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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Fostering an inclusive mentoring culture at Harvard Chan School
New efforts at Harvard Chan School aim to systematize training and support and increase awareness of the impact of identities in mentoring relationships.
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Can optimism and kindness contribute to worker health and well-being?
Hayami Koga, MPH ’16, PhD ’23, is exploring how a Japanese philosophy of hospitality and mindfulness can help workplaces become more psychologically healthy environments.
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High-volume prosthetics nonprofit wants to hear from its patients
Alex Boyle and Aashna Shah, both MPH ’24, helped a nonprofit in India, Jaipur Foot, improve its patient feedback process while learning valuable lessons for their own public health careers.
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Providing compassionate care to marginalized people
Jeremy Cygler, MPH ’24 was recently interviewed about his time in the Health and Social Behavior program and how he will incorporate a public health lens into his clinical work….
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Providing compassionate care to marginalized people
As a medical resident in Toronto, Jeremy Cygler, MPH-45 ’24, saw firsthand how the health care system failed vulnerable patients.
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Why lead persists in homes and water—and what to do about it
Although lead in house paint and water pipes has long been banned in the U.S., plenty of it is still around. Harvard Chan School’s Mary Jean Brown discusses why lead still persists and what people can do to reduce their health risk.
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Exploring the intersection of health, mindfulness, and climate change
A symposium at Harvard Chan School brought together academics, community leaders, activists, mindfulness practitioners, and monastics who studied under Thich Nhat Hanh to explore the intersection of health, mindfulness, and climate change.
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Zyn pouches safer than smoking, but still pose risks
Zyn pouches—nicotine pouches that people use by placing them in their mouths— may help adult smokers quit, but they could also unintentionally encourage young people to start using a nicotine product, according to Harvard Chan School’s Vaughan Rees.
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Optimism may help women maintain physical functioning as they age
An optimistic attitude may help women slow age-related physical decline.
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Documentary explores ‘invisible’ work of public health
A new PBS documentary about the importance of public health features Harvard Chan School’s Mary Bassett.
