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Stephen Hwang

MD, MPH

Scientist

Email: Stephen.Hwang@unityhealth.to
Tel: 416-864-6060 Ext. 5991
Twitter: @StephenHwang

Research Programs

Biography

Please note: Dr. Hwang is not taking any summer students.

Research Interests

Homelessness, housing as a social determinant of health, health care for homeless persons, marginalized populations, inner city health, urban health, socioeconomic status, access to care, community-based health care, health services research.

Research Activities

Dr. Hwang’s research program focuses on interventions to improve the health of people experiencing homelessness, and to interrupt chronic homelessness itself.

 

Recent Publications

  1. Dunn, JR, Smith, KLW, Smith, P, Moineddin, R, Matheson, FI, Hwang, SW et al.. Does receipt of social housing impact mental health? Results of a quasi-experimental study in the Greater Toronto Area. Soc Sci Med. 2024;362 :117363. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.117363. PubMed PMID:39454326 .
  2. Brydon, R, Haseeb, SB, Park, GR, Ziegler, C, Hwang, SW, Forget, EL et al.. The effect of cash transfers on health in high-income countries: A scoping review. Soc Sci Med. 2024;362 :117397. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.117397. PubMed PMID:39396395 .
  3. Richard, L, Carter, B, Nisenbaum, R, Brown, M, Gabriel, M, Stewart, S et al.. Disparities in healthcare costs of people experiencing homelessness in Toronto, Canada in the post COVID-19 pandemic era: a matched cohort study. BMC Health Serv Res. 2024;24 (1):1074. doi: 10.1186/s12913-024-11501-2. PubMed PMID:39313822 PubMed Central PMC11421185.
  4. Lachaud, J, Yusuf, AA, Maelzer, F, Perri, M, Gogosis, E, Ziegler, C et al.. Social isolation and loneliness among people living with experience of homelessness: a scoping review. BMC Public Health. 2024;24 (1):2515. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-19850-7. PubMed PMID:39285399 PubMed Central PMC11403937.
  5. Sankar, A, Stukel, TA, Baxter, NN, Wijeysundera, DN, Hwang, SW, Wilton, AS et al.. Disparities in surgery rates during the COVID-19 pandemic: retrospective study. BJS Open. 2024;8 (4):. doi: 10.1093/bjsopen/zrae088. PubMed PMID:39186678 PubMed Central PMC11346633.
  6. Richard, L, Carter, B, Wu, L, Hwang, SW. Disparities in all-cause mortality among people experiencing homelessness in Toronto, Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cohort study. Front Public Health. 2024;12 :1401662. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1401662. PubMed PMID:39185124 PubMed Central PMC11341496.
  7. Richard, L, Holland, A, Aghanya, V, Campitelli, MA, Hwang, SW. Uptake of COVID-19 vaccination among community-dwelling individuals receiving healthcare for substance use disorder and major mental illness: a matched retrospective cohort study. Front Public Health. 2024;12 :1426152. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1426152. PubMed PMID:39035175 PubMed Central PMC11257932.
  8. Wiens, K, Bai, L, Hwang, SW, Ronksley, PE, Austin, PC, Booth, GL et al.. Disparities in diabetes processes of care among people experiencing homelessness: An opportunity for intervention. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2024;213 :111748. doi: 10.1016/j.diabres.2024.111748. PubMed PMID:38885743 .
  9. Richard, L, Carter, B, Nisenbaum, R, Liu, M, Hwang, SW. Identification of homelessness using health administrative data in Ontario, Canada following a national coding mandate: a validation study. J Clin Epidemiol. 2024;172 :111430. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2024.111430. PubMed PMID:38880439 .
  10. Agha, A, Hwang, SW, Palepu, A, Aubry, T. The role of housing stability in predicting social capital: Exploring social support and psychological integration as mediators for individuals with histories of homelessness and vulnerable housing. Am J Community Psychol. 2024; :. doi: 10.1002/ajcp.12754. PubMed PMID:38713847 .
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Affiliations & Other Activities

  • Scientist, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael’s Hospital
  • Staff Physician, Division of General Internal Medicine, St. Michael’s Hospital
  • Director, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Toronto
  • Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto
  • Professor, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto
  • Professor, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto