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Social Medicine

Making a local and global impact

The Department of Social Medicine is an interdisciplinary department comprised of social scientists, humanities scholars and physicians. We study the dynamic interplay of people, culture, the environment and their impact on health care delivery and health outcomes. Our teaching, research and service inform medical students, health professionals and the public about factors affecting clinical decision making, the social responsibilities of health care providers, the social determinants of health and illness, and health policy and politics.

 

Chair, Joe Bianco

Email: bianco@ohio.edu

Phone: 740.593.2130

 

Administrative Specialist, Cassie Tritipo 

Email: tritipo@ohio.edu

Phone: 740.593.4694

Our Expertise

Our department has active research and teaching expertise in the following areas:

  • Biostatistics
  • Clinical prevention and population health 
  • Cultural competence and health care
  • Epidemiology of diabetes and cardiovascular disease
  • Evidence-based medicine
  • Gerontology and geriatrics
  • Global warming, climate change and health
  • Health in Appalachia
  • Health policy
  • International health and medicine
  • Maternal and child health
  • Medical decision making
  • Medical ethics
  • Reproductive health
  • Stress, nutrition and aging
  • Sustainability and urban environments

Our Disciplines

Our faculty's disciplines include:

  • Biological anthropology
  • Biostatistics
  • Epidemiology
  • Experimental psychology
  • Family studies
  • Health psychology
  • History of medicine
  • Interpersonal communication
  • Pediatrics
  • Social psychology

Global Health Initiative

Person on speaking about the Global Health initiative

Students, faculty and staff experience impactful research, education and outreach activities abroad and in immigrant communities in the U.S. to truly understand global health issues and increase multicultural awareness.

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Our Faculty

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Discover the diverse research topics and current projects conducted by our faculty.

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Social Medicine

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From our mission to teaching topics to employment opportunities, you’ll find it all here.

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Thursday, October 3 Lifestyle Medicine - Lifestyle Medicine Introduction Meeting 6:30 AM — 7:30 AM Dublin Campus

Thursday, October 3 OB/GYN - Speaker from Laura's Home 12:00 PM — 1:00 PM HCOM Cleveland Campus

Thursday, October 3 Psychiatry and Neurology - Psychiatry and Neurology Introduction Meeting 12:00 PM — 1:00 PM Dublin Campus

  • Student Colin Wilson named a Doctors For America 2024/25 Copello Fellow

    Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine student Colin Wilson has been accepted as a 2024/25 Gene A. Copello Health Advocacy Fellow. Doctors for America announced that he is one of 16 leaders selected for the program.

  • Osteopathic health policy fellows visit Ohio

    In August, the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine hosted a four-day orientation for osteopathic leaders interested in becoming more engaged in health policy.

  • Dublin Medical Academy scholars share how program shaped their career

    For the past 10 years, the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine has hosted the OHIO (Dublin) Medical Academy drawing fifty-six selected Ohio high school students to its Dublin campus for an immersive four-day summer camp experience. At this 10-year milestone, Keagan Lipak, OMS IV, a Medical Academy Scholar in 2022, reconnected with his peer scholars to talk with them about their experience with the program.

  • Guest blogger Cameron Nicholson-Gardner shares immersive clinical experience in South Africa

    What is a global experience in South Africa like? Cameron Nicholson-Gardner, OMS II, gives us a closer look at his first week shadowing physicians and seeing patients in an under-resourced health care setting in Cape Town, South Africa. 

  • Heritage College celebrates Class of 2024 student achievements

    At a pair of celebrations, the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine recognized the achievements of students in the Class of 2024, and introduced a new award created to honor the legacy of one of the college’s founders.

  • Class of 2024 Graduate Profile: Milo Co

    For Milo Co, who will be graduating with the Class of 2024, it was research that helped cement his desire to become a physician, but it was his dad who inspired him. In this profile, learn more about his medical school experience.

