Paul Draus, PhD

Paul Draus’s global health focus centers on the potential for local environments to promote quality of life and community health—whether through behavioral or educational interventions or changes to urban infrastructure. He is particularly interested in nature-based solutions and culturally rooted practices for advancing health and well-being. His interests in global health equity align with the Center’s themes of strengthening systems for health and addressing social and environmental determinants of health. Draus’s research has focused on local efforts to improve urban conditions in response to environmental degradation and historical trauma. He has published and is conducting ongoing work examining urban environments in Detroit, Berlin, Poland, Lithuania, and Rwanda, and maintains active collaborations in Eastern and Central Europe, as well as strong partnerships in Rwanda and ongoing engagement in Detroit.