Six Paths for the Future of Social Epidemiology

Overview

Journal Am J Epidemiol

Publisher Oxford University Press

Specialty Public Health

Date 2013 Sep 7

PMID 24008899

Citations 28

Authors

Sandro Galea

Bruce G Link

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Social epidemiology is now an accepted part of the academic intellectual landscape. However, in many ways, social epidemiology also runs the risk of losing the identity that distinguished it as a field during its emergence. In the present article, we scan the strengths of social epidemiology to imagine paths forward that will make the field distinct and useful to the understanding of population health in future. We suggest 6 paths to such a future, each emerging from promising research trends in the field in which social epidemiologists can, and should, lead in coming years. Each of these paths contributes to the formation of distinct capacities that social epidemiologists can claim and use to elaborate or fill in gaps in the already strong history of social epidemiology. They present an opportunity for the field to build on its strengths and move forward while leading in new and critical areas in population health.

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