Our lab will be taking a well-deserved break during this holiday season, but we’ll be back starting January 5th! Here’s to a bright 2026!

TODAY we learn about how trauma-informed geography can improve safety and empowerment in public health research—join us at noon today: go.illinois.edu/HEROP-DEC11

🥪 Join us for lunch and conversation with Marynia Kolak and Kamaria Barronville, Ed.D as they preview their chapter from the Place and the Social-Spatial Determinants of Health textbook! 🗓️ Thursday, December 11th from 12-1:30 PM CST 📍 In-person & Zoom 💻 Register here: go.illinois.edu/HEROP-DEC11

Don’t miss our final Speaker Series of 2025—lunch is provided! Register here: go.illinois.edu/HEROP-DEC11

🥪 Join us for lunch and conversation with Marynia Kolak and Kamaria Barronville, Ed.D as they preview their chapter from the Place and the Social-Spatial Determinants of Health textbook! 🗓️ Thursday, December 11th from 12-1:30 PM CST 📍 In-person & Zoom 💻 Register here: go.illinois.edu/HEROP-DEC11

📘 Finally, Part V of our new open textbook: Empirical Illustrations of Social-Spatial Determinants of Health With a myriad of contributors, these chapters remind us that data—when grounded in place and equity—can drive transformative change. 👉 Read the full volume: go.illinois.edu/PlaceSSDOH

T-minus 20 minutes! Today is our instructional webinar for the new Data Discovery App! Don’t miss it: go.illinois.edu/Data-Discovery-Webinar

📙 Part IV of our new open textbook: Methods and Techniques for Measuring Social-Spatial Determinants of Health With writings from eileenavery.bsky.social, these chapters emphasize method; how we measure space and health shapes what we understand. 👉 Read the full volume: go.illinois.edu/PlaceSSDOH

🔍 Webinar Tomorrow! “Finding Public Datasets for Health Equity Research: How to Use the Data Discovery App.” 🗓 Friday, Dec. 5th from 11 AM –12 PM CST 💻 Virtual: go.illinois.edu/Data-Discovery-Webinar 🎓 Prerequisites: None!

Check out Dr. Kolak's new publication defining "GIS & Health Geography" in the latest edition of The Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Health, Illness, Behavior, and Society, Second Edition. Read more for a link to the full-text article!

📕 Part III of our new open textbook: Integrating Social-Spatial Determinants of Health in Practice With a myriad of contributors, these chapters highlight how spatial thinking enables health systems, planners, and educators to foster communities. 👉 Read the full volume: go.illinois.edu/PlaceSSDOH

Join us for this eye-opening workshop on the potential of the Data Discovery Platform! Register here: go.illinois.edu/Data-Discovery-Webinar

We’re excited for this upcoming talk with Qingqing Chen, PhD! Register here: go.illinois.edu/HEROP-NOV21

🔍 Upcoming Webinar! “Finding Public Datasets for Health Equity Research: How to Use the Data Discovery App.” 🗓 Friday, Dec. 5th from 11 AM –12 PM CST 💻 Virtual: go.illinois.edu/Data-Discovery-Webinar 🎓 Prerequisites: None!

☕ Join us for lunch and learning with Qingqing Chen, PhD, during her talk, ”Making Smell Count: Invoking olfactory experience in urban wellbeing and spatial analysis”! 🗓️ Friday, November 21st from 12-1:30 PM CST 📍 In-person & Zoom 💻 Register here: go.illinois.edu/HEROP-NOV21

📗 Part II of our new open textbook: Conceptualizing Social-Spatial Determinants of Health With contributions from @maryniakolak.bsky.social & @averyeverhart.bsky.social, these chapters address health inequities through place, space, and power. 👉 Read the full volume: go.illinois.edu/PlaceSSDOH

📘 New Open Access Book: Place and the Social-Spatial Determinants of Health We’re excited to announce this groundbreaking volume, which is the first to examine Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) through an explicitly place-based lens. 📖 Explore the full volume: go.illinois.edu/PlaceSSDOH

Learn how smell can affect urban experiences and well-being! Register for our November Speaker Series now: go.illinois.edu/HEROP-NOV21

☕ Join us for lunch and learning with Qingqing Chen, PhD, during her talk, ”Making Smell Count: Invoking olfactory experience in urban wellbeing and spatial analysis”! 🗓️ Friday, November 21st from 12-1:30 PM CST 📍 In-person & Zoom 💻 Register here: go.illinois.edu/HEROP-NOV21

Thank you to everyone who came to our “Intro to Spatial Data in R” workshop on October 23rd! We had our largest turnout ever—over 200 attendees at the peak! The session recording is now available on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUNjNToM434&t=362s Be sure to check the description for timestamps!

