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I am an associate professor in the Departments of Health Sciences and Psychology (Community Psychology Program), and I also work with the Laurier Centre for Community Research Learning and Action; the Laurier Institute for the Study of Public Opinion and Policy; and the Interdisciplinary Research Institute for Mathematical and Statistical Modelling in Scientific Discovery, Innovation and Sustainability.
I received my PhD in epidemiology from the University of Southern California in 2008 and my MHSc in community health and epidemiology from the University of Toronto in 2001.
Prior to joining Laurier, I was a postdoctoral fellow at the Centre for Research on Inner City Health in the Keenan Research Centre of the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael’s Hospital (2008-2010).
In my research, I build on my training in epidemiology, public health, biology and geography to understand the drivers of population health inequity from “cell to society.” In particular, I use research as a way to support innovative solutions for more equitable health systems.
Current research projects include: a study of how governments around the world have used whole-of-government approaches (“intersectoral action”) to address health equity, including Health in All Policies initiatives and the use of Health Impact Assessment tools; studies on the interactive role of chronic stress and neighbourhood environments as drivers of chronic disease co-morbidity and inequity; and studies about public opinion in Ontario about health inequity and possible solutions.
- Peterborough K.M. Hunter Foundation Post-Doctoral Fellowship (2009).
- Doctoral Research Award from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (2004).
I may have opportunities for research assistantships for undergraduate and graduate students interested in epidemiology and health policy research. Contact me for more information.
I am usually willing to supervise undergraduate theses/directed studies in Health Sciences and graduate students in Community Psychology on topics relevant to health or social equity.
- Gruebner O, Sykora M, Lowe SR, Shankardass K, Trinquart L, Jackson T, Subramanian SV, Galea S. “Mental health surveillance after the terrorist attacks in Paris (Correspondence).” Lancet. 2016 387(10034): 2195-2196 DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30602-X.
- Sheridan P, Shankardass K. “The 2012 cuts to refugee health coverage in Canada: The anatomy of a social policy failure.” Can J Polit Sci. 2015 48(4):905-931 DOI: 10.1017/S0008423916000020.
- Molnar A, Renahy E, O'Campo P, Muntaner C, Freiler A, Shankardass K. “Using win-win strategies to implement Health in All Policies: a cross-case analysis.” PLOS One. 2016 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0147003.
- Shankardass K, Jerrett M, Dell S, Foty R, Stieb D. “Spatial analysis of exposure to traffic-related air pollution at birth and childhood atopic asthma in Toronto, Ontario.” Health Place. 2015 24:287-295 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2015.06.001.
- O'Campo P, Molnar A, Ng E, Renahy E, Mitchell C, Shankardass K, St. John A, Bambra C, Muntaner C. “Social welfare matters: A realist review of when, how, and why unemployment insurance impacts poverty and health.” Soc Sci Med. 2015 132:88-94 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.03.025.
- Pinto AD, Molnar A, Shankardass K, O'Campo P, Bayoumi A. “Economics of Health in All Policies in Sweden, Quebec and South Australia.” BMC Public Health. 2015 15:171 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-015-1350-0.
- Molnar A, O'Campo P, Ng E, Mitchell C, Muntaner C, Renahy E, St. John A, Shankardass K. “Protocol: Realist synthesis of the impact of unemployment insurance policies on poverty and health.” Eval Program Plann. 2014 DOI: 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2014.09.002.
- Shankardass K, Renahy E, Muntaner C, O’Campo P. “Explanatory Case Studies to Strengthen the Implementation of Health in All Policies.” Health Policy Plann. 2014 DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czu021.
- Shankardass K, O’Campo P, Dodds L, Fahey J, Joseph KS, Morinis J, Allen VM. “Magnitude of income-related disparities in adverse perinatal outcomes in Nova Scotia.” BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2014 14:96.
- Joseph KS, Fahey J, Shankardass K, Allen VM, O'Campo P, Dodds L, Liston RM, Allen AC. “Effects of socioeconomic position and clinical risk factors on spontaneous and iatrogenic preterm birth.” BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2014 s14:117.
