About

Dr. David Abramson is a Clinical Professor at NYU’s School of Global Public Health and the director of the research program on Population Impact, Recovery and Resilience (PiR2). His research employs a social ecological framework to examine the health consequences of disasters, individual and community resilience, and long-term recovery from acute collective stressors. His work has focused on population health consequences, interactions of complex systems, and risk communication strategies associated with hurricanes Katrina and Sandy, the Joplin tornado, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, H1N1, and Zika, among other natural, technological, and man-made disasters. Before joining NYU’s faculty, Dr. Abramson was the Deputy Director at Columbia University’s National Center for Disaster Preparedness at the Earth Institute. In 2005, he launched the Gulf Coast Child and Family Health study, an ongoing longitudinal cohort study of over 1,000 randomly sampled Katrina survivors in Louisiana and Mississippi, which is part of the NIH-funded Katrina@10 Program. After Superstorm Sandy, he partnered with colleagues at Rutgers University, Columbia University, and the University of Colorado to conduct the Sandy Child and Family Health study, an observational cohort study modeled on the Katrina study. More recently, he was funded by the NSF and RWJF to study the risk salience of the Zika virus among the US population and women of child-bearing age. Dr. Abramson serves on two National Academies of Medicine panels related to public health emergency research and evidence-based practices. His background includes a decade as a national magazine journalist and certification as a paramedic. He holds a PhD in sociomedical sciences with a sub-specialization in political science and an MPH, both from Columbia University.

Research topics

• Political Science
• Medicine
• Business
• Psychology
• Family medicine
• Environmental resource management
• Geography
• Environmental science
• Computer Science
• Environmental planning
• Sociology
• Environmental health
• Law
• Gerontology
• Clinical psychology
• Public relations
• Demography
• Socioeconomics
• Medical education
• Economics
• Engineering
• Virology
• Internal medicine
• Ecology

Selected publications

• Rapidly Mapping Exposure Research Following the 2025 LA County Wildfires: A Public Health Extreme Event Research (PHEER) Network Response

  Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness · 2026-01-01

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  OBJECTIVE: Mounting evidence indicates a strong correlation between wildfire smoke exposure and health impacts, though limited studies have focused on urban fires or exposures other than smoke. The 2025 LA County Fires presented an opportunity to broaden this evidence base. METHODS: In response, the Public Health Extreme Events Research (PHEER) Network developed an ArcGIS Online health exposure map to curate and disseminate information about environmental exposure data collection activities across agencies and researchers. RESULTS: The map integrates data collection locations with publicly available datasets to reduce duplication of effort. PHEER also partnered with the University of Washington's Natural Hazards Reconnaissance (RAPID) facility to collect hyperspectral imagery for analysis. Concerns about sharing granular exposure data led PHEER to prioritize disseminating locations and types of data collected rather than the data itself. CONCLUSION: PHEER's approach provides a model for supporting rapid, ethical disaster research in complex urban fire contexts.

  PublisherDOI

• Long-term impacts of hurricanes on mortality among Medicare beneficiaries: evidence from Hurricane Sandy

