Schaeffer Somers

Schaeffer Somers is a registered architect and assistant professor in Architecture and Public Health. His teaching and research focus on systems thinking to understand the relationships between health and the built environment and how design and policy impact social and environmental determinants of health. Among his coursework, he teaches “PHS 5621: Health Impact Assessment” (HIA), which educates students about the procedures, methods, and tools associated with HIA while systematically judging the potential effects of a policy or project in a community context. His students develop and execute HIA programs, culminating in a final report as a deliverable to community stakeholders.