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
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.
Our Faculty
Discover the diverse research topics and current projects conducted by our faculty.
Social Medicine
From our mission to teaching topics to employment opportunities, you’ll find it all here.
Events
Monday, January 6
Athens Primary Care Clinic
8:30 AM — 3:30 PM
Heritage Community Clinic Grosvenor Hall West Ohio University
Wednesday, January 8
McConnelsville Primary Care Clinic
9:00 AM — 3:00 PM
Morgan County Health Department
November 21, 2024
Francis Essien, D.O. (’18), met Bryan Grooms, D.O. (’11) during his first year working at Campus Care and the OMM lab. Grooms remained in Athens after graduation to complete his family medicine residency at O’Bleness, and they quickly found commonalities and connections beyond medicine, deepening their bond over days training in the gym.
November 21, 2024
The Heritage College Medal of Merit is awarded to graduates who have achieved distinction in their chosen field of medicine through commitment and exemplary leadership. This is the college’s most prestigious award and the Society of Alumni and Friends recognized Dr. Ralph Crew at the Ohio Osteopathic Symposium as its 2024 Medal of Merit winner.
November 20, 2024
Twenty students from Ohio University and the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador participated in the ITDI STARS program. Here's a look at the rich learning experience students had in Ecuador and Appalachian Ohio.
November 19, 2024
The Heritage College's RUSP program collaborated with OhioHealth and the OHIO Women's Center to pack bags containing essential items for menstrual health on Period Action Day, an annual event dedicated to ending inadequate access to menstrual products and health education.
October 2, 2024
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.
September 6, 2024
In August, the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine hosted a four-day orientation for osteopathic leaders interested in becoming more engaged in health policy.
August 22, 2024
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.
July 16, 2024
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.
May 17, 2024
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.
April 30, 2024
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.
April 26, 2024
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.
April 26, 2024
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.
April 24, 2024
“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
April 23, 2024
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.
April 22, 2024
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.
April 8, 2024
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.
March 28, 2024
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.
March 22, 2024
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.
March 21, 2024
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.
March 21, 2024
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.