Stephen J. Kunitz MD PhD, Community and Preventive Medicine

FACULTY DIRECTORY
PhD, 1970, Sociology, Yale MA, 1968, History of Science and Medicine, Yale MD, 1964, University of Rochester BA, 1960, Yale College	Stephen J. Kunitz, MD, PhD Professor, Division of Social and Behavioral Medicine, Community & Preventive Medicine Contact Information: University of Rochester Community & Preventive Medicine 120 Corporate Woods, Suite 350 Rochester, NY 14623 Office: WS62 Phone: (585) 758-7824 Fax: (585) 424-1469 Email: stephen_kunitz@urmc.rochester.edu Research: History and sociology of medicine, historical and contemporary comparative demography and epidemiology.
OVERVIEW
Broadly my research has been on several related topics perhaps best described as the sociology of medical knowledge, the history of medicine, and the relationship between social change and morbidity and mortality. In the first area, I have done work on changing ideas of disease causality and classification in medicine and public health, and on the social determinants of differing concepts of disease. In the second, I have done work on the causes of mortality decline in Europe, the impact of Europeans on the health of non-Europeans, and numerous field studies among American Indians on changing disease patterns and on the causes and consequences of alcohol use and abuse.
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
S.J. Kunitz, “Polydrug use in a Native American population.” Substance Use and Misuse, to be published. S.J. Kunitz, “Sex, race, and social role.” International Journal of Epidemiology, to be published. S.J. Kunitz, H. Delaney, L. Layne, D.R. Wheeler, E.M. Rogers, and G. Woodall, “Small-area variations in conviction rates for DWI: the significance of contextual variables in a Southwestern state.” Accident Analysis & Prevention, 38: 600-9, 2006.. S.J. Kunitz, H.Zhao, D.R. Wheeler, and W.G. Woodall, “Predictors of conviction and sentencing of DWI offenders in a New Mexico county.” Traffic Injury Prevention, 7: 6-14, 2006. S.J. Kunitz, “Life course observations of alcohol use among Navajo Indians: Natural History or Careers?” Medical Anthropology Quarterly, 20: 279-96, 2006. S.J. Kunitz, The Health of Populations: General Theories and Particular Realities. New York: Oxford University Press, 2006. S.J. Kunitz, with I. Pesis-Katz, “Mortality of White Americans, African Americans, and Canadians: the causes and consequences for health of welfare state institutions and policies. Milbank Quarterly, 83: 5-39, 2005. H. Delaney, S.J. Kunitz, H. Zhao, W.G. Woodall, V. Westerberg, E. Rogers, and D.R. Wheeler, “Variations in jail sentences and the probability of re-arrest for driving while intoxicated.” Traffic Injury Prevention, 6: 105-9, 2005 S.J. Kunitz, “The history and politics of health care for Native Americans.” In J. Healy and M. McKee, Accessing Health Care: Responding to Diversity. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004. S.J.Kunitz, “Social capital and health.” British Medical Bulletin 69: 1-13, 2004. S.J. Kunitz, “The evolution of disease and the devolution of health care for American Indians.” In N. Mascie-Taylor, J. Peters, and S. McGarvey, eds. The Changing Face of Disease: Implications for Society. London: CRC Press, 2004. W.G. Woodall, S.J. Kunitz, H. Zhao, D.R. Wheeler, V. Westerberg, and J.W. Davis, “The prevention paradox and traffic safety outcomes from a DWI treatment program.” American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 27: 106-11, 2004. S.J. Kunitz, “The making and breaking of federated Yugoslavia, and its impact on health.” American Journal of Public Health, 94: 1894-1904, 2004. S.J. Kunitz, W.G. Woodall, H. Zhao, D.R. Wheeler, R. Lillis, and E. Rogers, “Re-arrest rates after incarceration for DWI: A comparative study in a southwestern county.” American Journal of Public Health, 92: 1826-31, 2002. S.J. Kunitz, “Holism and the idea of general susceptibility to disease.” International Journal of Epidemiology, 31: 722-29, 2002. S.J. Kunitz, "Accounts of social capital: The mixed health effects of personal communities and voluntary groups." In D.A. Leon and G. Walt, eds. Poverty, Inequality and Health. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001. S.J. Kunitz and J.E. Levy, Drinking, Conduct Disorder, and Social Change.: Navajo Experiences. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000.

Stephen J. Kunitz, MD, PhD