At APHA? Find us at Booth #1418! Learn about the SDOH & Place Project & grab free swag while it lasts. On Monday, check out Dr. Kolak's talk, co-presented with Malaika Simmons, on building a new Community-level SDOH Ontology for Human & AI research. #APHA2025 #PublicHealth #Spatial #SDOH

🎃 Don’t be spooked, but today is our "Grad School FAQ: A Panel Discussion Demystifying the Grad School Application Process & How to Prepare your Applications"! 🗓️ Friday, October 31st from 12-1:30 PM CDT via 📍 NHB 2049 & Zoom! 💻 Register here: go.illinois.edu/HEROP-OCT31

🎓 Join us for lunch, learning, and conversation at "Grad School FAQ: A Panel Discussion Demystifying the Grad School Application Process & How to Prepare your Applications"! 🗓️ Friday, October 31st from 12-1:30 PM CDT via 📍 NHB 2049 & Zoom! 💻 Register here: go.illinois.edu/HEROP-OCT31

🚀 We're excited to launch the JCOIN Geospatial Consortium and Community of Practice (GCCP)! The GCCP is a new collaborative network working with geospatial tools to build understanding and resources for the opioid epidemic. Join here: go.illinois.edu/JCOIN-GCCP Learn more: gccp.healthyregions.org

We have plenty of seats online in our Zoom room! Tune in Friday at 12PM CDT to learn about grad school from our panel of experts: go.illinois.edu/HEROP-ZOOM-OCT31

🎓 Join us for lunch, learning, and conversation at "Grad School FAQ: A Panel Discussion Demystifying the Grad School Application Process & How to Prepare your Applications"! 🗓️ Friday, October 31st from 12-1:30 PM CDT via 📍 NHB 2049 & Zoom! 💻 Register here: go.illinois.edu/HEROP-OCT31

This is a great opportunity for any undergraduate or professional interested in pursuing a higher education in the field of geography! Come learn from experts in their subject areas on October 31st at 12PM CDT: go.illinois.edu/HEROP-OCT31

🚨 Tomorrow: “Intro to Spatial Data in R” 🗓️ Thursday, October 23, 2025 🕤 9:30–11:30 AM CDT 💻 Virtual; Register here: go.illinois.edu/GCCP-OCT23 We will also be recording and publishing the workshop to our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@healthyregionspolicieslab

🎓 Join us for lunch, learning, and conversation at "Grad School FAQ: A Panel Discussion Demystifying the Grad School Application Process & How to Prepare your Applications"! 🗓️ Friday, October 31st from 12-1:30 PM CDT via 📍 NHB 2049 & Zoom! 💻 Register here: go.illinois.edu/HEROP-OCT31

This is a great opportunity for both new and experienced professionals to learn a new skill and build community! Register here: go.illinois.edu/GCCP-OCT23

Undergrads, this is the panel for you! Register here: go.illinois.edu/HEROP-OCT31 Professors, feel free to share with your own networks! We have plenty of space online!

🎓 Join us for lunch, learning, and conversation at "Grad School FAQ: A Panel Discussion Demystifying the Grad School Application Process & How to Prepare your Applications"! 🗓️ Friday, October 31st from 12-1:30 PM CDT via 📍 NHB 2049 & Zoom! 💻 Register here: go.illinois.edu/HEROP-OCT31

🗺️ Upcoming Workshop: “Intro to Spatial Data in R” 🗓️ Thursday, October 23, 2025 🕤 9:30–11:30 AM CDT 💻 Virtual; Register here: go.illinois.edu/GCCP-OCT23 This workshop is presented as part of the JCOIN Geospatial Consortium & Community of Practice (GCCP). 👉 gccp.healthyregions.org

🗺️ Upcoming Workshop: “Intro to Spatial Data in R” 🗓️ Thursday, October 23, 2025 🕤 9:30–11:30 AM CDT 💻 Virtual; Register here: go.illinois.edu/GCCP-OCT23 This workshop is presented as part of the JCOIN Geospatial Consortium & Community of Practice (GCCP). 👉 gccp.healthyregions.org

🚀 We're excited to launch the JCOIN Geospatial Consortium and Community of Practice (GCCP)! The GCCP is a new collaborative network working with geospatial tools to build understanding and resources for the opioid epidemic. Join here: go.illinois.edu/JCOIN-GCCP Learn more: gccp.healthyregions.org

🚨 Tomorrow is Day 1 of the 2025 SDOH & Place Symposium! Don’t miss our livestream starting at 4PM CDT: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mash...

