Brian D. Elbel, MPH, PhD

I am Professor of Population Health and Health Policy in the Department of Population Health and Associate Dean, Research Mission at NYU Langone Health. I examine how policies and the environment influence health and health behaviors, particularly obesity and chronic disease. I use statistical and econometric methods and diverse data sources, including administrative, sales and other data, to understand health outcomes. Throughout my research, I am motivated to understand how social determinants create differences in outcomes across race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status, and how policy can be leveraged to reduce these differences.

I have investigated the role of the food environment and the built environment, including neighborhoods, on childhood obesity; spearheaded evaluations of place-based efforts to improve community health; and examined the health and education of New York City’s public school children during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, among other areas.

In my role as Associate Dean, Research Mission at NYULH I act as key advisor to, and as primary delegate for, the Executive Vice President and Vice Dean for Science for all matters related to the Research Mission and Office of Science and Research (OSR). I also oversees the financial, strategy, and administrative function for NYU Langone’s Research Mission, and Office of Science and Research. I works closely with NYU Langone’s corporate missions, departments, and other internal and external partners to ensure effective integration of OSR senior leadership teams. Additionally, I engage in key scientific programmatic development and other cross-enterprise functions, and act as a liaison between the NYU Langone research mission and other campuses of NYU.

I also serve as director of the Section on Health Choice, Policy and Evaluation in the Department of Population Health and on the faculty of NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.