This study aimed 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 respecting medicine and valuing health. The study showed that 91.90% of medical students and and 91.57% of 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 COVID?19 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. The proportion of medical students and non?medical students who thought medical staff’s social respect was improved was 34.73% and 47.61%， respectively. After the outbreak， college students’ professional cognition of medical staff has improved， but medical students are still not optimistic about their professional identity. It is suggested to strengthen professional recognition education of medical students， improve medical humanities of non?medical students， enhance health literacy of other social groups through publicity and guidance， in order to promote the construction of the good social conduct of respecting medicine and valuing health.