Description of Research Expertise

Eugenia South, MD MS is an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. South’s research focuses on how neighborhood context impacts health and safety in urban environments. She is interested in understanding the ways in which the physical attributes of where people live, work, and play influence chronic stress, cardiovascular and mental health, and violent crime. She worked with the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society to pilot a randomized controlled trial of vacant lot greening, the first prospective experimental analysis of a community greening intervention. This trial found that people felt safer after greening, a trend toward decreased violent crime, and physiologic evidence of decreased stress. This work resulted in several published manuscripts and has been featured in national media outlets including NPR, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and the Washington Post, as well as multiple international media outlets. Currently, Dr. South is developing several projects, including an evaluation of the impact of abandoned building remediation on chronic stress, and an evaluation of NatureRx, a park prescription program aimed at increased youth exposure to urban green space.

Selected Publications

Jacoby SF, South EC: "Redlining" Maps and Contemporary Firearm Violence Research: Is It Time to Ask New Questions? Annals of Internal Medicine 177 (5): 678-679,2024.

Nguemeni Tiako MJ, South EC: Lessons From an Urban Community Park Renovation Initiative JAMA Network Open 7 (4): e241405,2024.

Agarwal AK, Gonzales RE, Sagan C, Nijim S, Asch DA, Merchant RM, South EC: Perspectives of Black Patients on Racism Within Emergency Care JAMA Health Forum 5 (3): e240046,2024.

Burris HH, Yang N, Riis V, Valeri L, South EC, Ravel J, Elovitz MA: The Role of Neighborhood Deprivation in the Cervicovaginal Microbiota American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology : 2024.

Ashcraft LE, Cabrera KI, Lane-Fall MB, South EC: Leveraging Implementation Science to Advance Environmental Justice Research and Achieve Health Equity through Neighborhood and Policy Interventions Annu Rev Immunol : 2024.

Khazanchi R, South EC, Winkelman TA, Cabrera KI, Vasan A: Health Care Access and Use among U.S. Children Exposed to Neighborhood Violence American Journal of Preventive Medicine : 2024.

Khatri UG, Nguemeni Tiako MJ, Gebreyesus A, Reid A, Jacoby SF, South EC: “A Lack of Empathy:” A qualitative study of Black people seeking treatment for opioid use disorder SSM Qual Res Health 4 : 2023.

Gotschall JW, Zhao M, Wilson C, Moore Z, Ayeni V, Rosenbach M, South E: Philadelphia Towards Racial and Environmental Equity (Philly TREEs): how a medical school can advance health equity through urban forestry in Philadelphia, PA, USA Lancet Planet Health : 2023.

Dolin CD, Mullin AM, Ledyard RF, Bender WR, South EC, Durnwald CP, Burris HH: Neighborhood Deprivation and Racial Disparities in Early Pregnancy Impaired Glucose Tolerance Int J Environ Res Public Health : 2023.

Mayne SL, DiFiore G, Hannan C, Nwokeji U, Tam V, Filograna C, Martin T, South E, Mitchell JA, Glanz K, Fiks AG: Feasibility and acceptability of mobile methods to assess home and neighborhood environments related to adolescent sleep Sleep Health : 2023.

Academic Contact Information

University of Pennsylvania Hospital
Department of Emergency Medicine
3400 Spruce Street - Ground Ravdin
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Phone: 215-746-5609