Sean Cleary, PhD, MPH

Sean D. Cleary is an Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.

• Phone: (202) 994-5757
• Fax: (202) 994-0082
• Email: sphsdc@gwumc.edu

As a Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand, Professor Cleary worked with the Thai Ministry of Health in the Malaria and Filariasis Control Programs. After returning to the United States, he pursued graduate training at Tulane University in epidemiology, and then a doctorate at Columbia in psychiatric epidemiology. Dr. Cleary's current research focuses on using small-area analysis to explain disparities in premature mortality due to heart disease and in the incidence of end-stage renal disease. Dr. Cleary has published on adolescent risk and health behaviors and on family and community violence related to the onset of substance use and illegal activities. He is also interested in spatial analysis, structural equation and multi-level modeling.

In addition to his teaching and research responsibilities at the School, Dr. Cleary is director of the PhD Epidemiology Program, offered at GWU's Columbian College of Arts and Sciences. He also serves as an SPHHS representative on the Medical Center Executive Committee.

Education

Master of Public Health (Epidemiology), Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1990
Doctor of Philosophy (Psychiatric Epidemiology), Columbia University, 1996

Teaching

PubH 247-Design of Health Studies, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
PubH 252-Advanced Epidemiology Methods, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
PubH 403- Measurement in Public Health and Health Services Research, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Research

Dr. Cleary is principal investigator on a number of studies with the National Minority Health Month Foundation and co-investigator with the George Washington Institute for Spirituality and Health, including an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Spirituality and Medicine Education Program at the GWU Medical School. He was part of a group that reviewed epidemiologic studies of the MMR vaccine and autism for the Institute of Medicine Immunization Safety Review Committee.

Community Service

Professor Cleary is a peer reviewer for the Journal of the National Medical Association, a soccer coach and leader of a Destination Imagination team of fourth graders.

Departments

• Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Community Activities

• Effectiveness of Spirituality and Medicine Education Program at GWUMC
• The Hospital-Based Spirituality Initiative A Collaborative Project of The George Washington Institute for Spirituality and Health (GWish), Supportive Care of the Dying: A Coalition for Compassionate Care

Research Activities

• Canadian Spirituality and Medicine Curricular Awards
• Effectiveness of Spirituality and Medicine Education Program at GWUMC
• Geographic Variation of End-Stage Renal Disease Incidence in Minority Populations
• The Hospital-Based Spirituality Initiative A Collaborative Project of The George Washington Institute for Spirituality and Health (GWish), Supportive Care of the Dying: A Coalition for Compassionate Care
• Small Area Analysis of Premature Mortality in the U.S

Publications

• Relationship of body mass index, race, age, education, and income to self-reported health-related quality of life in middle-aged women.
  Stegon NR, Johnson-Taylor WL, Cleary SD, Young HA. Relationship of body mass index, race, age, education, and income to self-reported health-related quality of life in middle-aged women. Clin Ther 2003;25 (Suppl D):34.
• Cancer knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and practices (KABP) of disadvantaged women in the South Bronx.
  Carter J, Park E, Moadel A, Cleary SD, Morgan C. Cancer knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and practices (KABP) of disadvantaged women in the South Bronx. J Cancer Educ 2002;17 (3):142-9.
• High rates of autoimmune and endocrine disorders, Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and atopic diseases among women with endometriosis: A survey analysis.
  Sinaii N, Cleary SD, Ballweg ML, Nieman LK, Stratton P. High rates of autoimmune and endocrine disorders, Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and atopic diseases among women with endometriosis: A survey analysis. Hum Reprod 2002;17:2715-24.
• Temperament dimensions and health behavior.
  Wills TA, Cleary SD, Shinar O, Fegan M. Temperament dimensions and health behavior. In: Hayman LL, Mahon MM, Turner JR, editors. Health and behavior in childhood and adolescence. New York: Springer; 2002:3-36.
• Coping dimensions, life stress, and adolescent substance use: A latent growth analysis.
  Wills TA, Sandy JM, Yaeger AM, Cleary SD, Shinar O. Coping dimensions, life stress, and adolescent substance use: A latent growth analysis. J Abnorm Psychol 2002;110:309-23.
• Temperament related to early-onset substance use: Test of an indirect-effects model.
  Wills TA, Cleary SD, Filer M, Shinar O, Mariani J, Spera K. Temperament related to early-onset substance use: Test of an indirect-effects model. Prev Sci 2001;2:145-63.
• Epidemiologic studies of MMR vaccine and autism.
  Stoto MA, Cleary SD, Foster VB. Epidemiologic studies of MMR vaccine and autism. Washington, DC: IOM Immunization Safety Review Committee; 2001.
• Trauma, drugs, and violence among juvenile offenders.
  Crimmins SM, Cleary SD, Brownstein HH, Spunt BJ, Warley RM. Trauma, drugs, and violence among juvenile offenders. J Psychoactive Drugs 2000;32 (1):43-54.
• Adolescent victimization and associated suicidal and violent behaviors.
  Cleary SD. Adolescent victimization and associated suicidal and violent behaviors. Adolescence 2000;35 (140):671-82.
• Peer and adolescent substance use among 6th-9th graders: Latent growth analyses of influence versus selection mechanisms.
  Wills TA, Cleary SD. Peer and adolescent substance use among 6th-9th graders: Latent growth analyses of influence versus selection mechanisms. Health Psychol 1999;18:453-63.
• Testing theoretical models and frameworks in child health research.
  Wills TA, Cleary SD. Testing theoretical models and frameworks in child health research. In: Drotar D, editor. Handbook of research methods in pediatric and clinical child psychology. New York: Plenum Press; 1999.