Brian Finch

Current Research FocusSocial demography; health disparities; social determinants of health

Why I Study What I StudyI’m very interested in the processes through which social inequality is embodied to produce population health heterogeneity and generate health disparities between more and less advantaged groups.

What First Inspired Me to Pursue This FieldGrowing up in an area (the California Central Valley) with high levels of poverty and joblessness and low rates of social mobility led to an interest in social inequality and the ways in which social factors influence opportunity, behavior, and ultimately, health.

Recent FindingMore recent cohorts of the elderly are becoming increasingly disabled, however, rates are increasing among both the non-obese and obese.

Favorite High-Tech Research ToolThe equation editor in MS Word.

Favorite Low-Tech ToolsComposition books

This Fascinates Me About Human BehaviorHow quickly but profoundly humans are affected by their social environment.

Hidden TalentI mix vinyl records on turntables.