GeoMed Science
GeoMed Science is a series of research projects designed to study the connection between the built environment and personal health. We hope to understand why some people tend to gain weight and others stay thin. Does it have something to do with the built environment (the buildings, roads, businesses, sidewalks, transit, etc.) right near the home? To answer this, our General Internal Medicine Research faculty, fellows and students are combining the tools of epidemiology and geography to create new knowledge.
About the GeoMed Online Project
Geographic factors such as population density, road network structure, and access to healthy food sources have been associated with body mass index in a number of studies. Most of these studies analyze groups of subjects aggregated in convenient arbitrary areas such as zip codes or counties and are subject to bias and error. Further, very few data cover a broad range of geographies including both dense urban areas and sparsely populated rural areas such as Vermont. We intend to test the hypothesis that the geography of the 250 meters immediately around one's home is associated with body mass index across a wide range of environments. The insights gained from this will help to explain variation in BMI and may lead to strategies to mitigate obesity. Geomed Online is a free confidential survey that has been answered by over 3000 people from around the world.
About the Team
(Photo Left to Right)
Derek Lubetkin, BA, is originally from Chicago, IL. He graduated with a BA in Geography and Urban Systems from McGill University.He recently completed the Pre-Medical Post-Baccalaureate Program at the University of Vermont. He is currently an EMT with Richmond Rescue and applying to medical school. Derek loves being in Vermont because of all the trails to go hiking with his dog.
Benjamin Littenberg, MD, is originally from Flushing, NY. He graduated with a BA in Economics from Western Reserve College and a MD from Case Western Reserve University. He is Professor of Medicine and a practicing Internist. He has been interested in geography since he first learned to look at a map, back in the days when they were drawn by hand.
Ayodelle LeBruin, MD, is originally from the island of Dominica. She completed her undergraduate degree in Chemistry from York College of CUNY, but her passion for health care led her to pursue a medical degree at Ross University School of Medicine. She loves educating the public on disease prevention and plans to continue her career in preventive medicine and clinical research, with a focus on adolescent and women's health. In her spare time she enjoys writing, critiquing novels and volunteering as a Community Health Ambassador. She is happy to be a part of this dedicated group of scientists whose work will inform the public on how the built environments can be altered to improve health outcomes.
Our Research in Progress
Our surveys originate from a variety of rural and urban areas across different states in the country. We are are also recruiting from places anywhere in the world. We need your help in obtaining more data to increase our age, gender, race and location distribution.
We thank you for your collaboration and we will keep updating our results so that you can see the progress of our joint efforts.
Thank you for stopping by our webpage.