About me
I am a physician with educational and early-career roots in Italy, in the field of preventive and community medicine. In 1996 I earned a PhD in Cancer Epidemiology at Uppsala University. After my graduation I have continuously engaged in the two worlds of research at KI and applied public health at the Stockholm County Council.
Since December 2012 I am adjunct professor in epidemiology at the Department of Public Health Sciences, research group Epidemiology and Public Health Intervention Research (EPHIR).
Research description
My research unfolds along three themes:
1. Epidemiology of tobacco use: consequences for health and determinants of onset and cessation, with special concern for youth populations. In this area, my major endeavour has been the BROMS cohort, a longitudinal study of more than 3000 children followed up throughout adolescence into adulthood 2. School environment’s influence on mental health among adolescents, a subject which is the leading track of my major project, a longitudinal study named Kupol 3. Intervention evaluation research, where I apply epidemiological thinking to the task of gathering evidence on “what works” to promote health and to prevent diseases. Some of these studies are funded and/or conducted in cooperation with public health authorities, above all the Stockholm County Council. Examples of this line of research are a systematic review of how school policy against smoking can affect the behavior among students; and a randomized controlled trial of brief advice for smoking cessation in dental clinics (FRITT study) Even if no longer a major commitment I like to “keep an eye” on my thesis subject, i.e. the etiology of thyroid cancer, on which I collaborate with other researchers.
Teaching portfolio
Since 2011 I am course leader for two courses in the Master of Public Health program, track Epidemiology, where I teach on methods of outcome evaluation of public health interventions. Other teaching moments I have been regularly involved in concern:
- The treatment of “missing values” in epidemiologic research, a lecture I usually hold for the Clinical Research School at KI
- Methodologic issues in studies of tobacco dependence
I have been the main supervisor for 5 PhD students, of whom three defended their thesis, and for a number of master students.
Education
- 1978 Degree in Medicine
- 1981 Specialist Degree in Communicable Diseases
- 1985 Specialist Degree in Hygiene and Community Medicine
- 1996 PhD in Cancer Epidemiology