Staff Profile

Professor Sarah E. Curtis, BA (Hons) (Oxon), DPhil

Professor, Executive Director - Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience in the Department of Geography

Telephone: +44 (0) 191 33 41830

Fax: +44 (0) 191 33 41801

Room number: 225

Contact Professor Sarah E. Curtis (email at s.e.curtis@durham.ac.uk)

PA Mrs Julie Dobson ext: 42257. Email: ihrr.admin@durham.ac.uk.

Biography

Professor Sarah Curtis is an internationally recognised specialist in the geography of health, focusing on the geographical dimensions of inequalities of health and health care. Her scholarship elucidates how and why varying geographical settings relate to human health inequalities.

Sarah Curtis was appointed as Professor of Health and Risk at the University of Durham in September 2006. Based in the Department of Geography, she is also Executive Director of the Institute of Hazard Risk and Resilience. She works closely with colleagues in other disciplines through the Wolfson Research Institute for Health and Wellbeing.

Sarah Curtis holds a BA Hons. in Geography from Oxford University and DPhil in Urban and Regional Studies from the University of Kent. Before joining Durham University she worked as Professor in Geography at Queen Mary, University of London.

As well as contributing to theoretical development of health geography, her work has strong applied and international aspects. Her research has informed and contributed to health policy development and evaluation of health services in the UK, France, Russia, Poland, Canada and the USA.

Recent Research Includes:

Sarah is Principal Investigator for the Leverhulme Programme on Tipping Points based in the Institute of Hazard Risk and Resilience and employing 9 PDRAs in various Departments across the University (http://www.dur.ac.uk/ihrr/tippingpoints/) .
She was Principal Investigator for the project ‘BIOPICCC - Built Infrastructure for Older People in Conditions of Climate Change.’ 2009 -2012 funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council under their ARCC Programme. This has published a toolkit for development of adaptation to climate change (http://www.dur.ac.uk/geography/research/researchprojects/biopiccc/toolkit/) which has been widely cited as a valuable planning resource.
Research on physical activity and wellbeing in schools (the ‘MOVE’ project) (funded by ESRC), for which Sarah is Co-I directing research by Dr Katie Thomson, PDRA in geography.
health impact assessment of urban regeneration schemes, (for the Department of Health, and other agencies).
development of healthy public policy (with agencies in Canada and UK).
research on how the social and physical environment relates to well-being, resilience and health of adults and children (funded by ESRC and the Nuffield Foundation).
research on therapeutic design of psychiatric health care settings (funded by British Academy).
international collaborative work on migration, health and wellbeing (supported by ESRC).
comparative research on geographical variation in psychiatric service use supported by the Office of Mental Health for New York State, USA. This work has been widely disseminated through her research publications.

Sarah has collaborated through research and consultancy with a number of organisations including local and national agencies in the English National Health Service; the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, England, the Environment Agency, the Cabinet Office Resilient Communities Unit, the Health Protection Agency; The Greater London Authority, the World Health Organisation; the Insitut National de la Santé et Recherche Medicale, France. She has served as: non-executive director of a NHS Community and Mental Health Care Trust; on the Advisory Board for the London Health Observatory; and as board member and advisor for the National Collaborating Centre for Healthy Public Policy, National Institute of Public Health, Quebec, Canada.

Sarah Curtis was the Senior Editor, Medical Geography, for the leading international journal Social Science and Medicine (from 2003 - 2012), and she undertakes work for national Research Council committees and evaluation panels in the UK and abroad and is a noninated member of the National Scientific Council of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, France. She is a Member of the Society of Social Medicine, a Fellow, and Chartered Geographer (Founder Member), of the Royal Geographical Society/Institute of British Geographers. She is also an Academician of the Academy of Social Sciences and a Registered Practitioner of the Academy for Higher Education.

Sarah Curtis is author of Space, Place and Mental Health (2010) Ashgate. http://www.ashgate.com/isbn/9780754673316

Research Groups

Research Projects

Selected Publications

Articles: magazine

Fagg, J. Curtis, S., Cummins, S., Stansfeld, S., & Quesnel-Vallee, A. Neighbourhood deprivation and adolescent self-esteem: exploration of the 'socio-economic equalisation in youth' hypothesis in Britain. Social Science and Medicine. Published.

