Neighborhoods, Environments, and Systems Collaborative

Led by Tamara Dubowitz and Christina Mair, NEST is a new initiative launched in 2025 aiming to bring together expertise and increase collaboration within the school, Pitt's Schools of the Health Sciences, and across the University around social determinants of health, social epidemiology, and community health research. 

At NEST, we aim to improve the health of communities with a strong emphasis on social and upstream determinants of health. Our mission is to better inform policy and action to improve population health and well-being by pushing, innovating, and expanding methods. We envision a world where health and well-being are distributed equitably across individuals, communities, and populations. We intend to amplify the impact of our research through increased collaboration and communication within and outside Pitt. 

Pitt's Cathedral of Learning
What's to Come
  • Pre/postdoctoral positions
  • Pilot grant applications
  • Research collaborations across disciplines
  • Seminars
  • Additional social epidemiology coursework
  • Recent press, publications, policy briefs
  • Methods trainings, workshops, support
  • Translation of findings, development of relationships with policymakers and local advocacy groups
person taking survey on laptop
Suggestions?

If you have other suggestions for work that NEST should be doing, please complete this short survey. 

abstract bird's nest with NEST in the center

Affiliates

We are recruiting interested faculty to join NEST. We would also like to collaborate with staff, students, and community groups. Reach out if this work interests you. 

Collaborate with NEST

Contact

Kate Walrath
NEST Project Coordinator
kaw561@pitt.edu

The Team
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Tamara Dubowitz

Co-Director

Prior to my position at the University, I was a senior policy researcher at the RAND Corporation and a professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. Trained in social epidemiology, my research focuses on the role of place, or geography, and the health of marginalized and minoritized populations. 

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Stina Mair

Co-Director

I am a social epidemiologist who uses innovative and collaborative methods to understand the social mechanisms that link community environments to alcohol-related harms. I incorporate methods throughout my research that allow me to understand mechanisms rather than simply assessing correlates. 

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Kate Walrath
Kate Walrath

Project Coordinator

With experience in grant administration and project management, I'm looking forward to helping NEST realize its mission by developing systems, bridging collaborations, and sustaining this important work. I have a particular interest in research on social determinants of health, climate and access to outdoor spaces. 

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