Dr. Benjamin C. Amick III

Associate Scientific Director and Senior Scientist

PhD, Social Epidemiology, The Johns Hopkins University

Dr. Benjamin C. Amick III has long been attracted to research. He became focused on issues of health and safety as an undergraduate, when he developed a specific interest in work stress as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. “I thought it was an important and understudied area,” he says.

Today, Dr. Amick is a professor of behavioural sciences and epidemiology at the University of Texas School of Public Health. He specializes in using social science theories and methods to better understand the causes of illness and disease in society. “I’m interested in finding ways to create public policy to address social inequalities and public health issues,” he says.

In 2007, Dr. Amick was appointed scientific director of the Institute for Work & Health. An adjunct scientist with the organization since 1996, he was already familiar with the Institute’s research and its scientific staff. But he had never been to Toronto. His flight from Houston arrived in the middle of a full-blown snowstorm, in January.

“I love Toronto,” he insists. “The people are friendly and I’ve really started to enjoy watching hockey. But I do miss the warm weather and the many wonderful public golf courses in Texas.”

As associate scientific director, he provides guidance to scientific staff while continuing to perform his own research. He is currently investigating how organizations can change or improve their programs and policies to prevent injury and manage disability. He is also studying successful initiatives to improve health and safety from within organizations.

For Dr. Amick, the Institute has been the perfect place to conduct this research.

“A big part of our research is creating products that people can use in practice,” he explains. “Knowledge transfer, or the translation of research into practice, is something the Institute does better than anyone else.”