  Frontiers in Public Health · 2025-08-06 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  Objectives Hurricane-related flooding has long-term socioeconomic effects on impacted areas; however, little is known about the long-term health effects on vulnerable, older residents who remain in impacted neighborhoods. We examined mortality rates among older adults who continued living in ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) impacted by flooding from Hurricane Sandy for up to 5 years after landfall. Methods We conducted a propensity-score matched, ZCTA-level ecological analysis post-Hurricane Sandy across the tri-state area (New York City [NYC], New York state excluding NYC [NY], New Jersey [NJ], and Connecticut [CT]). Using multivariable models, we compared all-cause mortality rates between matched flooded versus non-flooded ZCTAs for up to 5 years after Hurricane Sandy’s landfall, among Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) beneficiaries aged 65 years and older who remained in the same ZCTA from 2013 to 2017. Adjusted mortality rate ratios (aMRR) were estimated for each region, controlling for ZCTA-level demographic and socioeconomic factors informed by the socioecological model of disaster recovery. Results Before matching, compared to non-flooded ZCTAs, flooded ZCTAs had a higher average Area Deprivation Index (ADI) national rank (20.8 vs. 14.8) and a lower average median household income ($71,587 vs. $89,213). In the matched, adjusted analysis, the Medicare FFS beneficiaries who resided and remained in flood-impacted ZCTAs had a 9% higher risk of all-cause mortality up to 5 years after the event compared to the beneficiaries in ZCTAs not impacted by flooding (aMRR OVERALL 1.09, 95% CI = 1.06–1.12). Adjusted mortality risk varied across geographic regions. In NYC, ZCTAs impacted by flooding had a significant 8% higher risk of long-term mortality up to 5 years after the event (aMRR NYC 1.08, 95% CI = 1.02–1.15). CT also showed a significant 19% higher risk of long-term mortality up to 5 years (aMRR CT 1.19, 95% CI = 1.09–1.31). However, the results for NJ and NY were not significant (aMRR NJ : 1.01, 95% CI = 0.97–1.06; aMRR NY : 0.96, 95% CI = 0.86–1.07). Conclusion ZCTAs impacted by hurricane-related flooding had higher rates of all-cause mortality up to 5 years after the event, but the magnitude of this effect varied by region. These findings highlight the lingering destructive impact of hurricane-related flooding on older adults and underscore the need for long-term, region-specific disaster planning.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Exploring the psychosocial impacts of the 2015 Aliso Canyon natural gas blowout: Tracing an ‘invisible’ disaster through a novel Disaster Invisibility Framework

  Social Science & Medicine · 2025-10-25

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Peer-to-Peer Mental Health Training: A National Model for Peer Support for Medical and Dental Students

  MedEdPORTAL · 2025-06-24

  articleOpen access

  Introduction: Medical and dental students experience higher-than-average prevalence of depression, anxiety, burnout, and suicidal ideation compared to the age-matched general population. Early interventions for these students can prevent escalation to more acute mental health crises and suicide. Studies show that medical students first seek support from their peers. Our curriculum teaches students how to support both themselves and their peers prior to an acute mental health crisis. Methods: The authors designed, implemented, and evaluated a 90-minute peer-to-peer mental health training that aimed to equip first-year medical and dental students with skills and resources to intervene on behalf of a peer experiencing mental health distress. The workshop consisted of a peer-led didactic session, dyad role-play sessions, and a guided reflection. Resources included a slide deck, student handouts detailing the dyad role-plays, and pre/postsession surveys. Results: = .04). Discussion: Our results demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of peer-led mental health training to increase first-year medical and dental students' related knowledge and confidence in identifying and responding to peers experiencing emotional distress. The resources developed for this training can be adapted to provide foundational mental health training at other medical and dental institutions.

