Nina S Parikh

Clinical Associate Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Professional overview

Dr. Nina S. Parikh has years of public health research experience, methodological expertise, and academic training in health services research and medical sociology.  A continuing theme of Dr. Parikh’s research involves the examination of social, psychosocial, and cultural factors related to the health needs of ethnic-racial populations and developing evidence-based strategies that address and mitigate health inequities for these and other underserved groups, in particular immigrants, the uninsured, those with inadequate health literacy, and the elderly. 

At NYU GPH, Dr. Parikh collaborates with scholars examining the social determinants of health, particularly social network mechanisms and how they relate to primary and secondary prevention of vascular diseases. This work builds on her previous research experience that has been community-based, grant-funded studies in partnership with local agencies and organizations that explore the well-being of older adults and their families, including social cohesion/social support, access to and utilization of health care services of immigrant populations, health disparities, community-based palliative care for chronically ill elders, and the promotion of healthy aging with a particular emphasis on developing and implementing behavioral strategies to combat some of the most prevalent chronic conditions for this group. In addition, Dr. Parikh developed and teaches the two-semester thesis course to MPH candidates.

Prior to coming to NYU, Dr. Parikh served as the Director of Research (Interim) at the Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging of Hunter College where she provided oversight and guidance on all research and evaluation studies conducted by the Center. Her work has received grant support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Commonwealth Fund, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and the NYC Department for the Aging.

Education

BS, Biology and minor in Sociology, John Carroll University, Cleveland, OH

MPH, Health Policy and Management, Emory University, Atlanta, GA

PhD, Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY

Areas of research and study

Aging and the Life Course

Cultural Determinants of Health

Immigration

Racial/Ethnic Disparities

Social Determinants of Health