Social Determinants of Health

My research seeks to link macro social forces -- such as income distribution, social cohesion and social capital, inequalities in political participation, and residential segregation -- to patterns of health and disease in populations. Studies in progress feature both ecologic and multi-level designs, with a variety of health outcomes (mortality, morbidity, quality of life).

Psychosocial Risk Factors for Heart Disease

This area of research links psychosocial factors to risk of heart disease. Ongoing studies focus on: work environment (job stress, shift work); personality and negative emotions (anger, hostility, anxiety, and depression); as well as the protective effects of social networks and support. These studies are being carried out in diverse cohort studies: the Nurses' Health Study and Nurses' Health Study II in women; the Health Professionals Follow-up Study and VA Normative Aging Study in men.

Smoking and Health

Studies include the effects of passive smoking on disease risk.

M.D., 1985, Otago University, New Zealand
Ph.D., 1991, Otago University, New Zealand