  PublisherDOI

• Hurricane Exposure and Risk of Long-Term Cardiovascular Disease Outcomes

  JAMA Network Open · 2025-09-03 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Importance: Hurricanes are associated with increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, yet little is known about whether these risks extend into the long term and for how long. Objective: To examine the association between hurricane-related flooding and CVD risk up to 5 years after landfall. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study included a 20% national sample of continuously enrolled Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries from New Jersey, New York City, and Connecticut from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2017. Data were analyzed from December 14, 2023, to June 20, 2025. Exposure: Residence in zip code tabulation areas (ZCTAs) impacted by flooding from Hurricane Sandy throughout the study period. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was the rate of ZCTA-level adjusted CVD events (including myocardial infarction [MI], heart failure [HF], and stroke), defined per 1000 beneficiary-years, with associated 95% bayesian credible intervals (bCrIs). Secondary outcomes included the rate of events for each CVD subtype (MI, HF, and stroke). Results: In the matched cohort, 121 395 beneficiaries resided in 690 ZCTAs, of which 441 (63.9%) flooded. In nonflooded vs flooded ZCTAs, mean (SD) age (74.2 [1.4] vs 74.1 [1.2] years; P = .16), proportion of female beneficiaries (61.4% [8.4%] vs 61.3% [6.6%]; P = .89), and proportion of White beneficiaries (74.3% [28.7%] vs 76.7% [26.8%]; P = .27) were similar, but ZCTA-level median income ($81 168 [$33 410] vs $69 650 [$27 594]; P < .001) and median National Area Deprivation Index rank (17.1 [IQR, 10.2-27.6] vs 21.0 [IQR, 10.9-32.5]; P = .02) differed; prevalence of CVD and CVD subtypes was similar at baseline. Flooding was associated with an increase in adjusted 5-year CVD risk post landfall (relative risk, 1.05; 95% bCrI, 1.01-1.08) and HF rates overall (relative risk, 1.03; 95% bCrI, 1.00-1.08). No significant difference was found in rates of MI or stroke in adjusted analyses. Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study of Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries, hurricane-related flooding was associated with increases in CVD event rates as long as 5 years after landfall and increased HF rates in New Jersey. These findings highlight the importance of place-based vulnerability from hurricane exposure to mitigate longer-term CVD risk and the need to consider long-term outcomes in hurricane mitigation efforts.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Predictors of mental health trajectories among adult survivors 10 years after Hurricane Katrina, 2005–2015.

  Traumatology An International Journal · 2025-09-01

  articleOpen accessSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• One year later: What role did trust in public officials and the medical profession play in decisions to get a booster and to overcome vaccine hesitancy?

  Preventive Medicine Reports · 2024-01-21 · 7 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Physicians may have an important role to play in promoting boosters as well as reducing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, but the relationship between hesitancy and trust in the medical profession and these behaviors has been underexplored. A representative online panel of 1,967 US adults that included oversamples of minoritized and rural populations were surveyed in April 2021 and June 2022 regarding their booster and vaccine status and intentions, their views of the medical profession, and their levels of trust in their own doctors, and national and state/local officials. Eighty percent of those vaccinated in 2021 had received a booster by 2022, while fewer than half of those initially reluctant to get a vaccine had gotten one by Wave 2 of the survey. Mean factor scores were calculated for response to a validated scale measuring trust in the medical profession. Linear and logistic regression models estimated the relationship between these factors scores and trust in other officials for those vaccinated as well initial hesitaters/refusers in Wave 1, controlling for population factors. Trust in one's own physician was associated with those vaccinated/eager to be vaccinated getting a booster, while trust in the medical profession was associated with getting a vaccine among those who had previously refused or were hesitant. Trust in other experts was not significantly associated with these behaviors, but wide confidence intervals suggest a need for future research. Innovative strategies, including mobilizing the medical community is needed to address reluctance, uncertainty, and distrust of therapeutic agents in pandemic response.

  PublisherDOI

• Adverse Effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill Amid Cumulative Disasters: A Qualitative Analysis of the Experiences of Children and Families

  Journal of Child and Family Studies · 2024 · 7 citations

  Senior authorCorresponding
  • Political Science
  • Sociology
  • Psychology
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Ethnic and Racial Disparities in Self-Reported Personal Protective Equipment Shortages Among New York Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic

