Welcome Claire Altman, Our New Blog Editor

We’re pleased to welcome Dr. Claire Altman as our new Blog Editor.

Get to know Dr. Altman in this interview, including her research into immigrant health, the policy determinants of health inequalities, and methodological advances in how legal status is measured.

Q: Tell us about your professional background.

I am an Associate Professor with a joint appointment in two interdisciplinary departments: Health Sciences in the College of Health Sciences and the Truman School of Government and Public Affairs (TSGPA) at the University of Missouri-Columbia (MU). Before my faculty position, I completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Sociology at Rice University and earned my Ph.D. in Sociology and Demography from Penn State.

Q: What are some of your current research projects?

The overarching goal of my research is to examine the social and policy determinants of health inequalities for immigrants to the US.

Currently I am focused on two lines of research.

First, exploring how living and working in the US without legal status is associated with health and integration outcomes. While focused on timely socio-demographic and policy-relevant outcomes such as health insurance coverage and poverty, my research also incorporates methodological advances in the measurement of legal status in survey data. In this work, colleagues and I have tested how the method used to assign legal status has implications for estimating legal status effects.

In my second area, I am testing whether and how immigrants’ health and wellbeing varies based on where they live and if their state has enacted restrictive or inclusive immigration policies.

Q: Why is population health still important today?

Immigrants to the US face health risks and barriers to health care which can result in poor health and wellbeing outcomes. These risks and barriers also impact the health of their children, the majority of whom are US born. Population health and the health of immigrants is increasingly important as the immigrant population in the US continues to grow, diversify, move, and age.

Q: What topics and ideas would you like to see this blog tackle in the next year?

I would love to start several different blog series:

• Recent related books related to population health
• New population centers and research institutes
• Career advice at all stages
• Teaching population health

Q: What do you do for fun?

For fun, I spend as much time as possible outside on walks and hikes with friends. I am an avid home baker who enjoys watching and critiquing cooking/baking competition shows for inspiration.

Q: Finally, the quintessential, often-asked IAPHS question: Are onion rings actually donuts?

No way. Onion rings are not donuts. It would be like biting into a cookie and getting a raisin when you are expecting a chocolate chip.

We send our heartfelt thanks to our outgoing editor, Dr. Jarron Saint Onge, for his generous time and effort in making our blog posts timely, robust, and engaging.

JoAnne Dyer will continue to be our Blog Manager. 

If you have ideas for blog posts, or if you’d like to write a post yourself, please reach out: altmanc@health.missouri.edu.