Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Our mission is to understand and intervene on the social determinants of health and health equity across the life-course.
677 Huntington Avenue, Kresge Building
Boston, MA 02115
News
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Food, Nutrition, Diet April 23, 2026
New York State considers bills targeting added sugar, sodium, junk food marketing
Former New York health commissioner Mary Bassett recently discussed three bills under consideration by state lawmakers.
In the Media
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Preventative Care April 14, 2026
Optimism may lower dementia risk
The more optimistic a person is, the lower their risk of developing dementia, according to a new Harvard Chan School study.
In the Media
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Social & Behavioral Health April 2, 2026
U.S. smoking rate hits an all-time low—but there’s still work to do
The adult cigarette smoking rate in the U.S. is down to 9.9%. Is this a major public health victory? And does it matter that for the first time, due to funding cuts, this statistic didn’t come from the federal government? Harvard Chan Schools Vaughan Rees weights in.
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Health Data Science March 31, 2026
Using advanced statistics and AI to improve health
Matlin Gilman, PhD ’26, studies the real-world health effects of policy decisions and builds artificial intelligence tools to advance health care.
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Child & Maternal Health March 12, 2026
Poor birth outcomes increase with poverty
Inequities in birth outcomes are staying consistent—if not widening—between economic groups, according to a new Harvard Chan School study.
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Global Health February 26, 2026
Fund spurs decade of growth in Brazil-focused research at Harvard
The Lemann Brazil research fund has supported work by Harvard faculty in fields including public health.
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Child & Maternal Health February 18, 2026
Pregnant immigrants skipping, delaying care due to ICE fears
Clinicians in the Boston area are worried about the health of pregnant immigrants who are not coming in for care because they are afraid of immigration agents and possible deportation, according to a Boston Globe article.
In the Media
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Social & Behavioral Health January 22, 2026
Fighting the opioid overdose crisis in Boston, and beyond
Swathi Srinivasan, a PhD student in Population Health Sciences, leverages her journey through Hodgkin’s lymphoma to advocate for Narcan access and health equity in the opioid crisis.
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Social & Behavioral Health January 14, 2026
After the disaster, living for today
A study by Ichiro Kawachi and colleagues looks at why risky behavior surged in the wake of the 2011 tsunami and earthquake in Japan.
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December 18, 2025
Harvard Chan School researchers among world’s most highly cited
Twenty-six faculty members or researchers were named to Clarivate Analytic’s 2025 list of Highly Cited Researchers.
In the Media
Unleash your potential at Harvard Chan School.
In addition to our degree programs, we offer highly targeted programs through our Advanced Learning Academy, directed and taught by Harvard faculty.