- Lofters A, Slater M, Kirst M, Shankardass K, Quiñonez C. “How Do People Attribute Income-Related Inequalities In Health? A Cross-Sectional Study In Ontario, Canada.” PLOS One. 2013 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0085286.
- Shankardass K, McConnell R, Jerrett M, Lam C, Wolch J, Milam J, Gilliland F, Berhane K. “Parental stress increases body mass index trajectory in pre-adolescents.” Pediatr Obes. 2013 DOI: 10.1111/j.2047-6310.2013.00208.x.
- Kirst M, Shankardass K, Lofters A, Quiñonez C. “Sociodemographic Data Collection in Ontario Healthcare Settings for Health Equity Measurement: A Mixed Methods Study Examining Public Opinions.” Int J Equity Health. 2013 12:75.
- Freiler A, Muntaner C, Shankardass K, Mah C, Molnar A, Renahy E, O’Campo P. “Glossary for the Implementation of Health in All Policies (HiAP).” J Epidemiol Commun Health. 2013 DOI: 10.1136/jech-2013-202731.
- Shankardass K, Lofters A, Kirst M, Quiñonez C. “Public awareness of income-related health inequalities in Ontario, Canada.” Int J Equity Health. 2012 11:26.
- Daoud N, Shankardass K, O’Campo P, Anderson K, Agbaria AK. “Internal displacement and health among the Palestinian minority in Israel.” Soc Sci Med. 2012 74: 1163-1171.
- Shankardass K, Solar O, Murphy K, Greaves L, O’Campo P. “A scoping review of intersectoral action for health equity involving governments.” Int J Public Health (Special Issue: Intersectoral action to address the social determinants of health). 2012 57(1): 25-33. R
- Islam T, Urman R, Gauderman WJ, Milam J, Lurmann F, Shankardass K, Avol E, Gilliland F, McConnell R. “Parental Stress Increases the Detrimental Effect of Traffic Exposure on Children's Lung Function.” Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2011 184:822–827.
- Shankardass K, Jerrett M, Milam J, Richardson J, Berhane K, McConnell R. “Social environment and asthma: Associations with crime and No Child Left Behind programs.” J Epidemiol Com Health. 2011 Oct:65(10):859-65.
- McConnell R, Islam T, Shankardass K, Jerrett M, Lurmann F, Gilliland F, Gauderman J, Avol E, Kuenzli N, Yao L, Peters J, Berhane K. “Childhood Incident Asthma and Traffic-Related Air Pollution at Home and School.” Environ Health Perspect. 2010 118(7):1021-1026.
- O’Campo P, Kirst M, Shankardass K, Lofters A. “Closing the Gap in Urban Health Inequities, Round Table on Commission on Social Determinants of Health Report.” J Public Health Policy. 2009 30(2):183-188.
- Shankardass K, McConnell R, Jerrett M, Milam J, Richardson J, Berhane K. “Parental stress increases the effect of traffic-related air pollution on childhood asthma incidence.” Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009 Jul:106(30):12406-11. Role: Design, analysis, manuscript. Effort: 75%
- Jerrett M, Shankardass K, Berhane K, Gauderman WJ, Künzli N, Avol E, Gilliland F, Lurmann F, Molitor JN, Molitor JT, Thomas DC, Peters J, and McConnell R. “Traffic-related air pollution and asthma onset in children: A prospective cohort study with individual exposure measurement.” Environ Health Perspect. 2008 Oct:116(10):1433-8. Role: Analysis, manuscript. Effort: 35%
- Shankardass K, McConnell RS, Milam J, Berhane K, Tatalovich Z, Wilson JP, Jerrett M. “The association between contextual socioeconomic factors and prevalent asthma in a cohort of Southern California school children.” Soc Sci Med. 2007 Oct;65(8):1792-806. Role: Design, analysis, manuscript. Effort: 75%
Contact Info:
Office location: BA543, Bricker Academic Building
Languages spoken: English