Journal papers: academic

Curtis, S.,, Gesler, W.,, Wood, V.,, Spencer, I.,, Mason, J.,, Close, H., & Reilly, J. Compassionate containment? Balancing technical safety and therapy in the design of psychiatric wards. Social Science and Medicine. 2013.
Wood, V., Curtis, S., Gesler, W., Spencer, I., Close, H., Mason, J., & Reilly, J Creating ‘therapeutic landscapes’ for mental health carers in inpatient settings; a dynamic perspective on permeability and inclusivity. Social Science and Medicine. 2013.
Oven, K., Curtis, S., Reaney, S., Riva, M., Stewart, M.G., Ohlemuller, R., Dunn, C., Nodwell, S., Dominelli, L. & Holden, R. Climate change and health and social care: Defining future hazard, vulnerability and risk for infrastructure systems supporting older people’s health care in England. Applied Geography. 2012;33:16-24.
Cairns, J.M., Curtis, S.E. & Bambra, C. Defying Deprivation: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Area Level Health Resilience in England. Health and Place. 2012;18:928-933.
Riva, M. & Curtis, S.E. Long-term local area employment rates as predictors of individual mortality and morbidity: a prospective study in England, spanning more than two decades. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health. 2012;66:919-926.
Riva, M., Terashima, M., Curtis, S., Shucksmith, J. & Carlebach, S. Coalfield Health Effects: Variation Across Former Coalmining Communities in England. Health and Place. 2011.
Curtis, S. & Oven, K. Progress Report: Geographies of Health and Climate Change. Progress in Human Geography. 2011.
Riva, M., Curtis, S. & Norman, P. Residential mobility within England and urban-rural inequalities in mortality. Social Science and Medicine. 2011;73:1698-1706.
Riva, M., Bambra, C., Curtis, S. & Gauvin, L. Collective Resources or Local Social Inequalities? A Large Scale Examination of the Protective Role of Employment on Mental Health in Rural Areas in England. European Journal of Public Health. 2010.
Pabayo, R., Belsky, J., Gauvin, L. & Curtis, S. Do Area Characteristics Predict Change in Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity from Ages 11 to 15 Years? Social Science and Medicine. 2010.
Riva, M., Bambra, C., Easton, S. & Curtis, S. Hard Times or Good Times? Inequalities in the Health Effects of Economic Change. International Journal of Public Health. 2010.
Mindell, J., Biddulph, J., Taylor, L., Lock, K., Boaz, A., Joffe, M. & Curtis, S. Improving the Use of Evidence in Health Impact Assessment. Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 2010;543-550.
Curtis, S. & Riva, M. Progress Report: Health Geographies I: Complexity theory and human health. Progress in Human Geography. 2010;34:215-223.
Curtis, S. & Riva, M. Progress Report: Health Geographies II: Complexity and health care systems and policy. Progress in Human Geography. 2010;34:513-520.
Coldefy, M. & Curtis, S. The Geography of Institutional Psychiatric Care in France 1800 - 2000: Historical Analysis of the Spatial Diffusion of Specialised Facilities for Institutional Care of Mental Illness. Social Science and Medicine. 2010.
Curtis, S., Congdon, P., Almog, M. & Ellermann, R. County variation in use of inpatient and ambulatory psychiatric care in New York State 1999-2001: Need and Supply influences in a structural model. Health and Place. 2009;15:568-577.
Curtis, S. & Hoyez, A.C. Franco-British Working Group on Migration Health and Wellbeing. International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care. 2009;4-19.
Curtis, S., Gesler, W., Priebe, S. & Francis, S. New spaces of inpatient care for people with mental illness: a complex "rebirth" of the clinic?. Health and Place. 2009;15:340-348.
Curtis, S. & Riva, M. Progress Report: health Geographies II: Complexity and health care systems and policy. Progress in Human Geography. 2009;Forthcoming.
Curtis, S. & Riva, M. Progress Report; Health Geographies I: complexity theory and human health. Progress in Human Geography. 2009;Forthcoming.
Curtis, S., Setia, M. & Quesnel-Vallee, A. Socio-Geographic Mobility and Health Status: a longitudinal analysis using the National Population Health Survey of Canada. Social Science and Medicine. 2009;69:1845-1853.
Riva, M., Curtis, S., Gauvin, L. & Fagg, J. Unravelling the extent of inequalities in health across urban and rural areas: Evidence from a national sample in England. Social Science and Medicine. 2009;68:654-663.
Fagg, J., Curtis, S., Stansfield, S., Cattell, V., Tupuola, A-M. & Arephin, M. Area social fragmentation, social support for individuals and psychosocial health in young adults: Evidence from a national survey in England. Social Science and Medicine. 2008;66:242-254.
Curtis, S. How can we address Health inequality through healthy public policy in Europe?. European Urban and Regional Studies. 2008;15:293-305.
Cattell, V, Dines, N, Gesler, W & Curtis, S Mingling, observing and lingering: Everyday public spaces and their implications for well-being and social relations. Health and Place. 2008;14:544-561.
