This study aims to explore the cognitive changes of medical students and non-medical students towards medical staff and the cognitive differences between the two groups under the impact of COVID-19, and to promote the cultivation of a good social atmosphere of valuing medicine and health. An online survey was conducted in medical colleges and non-medical comprehensive colleges in Anhui Province. The study showed that 91.90% and 91.57% of medical students and non-medical students thought that medical workers had great work pressure and high occupational risk, but 61.22% of medical students thought that the salary level of medical workers was lower than the actual pay, and the proportion was higher than that of non-medical students (22.14%). After the outbreak of the epidemic, the proportion of medical students and non-medical students who thought medical staff's social status was high increased 34.24% and 47.77% respectively, and the proportion of medical students who thought medical staff's social respect was improved was 34.73% and 47.61% respectively. Epidemic may improve the university students on the professional cognition of medical staff, but medical students for their professional identity is still not optimistic, suggest to strengthen the medical students' professional identity in the future education, improve the medical students medical humanities accomplishment, propaganda guidance improve the health literacy of other social groups, promote construction and medical health good social conduct.