Michael Desjardins, MA, PhD

Dr. Desjardins is broadly trained medical geographer and geographic information scientist. His current work focuses on examining gynecologic cancers,  utilization of Johns Hopkins’ Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center (SKCCC), breast cancer, colorectal cancer screening and stage at diagnosis; residential mobility’s impact on chronic and infectious disease outcomes; healthy ageing; prediction of Vibrio parahaemolyticus bacteria in estuarine environments; smoking cessation; adolescent and adult mental health; harm reduction (e.g., gun violence and substance abuse); and vector-borne disease transmission across the globe. Dr. Desjardins also substantially contributed to the COVID-19 literature with 11 published scientific papers since the start of the pandemic. He is the former chair of the Health and Medical Geography Group (HMGSG) of the American Association of Geographers (AAG), and currently serves as the Special Issues Editor for Health & Place; and serves on the editorial board of Cartography and Geographic Information Science. Dr. Desjardins also assists Dr. Curriero and Mr. Shields as co-instructor of Fundamentals of GIS, Spatial Data Technologies, Spatial Statistics, and Spatial Design and Application. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship in epidemiology with Dr. Curriero in May 2022 and has since transitioned to faculty.