  • Inclusion scholars bring attention to health equity issues

    While progress has been made to improve health equity, more needs to be done on many fronts, from medical education to patient care. That was a key message delivered by the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine Inclusion Scholars in a research presentation.

  • Ohio Osteopathic Symposium showcases medical student research

    The effectiveness of augmented reality to help patients with Parkinson's disease walk normally, an examination of hospitals’ support of addiction treatment services and the use of growth hormone to heal wounds were the three research studies shared by Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine dual degree students at the 2024 Ohio Osteopathic Symposium. 

  • In symposium keynote address, Dr. Amy Acton calls on physicians to ‘hold the space’

    “Not all heroes wear capes,” is one of the expressions that went viral during the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to recognize front line providers who worked tirelessly to care for the tidal wave of patients stricken by the disease. The phrase also became closely associated with former Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton, M.D., who became the face of the state’s efforts to fight COVID. Some of those heroes were on hand during Acton’s keynote address at the Ohio Osteopathic Symposium recently held in Columbus

  • Class of 2024 Graduate Profile: Kamara Hyatt

    Class of 2024 graduate Kamara Hyatt is headed to a family medicine residency at The Christ Hospital in Cincinnati. In this profile, Hyatt, who was raised in South Florida, explains how her mom has inspired her journey through medical school. 

  • Heritage College Class of 2024 Graduate Profile: Ashleigh Chiedo

    Born to immigrants and with a background in health care, graduate Ashleigh Chiedo took on a leadership role in medical school that led her to create Public Day of Service,  an event which has been adopted by many colleges of osteopathic medicine across the country. In this profile, she shares what led her to medical school and where she's headed next.

  • Class of 2024 Graduate Profile: Charlie Spieser

    Charlie Spieser became interested in medicine after shadowing a D.O. in the eighth grade. Learn more about his medical school experience in this profile as we celebrate the Class of 2024 by talking with some of our graduates about their time at the college and where they are headed after graduation. 

  • Class of 2024 Graduate Profile: Jackson Mittlesteadt

    Columbus native and Class of 2024 graduate Jackson Mittlesteadt shares a love for medicine and literature. Learn more about his journey to medical school in this profile as we celebrate the Class of 2024 by talking with some of our graduates about their time at the college and where they are headed after graduation. 

  • Class of 2024 Graduate Profile: Gisselle Pichardo

    We're celebrating the Class of 2024 by talking with some of our graduates about their time at the college and where they are headed after graduation. Gisselle Pichardo, who immigrated to the U.S. as a child, is spotlighted in this profile. 

  • Class of 2024 Graduate Profile: Rebecca Schmehl

    We're celebrating the Class of 2024 by talking with some of our graduates about their time at the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine and where they are headed after graduation. Learn more about graduate Rebecca Schmehl. 

  • Class of 2024 Graduate Profile: Brooke Rigot

    Meet Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine graduate Brooke Rigot. We're celebrating the Class of 2024 by talking with some of our graduates about their time at the college and where they are headed after graduation. 

  • Class of 2024 Graduate Profile: Tori Cartwright

    We're celebrating the Class of 2024 by talking with some of our graduates about their time at the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine and where they are headed after graduation. Learn more about graduate Tori Cartwright. 

  • Class of 2024 Graduate Profile: Hannah Lyons

    We're celebrating the Class of 2024 by talking with some of our graduates about their time at the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine and where they are headed after graduation. Learn more about graduate Hannah Lyons. 

  • Class of 2024 Graduate Profile: Joseph Miller

    We're celebrating the Class of 2024 by talking with some of our graduates about their time at the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine and where they are headed after graduation. Learn more about graduate Joseph Miller. 

  • Ohio Osteopathic Symposium brings physicians together

    The Ohio Osteopathic Symposium had another successful year as osteopathic physicians from across the state gathered in Columbus April 20 – 23 to learn more about critical issues in medicine, participate in continuing medical education activities and showcase the latest research developments.