipping them with the skills needed to tackle various health issues.