Join us LIVE for the 2025 SDOH & Place Symposium! 📅 Live Stream Schedule: Day 1: Sep 24 @ 4:30PM CDT Day 2: Sep 25 @ 9AM CDT Day 3: Sep 26 @ 10AM CDT 🎥 Tune in here: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLi9Z7UD_p9f8csNaBP_Ni57nJYvUAvonu View the full event schedule: symposium2025.sdohplace.org/

Tune in at 9AM CDT on Sep. 25th for “Butterflies Rising!/¡Mariposas en Ascenso!”, the keynote speech at this year's SDOH & Place Symposium. 🎥 Watch here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=730Q... 📅 Learn more about our keynote speakers and view the full event schedule: symposium2025.sdohplace.org/

Join us LIVE for the 2025 SDOH & Place Symposium! 📅 Live Stream Schedule: Day 1: Sep 24 @ 4:30PM CDT Day 2: Sep 25 @ 9AM CDT Day 3: Sep 26 @ 10AM CDT 🎥 Tune in here: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLi9Z7UD_p9f8csNaBP_Ni57nJYvUAvonu View the full event schedule: symposium2025.sdohplace.org/

Join us LIVE for the 2025 SDOH & Place Symposium! 📅 Live Stream Schedule: Day 1: Sep 24 @ 4:30PM CDT Day 2: Sep 25 @ 9AM CDT Day 3: Sep 26 @ 10AM CDT 🎥 Tune in here: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLi9Z7UD_p9f8csNaBP_Ni57nJYvUAvonu View the full event schedule: symposium2025.sdohplace.org/

22+ speakers. 3 days. 1 mission: advancing health equity through data, design, and place. We’re creating a space to change how we think about the Social Determinants of Health. 🎤 View speaker information and talk abstracts: sdohplace.org/news/speaker... 🎥 Tune in: www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...

Join us LIVE for the 2025 SDOH & Place Symposium! 📅 Live Stream Schedule: Day 1: Sep 24 @ 4:30PM CDT Day 2: Sep 25 @ 9AM CDT Day 3: Sep 26 @ 10AM CDT 🎥 Tune in here: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLi9Z7UD_p9f8csNaBP_Ni57nJYvUAvonu View the full event schedule: symposium2025.sdohplace.org/

🌟 Stay connected with the Healthy Regions Lab! 🌟 We're excited to share HEROP Lab updates, resources, and opportunities on our social media: 📸 Instagram: @healthyregions 👔 LinkedIn: Healthy Regions & Policies Lab #HealthyRegions #CommunityHealth #Instagram #BlueSky #SDOH #HealthEquity

⏰ T-minus ONE day! Applications for our Posdoctoral Researcher position close at 11:59 PM CDT tonight!

🚨 Tomorrow is the last day to submit applications for the Postdoctoral Scholar position at the Healthy Regions & Policies Lab! 🚨 🧑‍🎓 Learn more about position compensation, benefits, and requirements here: healthyregions.org/2025/06/06/p... 📅 Apply by 11:59 PM CDT on Tuesday, July 1st, 2025

🚨 The deadline for applying as a guest speaker or an attendee at the SDOH & Place Symposium is 11:59 PM CDT TODAY! Don’t delay! View the event schedule and submit your application: go.illinois.edu/25-SYMPOSIUM... Applicants will be notified on a rolling basis.

📺 Check out our remodeled Module Workshops! Now with chapter divisions, time stamps, and a more streamlined playlist, our supplemental Toolkit Module videos have never been easier to navigate! Watch our Module 6 Workshop here: youtu.be/wjuZWqTr_aM?...

⏰ Tomorrow is the final day to submit applications to speak or attend the SDOH & Place Symposium! Apply here: go.illinois.edu/25-SYMPOSIUM-APPLY

🚨 Two days left to apply for the 2nd SDOH & Place Symposium! 🚨 📅 September 24–26, 2025 📍 The Chicago Loop, IL View the event schedule and submit your application: go.illinois.edu/25-SYMPOSIUM... Deadline: June 27 @ 11:59 PM CDT Applicants will be notified on a rolling basis.

📣 The Healthy Regions & Policies Lab is looking for a Postdoctoral Scholar for the 2025-26 academic year! 🧑‍🎓 Learn more about position compensation, benefits, and requirements here: healthyregions.org/2025/06/06/p... 📅 Apply by 11:59 PM CDT on Tuesday, July 1st, 2025