Social Forces Spring 2017

FROM THE CHAIR:

Happy new year! It is with much excitement that we launch our Spring 2017 issue of Social Forces, the online news forum of the Department of Sociomedical Sciences (SMS). We selected the name “Social Forces” to reflect the SMS approach of analyzing and addressing the social, political, historical, psychological, economic, and cultural forces that drive population health. In this issue, you will read about our vibrant SMS community of faculty, staff, students, and alumni who bring the social and behavioral sciences to bear upon our most pressing public health issues. We are delighted to welcome three new faculty members — Professors Raygine DiAquoi, Daniel Giovenco, and Morgan Philbin — who joined us in the fall, as well as four new doctoral students — Sharon Green, Matthew Lee, Sonia Mendoza, and Kristen Meister — and 107 new master’s students. We congratulate Professor Marni Sommer for being awarded tenure, Professor Ana Abraido-Lanza for her promotion to full professor, and Professor Jo Phelan for her appointment as Professor Emerita.

Please join us for the many planned seminars, social events, and gatherings throughout the semester. 

Special thanks to Ms. Abbey Sussell, Ms. Abby DiCarlo, Ms. Yasmin Davis, and Dr. James Colgrove for their work on this issue of Social Forces.

Have a great semester!

Lisa Metsch
Stephen Smith Professor and Chair
Department of Sociomedical Sciences