Fagg, J., Curtis, S., Clark, C., Congdon, P. & Stansfield, S. Neighbourhood perceptions among inner-city adolescents relationships with their individual characteristics and with independently assessed neighbourhood conditions. Journal of Environmental Psychology. 2008;28:128-142.
Curtis, S., Pederson, A., Bruce, T. & Frankish, J. Pour des politiques publiques favorables a la sante dans le contexte de la preparation de grands evenements internationaux: l'exemple des jeux olympiques. Telescope. 2008;14:95-105.
Curtis, S.E. Concluding commentary: Report from the eleventh international symposium in medical geography: a comment from the senior editor. Social Science and Medicine. 2007;65:169-171.
Curtis, S. How can we address health inequality through healthy public policy in Europe? European Urban and Regional Studies. 2007.
Curtis, S. Socio-economic status and geographies of psychiatric inpatient service use. Places, provision, power and wellbeing. Epidemiologia e psichiatria sociale. 2007;16:10-15.
Curtis, S.E., Gesler, W., Fabian, K., Francis, S. & Priebe, S. Therapeutic landscapes in hospital design: A qualitative assessment by staff and service users of the design of a new mental health inpatient unit. Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy. 2007;25:591-610.
Curtis, S., Gesler, W., Fabian, K., Francis, S. & Priebe, S. Therapeutic landscapes in hospital design: a qualitative assessment by staff and service users of the design of a new mental health inpatient unit. Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy. 2007;25:591-610.
Cummins, S., Curtis, S.E., Diez-Roux, A.V. & Macintyre, S. Understanding and representing 'place' in health research: A relational approach. Social Science & Medicine. 2007;66:1825-1838.
Warfa, N., Bhui, K., Craig, T., Curtis, S., Mohamud, S., Stansfeld, S., McCrone, P. & Thornicroft, G. Post-migration geographical mobility, mental health and health service utilisation among Somali refugees in the UK: A qualitative study. Health and Place. 2006;12:503-515.
Fagg, J., Curtis, S.E., Stansfeld, S. & Congdon, P. Psychological distress among adolescents, and its relationship to individual, family and area characteristics in East London. Social Science and Medicine. 2006;63:636-648.
Curtis, S., Copeland, A., Fagg, J., Congdon, P., Almog, M. & Fitzpatrick, J. The ecological relationship between deprivation, social isolation and rates of hospital admission for acute psychiatric care: a comparison of London and New York City. Health & Place. 2006;12:19-37.
Curtis, S.E., Copeland, A., Fagg, J., Congdon, P., Almog, M. & Fitzpatrick, J. The ecological relationship between deprivation, social isolation and rates of hospital admission for acute psychiatric care; a comparison of London and New York City. Health and Place. 2006;12:19-37.
Tonnellier, F. & Curtis, S.E. Medicine, landscapes, symbols: 'The Country Doctor' by Honoré de Balzac. Health and Place. 2005;11:313-321.
Curtis, S.E., Southall, H., Congdon, P. & Dodgeon, B. Area effects on health variation over the life-course: analysis of the longitudinal study sample in England using new data on area of residence in childhood. Social Science and Medicine. 2004;58:57-74.
Mindell, J., Boaz, A., Joffe, M., Curtis, S. E. & Birley, M. Enhancing the evidence base for health impact assessment. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. 2004;58:546-551.
Almog, M., Curtis, S.E., Copeland, A. & Congdon, P. Geographical variation in acute psychiatric admissions within New York City 1990-2000: growing inequalities in service use?. Social Science and Medicine. 2004;59:361-376.
Rees Jones, I., Berney, L., Kelly, M., Doyal, L., Griffiths, C., Feder, G., Hillier, S., Rowlands, G. & Curtis, S. E. Is patient involvement possible when decisions involve scarce resources? A qualitative study of decision-making in primary care. Social Science and Medicine. 2004;59:93-201.
Gesler, W., Bell, M., Curtis, S.E., Hubbard, P. & Francis, S. Therapy by design: evaluating the UK hospital building program. Health and Place. 2004;10:117-128.
Curtis, S.E., Cave, B. & Coutts, A. Is urban regeneration good for health? Perceptions and theories of the health impacts of urban change. Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy. 2002;20:517-534.
Asthana, S., Curtis, S. E., Duncan, C. & Gould, M. Themes in British health geography at the end of the century: a review of published research 1998–2000. Social Science and Medicine. 2002;55:167-173.
Cave, B. & Curtis, S. E. Developing a toolkit to assess the potential health impact of urban regeneration schemes. Promotion and Education. 2001;1:12-16.
Curtis, S. E. Health in London. Area. 2001;33:84-91.
Almog, M., Curtis, S. E. & Fitzpatrick, J. La géographie du recours à l’hôpital psychiatrique en relation avec la pauvreté, et son intérêt à New York et à Londres. Technologie et Santé. 2001;45:40-56.
Congdon, P., Campos, R., Curtis, S. E., Southall, H., Gregory, I. N. & Jones, I. R. Quantifying and explaining changes in geographical inequality of infant mortality in England and Wales since the 1890s. International Journal of Population Geography. 2001;7:35-51.

