Healthy Aging Research Seminar | Sep 13

This talk will give an overview of the important role of social relationships for our health and longevity as we age. The talk will give special attention to the direct effect on obesity and hypertension as major biological risk factors of chronic illnesses in older age and highlight the current gaps in evidence.

Dr. Annalijn Conklin, PhD is an Assistant Professor of epidemiology and outcomes research at UBC in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and a Scientist at the Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences. Dr. Conklin received a Michael Smith Health Research BC Scholar award to lead a Program of Social Epidemiology and Metabolic-Outcomes Research (SEMOR) to support healthy aging and reduce heart health inequities in women in Canada. Using both quantitative and qualitative research methods, Conklin’s lab examines how broader social determinants, such as stressful life events, social ties, financial hardship or job loss, impact cardio-metabolic risk factors differentially for girls/women and boys/men. Dr. Conklin is an expert in applying a gender lens to health and healthcare research, and is also an expert in population studies using international survey and administrative datasets (e.g. European Prospective Investigation in Diet and Cancer, Demographic and Health Survey, Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging).