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Jana A. Hirsch, MES, PhD

Jana Hirsch

Associate Research Professor of Epidemiology
Urban Health Collaborative, Epidemiology and Biostatistics
267.359.6277
jah474@drexel.edu
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Degrees

PhD, Epidemiological Science, University of Michigan
MES, Environmental Health, University of Pennsylvania
BA, Health and Societies/Environmental Studies, University of Pennsylvania

Bio

Dr. Hirsch is an interdisciplinary researcher whose work aims to understand the way neighborhoods shape health behavior and disparities.  She has primarily worked at the intersections of urban planning, geography, and epidemiology with a focus on built environments and physical activity among adults and older adults. In particular, she has examined the way walkable communities can increase walking for transportation or reduce normal declines in mobility with age. Her current work includes longitudinal examinations of the way neighborhoods change and the subsequent impact that this change has on health. Personally, she is an eager, active walker and a people-focused “urbanophile.” 

Research Interests

  • Health and Place or Built Environment
  • Health Disparities
  • Mental health and Behavioral health
  • Spatial Analysis or GIS
  • Urban Health
  • Physical Activity
  • Active Aging and Age-Friendly Neighborhoods

Publications

Garg PK, Platt JM, Hirsch JA, Hurvitz P, Rundle A, Biggs ML, Psaty BM, Moore K, Lovasi GS. Association of neighborhood physical activity opportunities with incident cardiovascular disease in the Cardiovascular Health Study. Health Place. 2021 Jul;70:102596. doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2021.102596. Epub 2021 Jun 3. PubMed PMID: 34091144; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8328953.

Whitley J, Hirsch JA, Moore KA, Melly SJ, Rollins H, Washington R. Constructing Within-City Neighborhood Health Rankings in Philadelphia by Using Data From the 500 Cities Project. Prev Chronic Dis. 2021 May 13;18:E48. doi: 10.5888/pcd18.200584. PubMed PMID: 33988496; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8139444.

Hirsch JA, Moore KA, Cahill J, Quinn J, Zhao Y, Bayer FJ, Rundle A, Lovasi GS. Business Data Categorization and Refinement for Application in Longitudinal Neighborhood Health Research: a Methodology. J Urban Health. 2021 Apr;98(2):271-284. doi: 10.1007/s11524-020-00482-2. Epub 2020 Oct 1. PubMed PMID: 33005987; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8079597.

Peng K, Rodriguez DA, Hirsch JA, Gordon-Larsen P. A method for estimating neighborhood characterization in studies of the association with availability of sit-down restaurants and supermarkets. Int J Health Geogr. 2021 Mar 25;20(1):15. doi: 10.1186/s12942-020-00257-7. PubMed PMID: 33766045; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7995746.

Schinasi LH, Cole HVS, Hirsch JA, Hamra GB, Gullon P, Bayer F, Melly SJ, Neckerman KM, Clougherty JE, Lovasi GS. Associations between Greenspace and Gentrification-Related Sociodemographic and Housing Cost Changes in Major Metropolitan Areas across the United States. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Mar 23;18(6). doi: 10.3390/ijerph18063315. PubMed PMID: 33806987; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8005168.

Brown JR, Hirsch JA, Judd SE, Hurvitz PM, Howard VJ, Safford M, Moore J, Lovasi GS. The Association of Neighborhood Medical Facilities with Aging in Place and Risk of Incident Myocardial Infarction. J Aging Health. 2021 Mar;33(3-4):227-236. doi: 10.1177/0898264320975228. Epub 2020 Nov 30. PubMed PMID: 33251918.

Alhasan D, Hirsch J, Jackson C, Miller M, Cai B, Lohman M. Neighborhood Characteristics and the Mental Health of Caregivers Cohabiting with Care Recipients Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021 January; 18(3):913-. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18030913.

Alhasan DM, Hirsch JA, Jackson CL, Miller MC, Cai B, Lohman MC. Neighborhood Characteristics and the Mental Health of Caregivers Cohabiting with Care Recipients Diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Jan 21;18(3). doi: 10.3390/ijerph18030913. PubMed PMID: 33494425; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7908545.

Besser LM, Lovasi GS, Michael YL, Garg P, Hirsch JA, Siscovick D, Hurvitz P, Biggs ML, Galvin JE, Bartz TM, Longstreth WT. Associations between neighborhood greenspace and brain imaging measures in non-demented older adults: the Cardiovascular Health Study. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2021 Jan 3;. doi: 10.1007/s00127-020-02000-w. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 33388800; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8253869.

Besser LM, Chang LC, Evenson KR, Hirsch JA, Michael YL, Galvin JE, Rapp SR, Fitzpatrick AL, Heckbert SR, Kaufman JD, Hughes TM. Associations Between Neighborhood Park Access and Longitudinal Change in Cognition in Older Adults: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. J Alzheimers Dis. 2021;82(1):221-233. doi: 10.3233/JAD-210370. PubMed PMID: 34024841.

Gullon P, Bilal U, Hirsch JA, Rundle AG, Judd S, Safford MM, Lovasi GS. Does a physical activity supportive environment ameliorate or exacerbate socioeconomic inequities in incident coronary heart disease?. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2020 Dec 14;. doi: 10.1136/jech-2020-215239. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 33318134; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8200362.

Gullon P, Bilal U,Hirsch J, Rundle A, Judd S, Safford M, Lovasi G. Does a physical activity supportive environment ameliorate or exacerbate socioeconomic inequities in incident coronary heart disease?. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. 2020 December; :jech-2020-215239-. doi: 10.1136/jech-2020-215239.

Besser LM, Hirsch J, Galvin JE, Renne J, Park J, Evenson KR, Kaufman JD, Fitzpatrick AL. Associations between neighborhood park space and cognition in older adults vary by US location: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Health Place. 2020 Nov;66:102459. doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2020.102459. Epub 2020 Oct 10. PubMed PMID: 33045671; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8274384.

Tsui J, Hirsch JA, Bayer FJ, Quinn JW, Cahill J, Siscovick D, Lovasi GS. Patterns in Geographic Access to Health Care Facilities Across Neighborhoods in the United States Based on Data From the National Establishment Time-Series Between 2000 and 2014. JAMA Netw Open. 2020 May 1;3(5):e205105. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.5105. PubMed PMID: 32412637; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7229525.

Hirsch JA, Zhao Y, Bilal U, Neckerman KM, Michael YL. Health and Health-Related Resources in Newly Designated Federally Qualified Opportunity Zones: United States, 2012-2016. Am J Public Health. 2020 Mar;110(3):407-415. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2019.305489. Epub 2020 Jan 16. PubMed PMID: 31944851; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7002958.

Hirsch JA, Stratton-Rayner J, Winters M, Stehlin J, Hosford K, Mooney SJ. Roadmap for free-floating bikeshare research and practice in North America. Transp Rev. 2019;39(6):706-732. doi: 10.1080/01441647.2019.1649318. Epub 2019 Aug 2. PubMed PMID: 32981990; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7518518.

Kaufman TK, Rundle A, Neckerman KM, Sheehan DM, Lovasi GS, Hirsch JA. Neighborhood Recreation Facilities and Facility Membership Are Jointly Associated with Objectively Measured Physical Activity. J Urban Health. 2019 Aug;96(4):570-582. doi: 10.1007/s11524-019-00357-1. PubMed PMID: 31037481; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6677841.

Kaufman T, Rundle A, Neckerman K, Sheehan D, Lovasi G, Hirsch J. Neighborhood Recreation Facilities and Facility Membership Are Jointly Associated with Objectively Measured Physical Activity. Journal of Urban Health. 2019-4-; 96(4):570-582. doi: 10.1007/s11524-019-00357-1.

Hirsch J, Stewart I, Ziegler S, Richter B, Mooney S. Residents in Seattle, WA Report Differential Use of Free-Floating Bikeshare by Age, Gender, Race, and Location. Frontiers in Built Environment. 2019-3-; 5:-. doi: 10.3389/fbuil.2019.00017.

Mooney SJ, Hosford K, Howe B, Yan A, Winters M, Bassok A, Hirsch JA. Freedom from the Station: Spatial Equity in Access to Dockless Bike Share. J Transp Geogr. 2019 Jan;74:91-96. doi: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2018.11.009. Epub 2018 Nov 21. PubMed PMID: 31548761; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6756758.

Hirsch JA, DeVries DN, Brauer M, Frank LD, Winters M. Corrigendum to "Impact of new rapid transit on physical activity: A meta-analysis" Preventive Medicine Reports 10 (2018) 184-190. Prev Med Rep. 2018 Sep;11:312-313. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2018.08.011. eCollection 2018 Sep. PubMed PMID: 30210997; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6129964.

Hirsch JA, DeVries DN, Brauer M, Frank LD, Winters M. Impact of new rapid transit on physical activity: A meta-analysis. Prev Med Rep. 2018 Jun;10:184-190. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2018.03.008. eCollection 2018 Jun. Review. PubMed PMID: 29868365; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5984234.

Hirsch J, DeVries D, Brauer M, Frank L, Winters M. Impact of new rapid transit on physical activity: A meta-analysis. Preventive Medicine Reports. 2018 June; 10:184-190. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2018.03.008.

Johnson DA, Hirsch JA, Moore KA, Redline S, Diez Roux AV. Associations Between the Built Environment and Objective Measures of Sleep: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Am J Epidemiol. 2018 May 1;187(5):941-950. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwx302. PubMed PMID: 29547912; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5928457.

Johnson D, Hirsch J, Moore K, Redline S, Diez Roux A. Associations Between the Built Environment and Objective Measures of Sleep. American Journal of Epidemiology. 2018 May; 187(5):941-950. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwx302.

Clarke P, Hirsch JA, Melendez R, Winters M, Sims Gould J, Ashe M, Furst S, McKay H. Snow and Rain Modify Neighbourhood Walkability for Older Adults. Can J Aging. 2017 Jun;36(2):159-169. doi: 10.1017/S071498081700006X. Epub 2017 Apr 9. PubMed PMID: 28390449; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5423849.

Hirsch JA, Winters M, Sims-Gould J, Clarke PJ, Ste-Marie N, Ashe M, McKay HA. Developing a comprehensive measure of mobility: mobility over varied environments scale (MOVES). BMC Public Health. 2017 May 25;17(1):513. doi: 10.1186/s12889-017-4450-1. PubMed PMID: 28545433; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5445376.

Hirsch J, Winters M, Sims-Gould J, Clarke P, Ste-Marie N, Ashe M, McKay H. Developing a comprehensive measure of mobility: mobility over varied environments scale (MOVES). BMC Public Health. 2017-5-; 17(1):-. doi: 10.1186/s12889-017-4450-1.

Baek J, Hirsch JA, Moore K, Tabb LP, Barrientos-Gutierrez T, Lisabeth LD, Diez-Roux AV, Sánchez BN. Statistical Methods to Study Variation in Associations Between Food Store Availability and Body Mass in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Epidemiology. 2017 May;28(3):403-411. doi: 10.1097/EDE.0000000000000631. PubMed PMID: 28145983; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5378605.

Baek J, Hirsch J, Moore K, Tabb L, Barrientos-Gutierrez T, Lisabeth L, Diez-Roux A, Sánchez B. Statistical Methods to Study Variation in Associations Between Food Store Availability and Body Mass in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Epidemiology. 2017 May; 28(3):403-411. doi: 10.1097/EDE.0000000000000631.

Clarke P, Hirsch J, Melendez R, Winters M, Sims Gould J, Ashe M, Furst S, McKay H. Snow and Rain Modify Neighbourhood Walkability for Older Adults. Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement. 2017 April; 36(2):159-169. doi: 10.1017/S071498081700006X.

Hirsch JA, Meyer KA, Peterson M, Zhang L, Rodriguez DA, Gordon-Larsen P. Municipal investment in off-road trails and changes in bicycle commuting in Minneapolis, Minnesota over 10 years: a longitudinal repeated cross-sectional study. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2017 Feb 13;14(1):21. doi: 10.1186/s12966-017-0475-1. PubMed PMID: 28193281; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5307757.

Hirsch J, Meyer K, Peterson M, Zhang L, Rodriguez D, Gordon-Larsen P. Municipal investment in off-road trails and changes in bicycle commuting in Minneapolis, Minnesota over 10 years: a longitudinal repeated cross-sectional study. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. 2017-2-; 14(1):-. doi: 10.1186/s12966-017-0475-1.

Hirsch, J.A., Green, G.F., Peterson, M., Rodriguez, D.A., Gordon-Larsen, P. (2016) "Neighbourhood Sociodemographics and Change in Built Environment Infrastructure." Journal of Urbanism: International Research on Placemaking and Urban Sustainability, 1-17 DOI: 10.1080/17549175.2016.1212914

Hirsch, J.A., Winters, M., Clarke, P.J., Ste-Marie, N., McKay, H.A. (2016) “The Influence of Walkability on Broader Mobility for Canadian Middle Aged and Older Adults: an examination of Walk Score™ and the Mobility Over Varied Environments Scale (MOVES)” Preventive Medicine DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2016.09.036

Hirsch, J.A.1, Meyer, K.A.1, Zhang, L., Rodriguez, D.A., Peterson, M., Gordon-Larsen, P. “Municipal investment in off-road trails and changes in bicycle commuting in Minneapolis, Minnesota over 10 years: a longitudinal repeated cross-sectional study” International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 1joint first authors

Hirsch, J.A., Grengs, J., Schulz, A., Adar, S., Rodriguez, D., Brines, S.J., Diez Roux, A.V. (2016) “How Much are Built Environments Changing, and Where?: Patterns of Change by Neighborhood Sociodemographic Characteristics across Seven U.S. Metropolitan Areas” Social Science and Medicine, 169, 97-105. DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.09.032

Rummo, P.E., Hirsch, J.A., Green Howard, A., Gordon-Larsen, P. (2016) “In which neighborhoods are older adult populations expanding?: Sociodemographic and built environment characteristics across neighborhood trajectories of older adult populations in four U.S. cities over 30 Years” Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine 2. DOI: 10.1177/2333721416655966

Moore, K.A., Hirsch, J.A., Tomey, K., Mair, C., Sanchez, B., Diez Roux, A.V. (2016) “Neighborhood Social Resources and Depressive Symptoms: Longitudinal Results from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis” Journal of Urban Health, 1-17. DOI: 10.1007/s11524-016-0042-0

Hirsch, J.A., Meyer, K. A., Peterson, M., Rodriguez, D.A., Song, Y., Peng, K., Huh, J., Gordon-Larsen, P. (2016) “Obtaining Longitudinal Built Environment Data Retrospectively across 25 Years in Four US Cities” Frontiers in public health, 4. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2016.00065

Hirsch, J.A., Winters, M., Ashe, M.A., Clarke, P.J., McKay, H.A. (2016) “Destinations that Older Adults Experience within their GPS Activity Spaces: Relation to Objectively Measured Physical Activity” Environment and Behavior, 48(1), 55-77. DOI: 10.1177/0013916515607312

Hirsch, J.A., Moore, K., Clarke, P., Rodriguez, D.A., Evenson, K.R., Brines, S.J., Zagorski, M.A., Diez Roux, A.V. (2014) “Changes in the Built Environment and Changes in the Amount of Walking Over Time: Longitudinal Results From the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis” American Journal Epidemiology, 180(8), 799-809. DOI:10.1093/aje/kwu218

Hirsch, J.A., Moore, K.A., Evenson, K.R., Rodriguez, D.A., Diez Roux, A.V. (2013). “Associations of Walk Score® and Transit Score® with Walking in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.” American Journal Preventive Medicine, 45(2), 158-166. DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2013.03.018 Invited videocast found at: http://y2u.be/k-73mMirHIs

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