Books: authored

Curtis, S. Space, Place and Mental Health. Farnham.: Farnham, Ashgate; 2010.
Curtis, S. Health and Inequality: Geographical Perspectives. London: Sage; 2004.
Curtis, S. & Taket, A. Health and Societies: Changing Perspectives. London: HodderArnold; 1996.
Curtis, S. The Geography of Public Welfare Provision. London: Routledge; 1989.
Aïach, P., Carr-Hill, R., Curtis, S. & Illsley, R. Les Inégalités Sociales de Santé en France et en Grande Bretagne: Analyse et Etude Comparative. Paris: INSERM; 1988.

Books: edited

Bennett, P., Curtis, S., Calman, K. & Smith, D. Risk Communication and Public Health. Oxford.: Oxford University Press; Accepted.
Bennett, P., Calman, K., Curtis, S. & Fishbacher-Smith, D. Risk Communication and Public Health. Oxford University Press; 2009.
Boyle, P. J., Curtis, S., Graham, E. & Moore, E. The Geography of Health Inequalities in the Developed World: Views from Britain and North America. London: Ashgate; 2004.

Books: sections

Curtis, S., Riva, M. & Rosenberg, M. Health Geography in Public Health. In: Brown, T., McLafferty, S. & Moon, G. Companion to Health and Medical Geography. Oxford Blackwell; 2010:325-345.
Gesler, W. & Curtis, S. Application of Concepts of Therapeutic Landscapes to the Design of Hospitals in the UK: The example of a Mental Health Facility in London. In: Williams, A. Therapeutic Landscapes. Ashgate; 2007:149-164.
Curtis, S. & Cummins, S.C.J. Ecological studies. In: Galeo, S. Macro Social Determinants of Health. USA: Springer; 2007:327-348.
Curtis, S. Geographie sociale et geographie de la sante. In: Fleuret, S. & Thouez, J-P. Geographie de la Sante: un Panorama. Paris.: Economica; 2007:26-36.
Curtis, S. & Bebbington, A. Geographical variations in health and welfare and their significance for equity and efficiency in resource allocation. In: Knapp, M., Challis, D., Fernández, J.-L. & Netten, A. Long-Term Care: Matching Resources and Needs. Aldershot: Ashgate; 2004:199-218.
De Campos, R., Congdon, P., Curtis, S., Gregory, I. N., Rees Jones, I. & Southall, H. Locality-level mortality and socio-economic change in Britain since 1920: first steps towards analysis of infant mortality variation. In: Boyle, P. J., Curtis, S., Graham, E. & Moore, E. The Geography of Health Inequalities in the Developed World: Views from Britain and North America. London: Ashgate; 2004.
Fagg, J., Curtis, S., Stansfeld, S. & Congdon, P. Neighbourhood influences on adolescent health in East London. In: Sagan, I. & Czepczyński, M. Featuring the Quality of Urban Life in Contemporary Cities of Eastern and Western Europe. Gdańsk-Poznań Bogucki Wydawnictwo Naukowe = Bogucki Scientific Press; 2004:117-124.
Curtis, S. Social exclusion, health and health care; the case of the National Health Service in England. In: Lee, R. & Smith, D. Geographies and Moralities: International Perspectives on Development, Justice and Place. Oxford: Blackwell; 2004:79-82.

Journal papers: online

Curtis, S. L'utilisation des politiques publiques pour promouvoir la sante: Quelques reflexions sur l'example de la planification du parc olympique 2012 a Londres. Reviews for Health Promotion and Education Online. 2007.
Fagg, J., Curtis, S., Clark, C., Congdon, P. & Standfeld, S. The relationships between socio-economic environments in small areas and neighbourhood perceptions and mental health among adolescents in an inner city setting. Journal of Environmental Psychology. 2007;Online.

Other publications: research

Curtis, S. & Hoyez, A.C. Public Health and Migration. 2012.
Riva, M. & Curtis, S. Policy Responses and the Physical Environment. 2011.
Riva, M. & Curtis, S. The Rural, Material and Social Context of Positive Health in England. 2011.

Reports: official

Shucksmith, J., Carlebach, S., Riva, M., Curtis, S., Hunter, D, J., Blackman, T. & Hudson, R. Health Inequalities in Ex-Coalfield/Industrial Communities. A report to the Improvement and Development Agency for Local Government and the Department of Health. 2010.

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Media Contacts

Available for media contact about:

Health & welfare services: Health inequality
Health & welfare services: Geography of Health