Dr. Brown, a long-time friend of John DeFaro, shares his green insights with mutual support. Their early conversations often turned to the green canopy overhead; exchanges marked by a shared sense of purpose. John, the maker and gardener, and Scott, the investigator, bonded over careers and aspirations, committed to educating one person and one community at a time. Surrounded by lush greenery, they share a deep commitment to climate justice and solution initiatives. For both, the global warming crisis is ever-present, woven into their daily lives under Florida’s radiant sun as they advocate for ecosystem awareness and sustainable practices.
Dr. Brown is an environmental health scientist and Research Associate Professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of Miami (UM) Miller School of Medicine, with a joint appointment in the UM School of Architecture. He is a founding member of the interdisciplinary UM Built Environment, Behavior, and Health Group.
Over the past 20 years, as a Principal Investigator (PI), Co-PI, or Project Director, Dr. Brown has led over a dozen grants focused on the health impacts of the built environment on diverse populations, including children, elders, recent immigrants, and minorities. His broad background in team science, project leadership, and big data analysis supports wide-ranging, cross-disciplinary research. His work centers on assessing social determinants, including urban environmental policies, in relation to population health.
A pioneer in his field, Dr. Brown led his team in developing an innovative approach that combines U.S. Medicare data with high-resolution satellite imagery to study the effects of neighborhood-level greenness on 12 chronic conditions among roughly 250,000 Medicare beneficiaries in Miami. Among the most compelling findings: elders living in greener neighborhoods showed significantly lower risks of cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes. The data underscores what many intuitively feel: access to green space doesn’t just soothe the spirit, it helps extend and improve lives.
Dr. Brown’s interdisciplinary team includes experts in architecture, biostatistics, cancer epidemiology, exercise physiology, geography, medicine, neurology, nutrition, public health, and urban planning. He provides scientific leadership and manages day-to-day research and fiscal activities, ensuring that all projects meet rigorous standards.
Dr. Brown’s work brings together a dynamic team fueled by curiosity and care for the living world. In this collaborative space, each voice matters, and expertise becomes a shared offering. Together, they explore the overlooked and undervalued, bringing new light to the green places that quietly sustain us all.
Written for Green Religion by John DeFaro
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