PhD, 1998, Anthropology, University of Rochester

MPH, 1993, University of Rochester

MA, 1989, Anthropology, University of Rochester

BS, 1978, Medical Technology, State University of New York at Buffalo

Nancy Perini Chin, MPH, PhD

Associate Chair for Education

Director, Masters Programs

Assistant Professor
Division of Social & Behavioral Medicine,
Community & Preventive Medicine

Secondary Appointments: Division of Medical Humanities and Department of Psychiatry

Contact Information:

University of Rochester
Community & Preventive Medicine
601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 644
Rochester, NY 14642

Office: 4-W322
Phone: (585) 275-9780
Fax: (585) 756-7656

Email: nancy_chin@urmc.rochester.edu

Research:

Social class gradient in health; women's position in society and its impact on their health and the health of their children

Poor health outcomes are not randomly distributed throughout society: forms of social organization and cultural meanings all contribute to differential outcomes. However, the exact mechanisms by which culture and society influence morbidity and mortality are not well understood. I use an ethnographic approach at the level of the household and neighborhood to elucidate these pathways. My MPH thesis research looked at the relationship between household organization, wealth, and child health as reflected in the growth of children five years and under in southwest Tibet. More recently, I have become the co-director along with Dr. Becky Loy of  Project Drolma, a community health improvement effort done in collaboration with a group of nomadic herders on the Eastern Tibetan Plateau.  Using an interdisciplinary team of Tibetan and US researchers and workers, we have made a 10 year commitment to the community to help improve maternal and child health outcomes. I teach several different medical humanities seminars on looking at such issues as women and medicine, culture conflict in literature, alternative medical practices, and international health. I have co-taught maternal and child health seminars on both domestic and international topics. Through Summer Fellowship Programs I have taught and supervised both public health and medical students in ethnographic research at the level of the community. Students projects have included: distribution of birthing kits to nomadic households in Qinghai; water usage in Tamil Nadu; and Buddhist practices and thought related to the treatment and prevention of depression.

• Harris LB, Chin NP, Fiscella K. (2006). Mistrust as a Barrier to Vaccinations in Older Black Adults. Journal of the National Medical Association, 98(10):1678-84.
• Singh D, Chin N, Brown T, & Glezen S. (2006). Risks and Realities: Rochester Area Lesbians’ Perceived Risk of Acquiring Sexually Transmitted Infections. Journal of Social Sciences, 2:113-120.
• Chin NP, Goepp JG, Malia T, Harris L, Poordabbagh, A. (2006) Non-urgent use of a Pediatric Emergency Department: A Preliminary Qualitative Study. Pediatric Emergency Care,22:22-27.
• Chin, NP (2005). Telling an on-going story with an ethnographic voice. Invited commentary. Families, Systems & Health. The Journal of Collaborative Family Health Care, 93:307-311.
• Chin NP, Goepp JG, Malia T, Poordabbagh A. (2004). Planning Emergency Medical Services for Children in Bolivia: Part 1 -- The Use of Rapid Assessment Procedures. Pediatric Emergency Care, 20(9), 593-598.
• Goepp JG, Chin NP, Malia T, Poordabbagh A. (2004). Planning Emergency Medical Services for Children in Bolivia: Part 2 - Results of a Rapid Assessment Procedure. Pediatric Emergency Care, 20:664-670.
• Chin NP. (2004). Teaching Critical Reflection Through Narrative Storytelling. Michigan
  Journal of Community Service Learning, 10(3), 20-28.
• Goepp, J.G., Chin, N.P., Massad, J., & Edwards, L.A. (2004). Pediatric Emergency Department outreach: Solving medical problems or revealing community solutions? Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 15:522-529.
• Chin NP, Aligne A, Strocznek A, Kaczarowski J, Shipley LJ. (2003). Evaluation of a Pediatric Residency Community Rotation Using Narrative Analysis. Academic Medicine, 78, 1266-1270.