Built Environment & Health Research Group

The Built Environment & Health Research Group (BEHRG) is a multi-disciplinary working group at UVA that focuses on the influences of the built environment on human health.  The built environment is often defined as “man-made, developed, or structured” features of our communities (Centers for Disease Control “Healthy Places” website).

BEHRG brings together public health, medical, urban planning, engineering, and economics faculty and researchers to address a broad variety of health issues with environmental dimensions including:  physical activity promotion, mobility, transportation safety, land use, school health, health disparities, mental health, and chronic disease prevention.

BEHRG is cosponsored by the Department of Urban and Environmental Planning and the Master of Public Health Program.

Faculty Coordinators:
Schaefer Somers, PHD, Department of Urban and Environmental Planning
Matthew J. Trowbridge, MD, MPH, Department of Emergency Medicine
Ruth Gaare Bernheim, JD, MPH, Division of Public Health Policy and Practice

Courses:
PHS562/PLAN 508D Built Environment and Community Health
PHS 557/PLAC 557 Environmental Impact Statement
PHS 545/PLAN 545 Healthy Communities

Events:
Andrew Dannenberg discusses Health Impact Assessment