Jonathan Sullivan, a new hire in the Nelson Institute through the RISE-EARTH hiring initiative, was among the authors of a nationwide study that analyzed how severe floods in the contiguous United States were linked to increased hospitalizations among adults over 65 for several health issues.
The study looked at over 4.5 million hospitalizations from 2000 to 2016 using Medicare data and satellite flood maps. Health impacts varied by community demographics, with areas that had more Black residents experiencing higher rates of skin and mental health-related hospitalizations, while nervous system-related hospitalizations were more pronounced in areas with fewer Black residents.
Sullivan is an assistant professor of environmental studies in the Nelson Institute. His research examines how the intersection of land rights, climate hazards, and human well-being shapes emerging injustices and inequalities in the wake of socio-political and environmental disruptions.
