Gina S. Lovasi is an assistant professor in Epidemiology at
the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. Her research examines how local policies and initiatives
influence cardiovascular and respiratory health, seeking to understand whether
the anticipated health benefits have been realized and to explore any
unanticipated health effects. She works
to incorporate GIS into a range of health-related research projects in
vulnerable populations. Key aspects of
the local environment measured in her research have included walkable urban
form, sources of healthy and unhealthy foods, tree canopy coverage and other
aesthetic amenities, and pedestrian safety hazards related to crime and
traffic. Health outcomes recently
studies include cognitive development, asthma, allergic sensitization, physical
activity, obesity, myocardial infarction, and sudden cardiac arrest. Dr. Lovasi also teaches a doctoral course on
advanced techniques for epidemiologic research (advancedepidemiology.org),
serves as co-director for the Epidemiology and Population Health Summer
Institute at Columbia University (cuepisummer.org), and is co-directing the
school wide Urban+Health Initiative (urbanhealthmsph.org).