  AJPM Focus · 2024-10-04 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  Introduction:To assess the association of race and ethnicity with self-reported personal protective equipment shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic among healthcare workers in New York. Methods:The COVID-19 Healthcare Personnel Study of New York was a prospective cohort study of HCWs with baseline data collected in April 2020 and follow-up data collected in February 2021.Multivariable logistic regression modeling was used to estimate the adjusted OR and 95% CIs of personal protective equipment shortages associated with race and ethnic minority status.Results: Healthcare workers of racial and ethnic minority status (n=361) were more likely than non-Hispanic White respondents (n=1,858) to report having experienced personal protective equipment shortages in the last week at baseline (36.0%vs 27.5%; p=0.001) and follow-up (13.6% vs 8.8%; p=0.005).With adjustment for demographic and clinical characteristics, racial and ethnic minority status was associated with 44% and 49% increased odds of experiencing PPE shortages at baseline (adjusted OR=1.44; 95% CI=1.10, 1.88) and follow up (adjusted OR=1.49; 95% CI=1.01, 2.21), respectively.Conclusions: Healthcare workers of racial and ethnic minority status in New York experienced more pervasive personal protective equipment shortages than their non-Hispanic White counterparts during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Framework for a Community Health Observing System for the Gulf of Mexico Region: Preparing for Future Disasters

  UNC Libraries · 2023-09-02

  articleOpen access

  The Gulf of Mexico (GoM) region is prone to disasters, including recurrent oil spills, hurricanes, floods, industrial accidents, harmful algal blooms, and the current COVID-19 pandemic. The GoM and other regions of the U.S. lack sufficient baseline health information to identify, attribute, mitigate, and facilitate prevention of major health effects of disasters. Developing capacity to assess adverse human health consequences of future disasters requires establishment of a comprehensive, sustained community health observing system, similar to the extensive and well-established environmental observing systems. We propose a system that combines six levels of health data domains, beginning with three existing, national surveys and studies plus three new nested, longitudinal cohort studies. The latter are the unique and most important parts of the system and are focused on the coastal regions of the five GoM States. A statistically representative sample of participants is proposed for the new cohort studies, stratified to ensure proportional inclusion of urban and rural populations and with additional recruitment as necessary to enroll participants from particularly vulnerable or under-represented groups. Secondary data sources such as syndromic surveillance systems, electronic health records, national community surveys, environmental exposure databases, social media, and remote sensing will inform and augment the collection of primary data. Primary data sources will include participant-provided information via questionnaires, clinical measures of mental and physical health, acquisition of biological specimens, and wearable health monitoring devices. A suite of biomarkers may be derived from biological specimens for use in health assessments, including calculation of allostatic load, a measure of cumulative stress. The framework also addresses data management and sharing, participant retention, and system governance. The observing system is designed to continue indefinitely to ensure that essential pre-, during-, and post-disaster health data are collected and maintained. It could also provide a model/vehicle for effective health observation related to infectious disease pandemics such as COVID-19. To our knowledge, there is no comprehensive, disaster-focused health observing system such as the one proposed here currently in existence or planned elsewhere. Significant strengths of the GoM Community Health Observing System (CHOS) are its longitudinal cohorts and ability to adapt rapidly as needs arise and new technologies develop.

  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• RAPID: An Evolving Risk Communication Challenge: The Risk Salience of Zika Virus Infection in an Environment of Shifting Scientific, Social, and Policy Uncertainty and Discourse

  NSF · $199k · 2016–2018

• Emergent Advocacy Coalitions and SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Hesitancy: The influence of beliefs and narratives on individual decision-making

  NSF · $660k · 2021–2024

Frequent coauthors

• Guohua Li

  Shenzhen KangNing Hospital

  72 shared

• Rachael Piltch‐Loeb

  70 shared

• Charles DiMaggio

  NYU Langone Health

  66 shared

• Christina W. Hoven

  Columbia University

  66 shared

• Ezra Susser

  Columbia University

  66 shared

• Howard Andrews

  Columbia University Irving Medical Center

  65 shared

• Jonah Susser Kreniske

  Weill Cornell Medicine

  58 shared

• Irwin Redlener

  51 shared

Education

• PhD, MPH, Socuomedical Sciences

  Columbia University

  2005

Awards & honors

• Columbia University Alumni Association Scholarship (2003)
• Eugene Litwak Prize for best doctoral dissertation proposal,…
• Columbia University School of Public Health Alumni Associati…
• Nyack Hospital Paramedic Program Valedictorian (1989)