About

John Elliott is an Associate Professor of Human Centered Design at Cornell University. His expertise encompasses three types of design literacies: visual literacy in design, material literacy in design, and ecological literacy in design. His research interests revolve around the concept of 'Nature inside,' exploring both theoretical and practical aspects. Theoretically, he investigates the material culture of the built environment that reflects societal values related to the natural world, with a focus on environmental ethics and aesthetics. He is working on a global history of environmental thought expressed through design and has authored book projects such as 'Opus Natura: A global history of thought about nature and the built environment' and 'The Art of Discovery: Contemporary Root Woodworking in China.' Practically, Elliott uses physical projects and prototypes to stimulate design discourse, serve as conductors for technological development, and exemplify commercial enterprise. His work includes producing studio furniture to raise environmental awareness, creating sculptures exploring relationships between people, trees, and buildings, and developing innovative wood-based structural systems like 'Triakonta' for disassembly and carbon sequestration. He has also engaged in material science research into the effects of carbon sequestration on concrete's structural properties, resulting in a carbon-neutral formulation with potential applications in civic works. Elliott emphasizes active participation in education, advocating for experiential learning in both classroom and studio settings, and provides advisement tailored to students' individual goals, considering social, environmental, aesthetic, and conceptual dimensions.

Research topics

• Computer Science
• Medicine
• Pathology
• Library science
• Medical education
• Internal medicine
• World Wide Web
• Psychology
• Psychiatry

Selected publications

• Feasibility and acceptability of modified MBSR for hospital employees experiencing stress during the COVID-19 pandemic

  General Hospital Psychiatry · 2024-03-13 · 2 citations

  letterCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• A proof-of-concept randomized crossover clinical trial of a first-in-class vasopressin 1a receptor antagonist for PTSD: Design, methods, and recruitment

  Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications · 2023 · 6 citations

  • Medicine
  • Psychiatry
  • Internal medicine

  Background: Almost eight million Americans suffer from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Current PTSD drug therapies rely on repurposed antidepressants and anxiolytics, which produce undesirable side effects and have recognized compliance issues. Vasopressin represents a promising and novel target for pharmacological intervention. Logistical issues implementing a clinical trial for a novel PTSD pharmaceutical are relatively uncharted territory as trials concerning a new agent have not been published in the past several decades. All published trials have repurposed FDA-approved psychoactive medications with known risk profiles. Our recruitment challenges are discussed in this context. Methods: An 18-week proof-of-concept randomized crossover clinical trial of a first-in-class vasopressin 1a receptor antagonist (SRX246) for PTSD was conducted. All participants received SRX246 for 8 weeks, the placebo for 8 weeks, and the drug vs. placebo arms were compared. Participants were assessed every 2 weeks for PTSD symptoms as well as other medication effects. Results were expected to provide an initial demonstration of safety and tolerability in this clinical population and potentially clinical efficacy in SRX246-treated patients measured by Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) score changes, clinical impression, and other indices compared to placebo. The primary hypothesis was that SRX246 would result in a clinically meaningful 10-point reduction in mean CAPS score compared to placebo. Discussion: This study is the first to investigate an oral vasopressin 1a receptor antagonist for PTSD. As a wave of PTSD clinical trials with new pharmaceutical compounds are beginning now, lessons learned from our recruitment challenges may be invaluable to these endeavors.

  PublisherDOI

• Appendix B. Structured Clinical Interview for Prolonged Grief Disorder

  American Psychiatric Association Publishing eBooks · 2023-08-03 · 1 citations

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• The Psychological Impact of COVID-19 on Medical Students Interested in Obstetrics and Gynecology [A57]

  Obstetrics and Gynecology · 2022-05-01

  article

  INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused mental health distress among health care professionals. This study aimed to evaluate the psychological impact of COVID-19 on medical students interested in obstetrics and gynecology at medical schools in two early epicenters of COVID-19. METHODS: This study was approved by the Weill Cornell Medicine Institutional Review Board. An online questionnaire was distributed to allopathic medical students in Washington and New York. The survey assessed mental health from March to April 2020 via the Patient Health Questionnaire, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire, and questions on self-rated mental health. RESULTS: Out of 1,139 students who completed the survey, 63 reported a plan to pursue residency training in obstetrics and gynecology. Forty-six (74%) reported an overall deterioration in mental health, 34 (59%) reported depressive symptoms, and 38 (65%) reported anxiety symptoms. Seventeen (28%) students met criteria for major depressive disorder and 16 (27%) for anxiety disorder. Twenty-three (37%) reported at least one close contact with symptoms or diagnosis of COVID-19 and 7 (11%) reported at least one close contact with COVID-19-related death. Commonly cited self-care tactics included staying in touch with friends/family (92%), entertainment (81%), and fitness (65%). When compared to the overall population of students, there were no significant differences in responses for students interested in obstetrics and gynecology. CONCLUSION: Students in this study experienced high levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms. Medical trainees are already at an increased risk for depression and anxiety relative to the general population, making it critical for medical schools to understand students’ perspectives and prioritize mental health.

  PublisherDOI

• The Psychiatric Consult

  2022-01-01

  bookSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Redesigning library orientation for first-year medical students during the pandemic

  Journal of the Medical Library Association JMLA · 2021 · 14 citations

  • Computer Science
  • Medical education
  • Psychology

  BACKGROUND: Prior to 2020, library orientation for first-year medical students at Weill Cornell Medicine took the form of an on-site treasure hunt competition. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the orientation for the MD class of 2024 was shifted to an all-virtual format. This shift mandated a full redesign of the library orientation. CASE PRESENTATION: The Samuel J. Wood Library sought to preserve the excitement and fun of the treasure hunt in the new virtual format. The competition was redesigned as a Zoom meeting using breakout rooms, with library faculty and staff serving as team facilitators. Tasks were rewritten, shifting the focus from the library's physical spaces to its virtual services and online resources. The redesigned orientation was evaluated using two data sources: a postsession survey of student participants and a debriefing of the library employees who participated. Student evaluations were positive, while the faculty and staff provided numerous suggestions for improving future virtual orientations. CONCLUSIONS: A successful virtual library orientation requires careful preparation, including testing the competition tasks, full rehearsal with library facilitators, and a thoughtful approach to technology and logistics. We have chosen to share the materials we developed for other academic health sciences libraries that may wish to take a similar approach to their own virtual orientations.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Mental Health of US Medical Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic

  Journal of General Internal Medicine · 2021-08-05 · 54 citations

  letterOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Chapter 14. Dermatology: Psychiatric Considerations in the Medical Setting

  American Psychiatric Association Publishing eBooks · 2020-03-04

  book-chapter
  PublisherDOI

• Beyond Graduation: Next Steps in Wellness

  2019-01-01

  book-chapter1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Early Career Physician Mental Health and Wellness

  2019-01-01 · 2 citations

  book1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Christian Umfrid

  Cornell University

  125 shared

• Alyson Gorun

  Presbyterian Hospital

  75 shared

• MD Janna Gordon-Elliott

  Cornell University

  50 shared

• Anna M. Kim

  45 shared

• MD Alyson Gorun

  New York Hospital Queens

  25 shared

• MD Alyson Gorun

  New York Hospital Queens

  25 shared

• Philip R. Muskin

  17 shared

• Leonid Kapulsky

  New York Hospital Queens

  16 shared

Awards & honors

• High-Volume Carbon Sequestration for Controlled Low-Strength…
• Triakonta25-WBC (Wingback Chair)
• Triakonta BB100: Dynamic Systemization Meets Big Bamboo
• Victus Acernis by Jack Elliott
• REDD+ Talks - Jack Elliott, Cornell University