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Stephen Hwang

MD, MPH

Scientist

Email: Stephen.Hwang@unityhealth.to
Tel: 416-864-6060 Ext. 5991
Twitter: @StephenHwang

Research Programs

Biography

Please note: Dr. Hwang is not taking any summer students.

Research Interests

Homelessness, housing as a social determinant of health, health care for homeless persons, marginalized populations, inner city health, urban health, socioeconomic status, access to care, community-based health care, health services research.

Research Activities

Dr. Hwang’s research program focuses on interventions to improve the health of people experiencing homelessness, and to interrupt chronic homelessness itself.

 

Recent Publications

  1. Karamouzian, M, Hwang, SW, Werb, D. Beyond encampments: an evidence-based path to solving Canada's homelessness crisis. Lancet Reg Health Am. 2026;55 :101362. doi: 10.1016/j.lana.2025.101362. PubMed PMID:41551298 PubMed Central PMC12805136.
  2. Wiens, K, Tariq, S, Reed, T, Bai, L, Ronksley, PE, Hwang, SW et al.. The Impact of Homelessness on Kidney Outcomes Among Adults With Diabetes. Kidney Int Rep. 2026;11 (2):103707. doi: 10.1016/j.ekir.2025.11.031. PubMed PMID:41550521 PubMed Central PMC12805024.
  3. Richard, L, Nisenbaum, R, Dyer, A, Mergarten, D, Brown, M, Stewart, S et al.. Identifying potential post-COVID-19 condition among people experiencing homelessness using longitudinal symptom patterns: A prospective cohort study. Public Health. 2026;252 :106148. doi: 10.1016/j.puhe.2026.106148. PubMed PMID:41548411 .
  4. Sankar, A, Ding, J, Black, B, Wilton, AS, Hwang, SW, Wijeysundera, DN et al.. Social Determinants of Health and 30-Day Mortality After Inpatient Elective Surgery. JAMA Netw Open. 2026;9 (1):e2553228. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.53228. PubMed PMID:41525072 PubMed Central PMC12797094.
  5. Tibebu, T, Balter, DR, Hwang, SW, To, M, Persaud, N, Juando-Prats, C et al.. The role of racial and socioeconomic status bias on medication prescribing practices: a qualitative study of family physician perspectives. BMC Prim Care. 2025;26 (1):391. doi: 10.1186/s12875-025-03106-3. PubMed PMID:41361378 PubMed Central PMC12683822.
  6. Sayani, A, Ladak, Z, Manthorne, J, Nicholson, E, Bloch, GC, Parsons, J et al.. Creating Safe Connections: A Co-Designed E-Learning Module to Advance Equity and Social Accountability in Preventative Primary Care. Adv Med Educ Pract. 2025;16 :1967-1979. doi: 10.2147/AMEP.S539091. PubMed PMID:41170293 PubMed Central PMC12571011.
  7. Persaud, N, Ul Haq, MZ, Buadu, A, Sabir, A, Sinha, L, Thorpe, KE et al.. Voucher for Healthy Foods and Diabetes Control: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2025;185 (12):1434-1441. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2025.5420. PubMed PMID:41114992 PubMed Central PMC12538504.
  8. Yan, H, Gallant, AJ, Delahunty-Pike, A, Langley, JE, Zsager, A, Abaga, E et al.. Addressing housing insecurity as a social determinant of health: A systematic review of interventions in healthcare settings. Soc Sci Med. 2025;384 :118557. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.118557. PubMed PMID:40946591 .
  9. Luong, LD, Mejia-Lancheros, C, Kouyoumdjian, F, Lachaud, J, Hwang, SW. Trajectories of Incarceration Over Six Years Among People with Mental Illness and Experiences of Homelessness: Predictive Factors Among Participants in a Randomized Trial of Housing First: Trajectoires d'incarcération sur six ans chez les personnes atteintes de maladie mentale et ayant connu l'itinérance-Facteurs prédictifs chez les participants à un essai à répartition aléatoire en marge du programme «Logement d'abord». Can J Psychiatry. 2026;71 (2):118-128. doi: 10.1177/07067437251372188. PubMed PMID:40899991 PubMed Central PMC12408537.
  10. Jenkinson, JIR, Moro, D, Dada, O, Pridham, KF, Cygler, J, Hwang, SW et al.. Implementing a hospital-based case management intervention for people experiencing homelessness: the navigator program. BMC Health Serv Res. 2025;25 (1):1006. doi: 10.1186/s12913-025-13170-1. PubMed PMID:40745606 PubMed Central PMC12312349.
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Affiliations & Other Activities

  • Scientist, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael’s Hospital
  • Staff Physician, Division of General Internal Medicine, St. Michael’s Hospital
  • Director, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Toronto
  • Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto
  • Professor, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto
  • Professor, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto