- December 07, 2023
VA/Yale Researchers Lead Study That Assesses Well-being of U.S. Veterans
- December 04, 2023Source: The Rockefeller Foundation
Resilient Cities Network and Yale University Join Forces To Tackle the Impact of Climate Change on Public Health in Cities
- December 03, 2023Source: Forbes
Living As Long As Rosalynn Carter Or Charlie Munger–A Lot Is Up To You
- November 30, 2023
Yale School of Public Health shines at annual public health conference
- November 16, 2023Source: The Washington Post
As mass shootings multiplied, the horrific human cost was concealed
- November 16, 2023Source: The Guardian
Climate anxious? Here’s how you can turn apprehension into action
- November 15, 2023
Grief and trauma specialist Nelba Márquez-Greene appointed Activist in Residence
- November 13, 2023Source: Yale Daily News
Empowering recovery: Yale researchers awarded $7 million to research opioid use
Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Social & Behavioral Sciences: In Conversation with the Yale School of Public Health Department Chair
"I think for our department what binds us, and what creates our identity and culture is principles of equity and justice," says Trace Kershaw, Chair of the Social and Behavioral Sciences Department. "The way we study, the way we form the department itself is grounded in those principles. Once you focus on things like equity and justice, it’s hard not to make that a focus in every aspect of what you do."
Kershaw discusses how the department elevates student voices and ideas. "We really look at this department as shared with the students," he says.
He also describes the impact the department has made on the world, from U.S. Supreme Court cases improving the rights and well-being of LGBTQ individuals, to local housing laws, to student-created NGOs.
Our Research
Social and behavioral factors influence all states of health and disease. The Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS) conducts innovative research on social and behavioral determinants of health using quantitative and qualitative methods and a social justice approach to improving health among under-served populations. Using state-of-the-art technologies, SBS faculty, researchers and students conduct rigorous observational studies and create multilevel interventions. This research is strengthened by the department's ties with the Psychiatry, Psychology, Sociology and Anthropology departments, as well as the Law School. Below are the SBS areas of strength with a description of relevant faculty, research projects and centers.
Areas of Interest
Faculty Affiliated Centers and Labs
- Empower Neighborhoods and Relationships to Improve Community Health (ENRICH)ENRICH's mission is to understand how people and places influence the health of individuals and communities and to work with the community to develop programs to strengthen social relationships and neighborhoods to improve community health. We do this by: respectfully engaging our participants and their communities, striving to respectfully engage our participants and their communities.
- Becoming Breastfeeding Friendly (BBF): A Guide to Global Scale UpBBF is an evidence-informed global initiative that is designed to help countries identify the strength of their breastfeeding-friendly environment and develop recommendations as well as plans for scaling up their breastfeeding policies and programs.
- Center for Methods in Implementation and Prevention Science (CMIPS)CMIPS develops and disseminates innovative methodologic approaches to address implementation gaps and improve public health worldwide, strategically selecting the issues that carry the greatest burden and hold the greatest promise for amelioration, right now.
- Community Alliance for Research and Engagement (CARE)CARE promotes the prevention of chronic diseases by focusing on social, environmental, and behavioral risk factors.