Ellen Idler

Ellen Idler is a Professor in the Department of Sociology at Emory College and the Department of Epidemiology at Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University. She serves as Director of the Religion and Public Health Collaborative (RPHC), bridging interdisciplinary research in public health and religious studies. Her expertise spans religion as a social determinant of health, aging populations, and health disparities.

Education: PhD (Yale University), MA (Rutgers University), BA (College of Wooster).

Research Interests: Idler explores how religious participation and spiritual practices influence health outcomes, particularly in aging populations. She investigates pathways linking religion to mortality, advance care planning, and healthcare access. Her work addresses intersections of spirituality, public policy, and clinical care, with a focus on marginalized groups and end-of-life care.

Recent Trends in Publications: Recent work examines barriers to kidney transplants, the role of religion in pandemic responses, and self-rated health metrics across age cohorts. Her 2024 studies highlight spiritual health consultations' impact on mental health and the moral economies shaping dialysis patients' decisions.

Awards and Grants: No scientific awards explicitly listed, but her collaborative roles indicate substantial grant-funded research. She has pioneered courses like 'Religion and Public Health' and 'Epidemiology of Aging Populations.'

Labs/Teams: Leads the Religion and Public Health Collaborative (RPHC), fostering interdisciplinary research on spirituality's role in public health challenges.