Author: Marynia

• December 2, 2025

  Understanding GIS and Health Geography in Dr. Kolak’s New Publication

  Dr. Kolak’s chapter on GIS & Health Geography provides a background on how health geography emerged and was shaped as a field when connected with GIScience perspectives and GISystems, generating new insight into health processes. This chapter updates the previous entry written by Professor Mei Po Kwan in 2014.
• November 2, 2025

  Join Us at APHA 2025: Visit Booth #1418!

  It’s not our first time presenting at APHA, the nation’s premiere public health conference, but it is our first time at the Exhibit Hall! Find us at Booth #1418.
• October 2, 2025

  Innovations in Mapping Health & Structural Drivers of Disease & Well-Being

  Our editorial team (Dr. Kolak with Dr. Yanjia Cao and Dr. Michael Desjardins, Ph.D.) is thrilled to share that the our Collection at the Journal of Maps has been released, built and carefully curated over the past three years!! 😮 🤯 Check it out now at JOM.
• June 6, 2025

  Seeking Postdoctoral Associate for 2025

  We are seeking a Postdoctoral Scholar at the Healthy Regions & Policies Lab (Dept of Geography & Geographic Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign). The postdoc will primarily work on an NIH/NIDA-funded project, the LOUD Study, that seeks to localize opioid use disorder response to increase medication access. Their work will focus on validating…
• June 2, 2025

  Global Heat Action Day

  Exposure to heat remains a global challenge as the leading cause of weather-related deaths. On Global Heat Action Day, take a moment to learn about heat stress and what you can do to minimize its effect. If you’re a resident of the City of Chicago, it’s also a great day to share your feedback in…
• November 14, 2024

  Geospatial Data Science in Drug Use Research

  Virtual NIDA Workshop on Geospatial Data Science Date: Tuesday, December 3, 2024 Time: 12-4PM EST (9-1PM PST) Register here | Agenda posted here Join the National Institutes on Drug Abuse in a virtual webinar to explore how we can harness the power of geospatial data science to advance our understanding of the epidemiology, prevention, and treatment of drug…
• November 1, 2024

  Access, Time, & the Social Determinants of Health

  The Health and Medical Geography Specialty Group (HMGSG) at the American Association of Geographers is thrilled to invite you to an upcoming online webinar! Join us for an hour of insightful discussion on a health geography topic of immense significance.
• October 31, 2024

  Building Data Equity #APHA2024

  Marynia Kolak, Keon Gilbert, Erica Walker, MSc, ScD, and moderator George Hobor shared insights on building data capacity at this year’s American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, improving data accessibility, and prioritizing community voice and engagement in the data collection process.
• October 21, 2024

  How does location impact access to Opioid Use Disorder treatment?

  Dr. Marynia Kolak, PI of the Healthy Regions & Policies Lab, will be presenting at the next Pittsburgh Medicine Health Services Seminar! Don’t miss these geospatial insights—register now to join us on Zoom this Thursday, October 24th at noon EST.
• October 3, 2024

  Who gets access to medications for opioid use disorder?

  HeRoP Lab’s director Dr. Marynia Kolak was a co-author on two studies recently published in JAMA Open. Both examined different dimensions of access to medications for opioid use disorder, for different populations.