Mikael Rostila

Mikael Rostila is a Professor of Public Health Science and former Associate Professor of Sociology at Stockholm University's Department of Public Health Sciences. He served as Head of the Department from 2018–2023 and Director of the Centre for Health Equity Studies (CHESS) from 2016–2018. His research focuses on health inequalities, social determinants of health, and migration-related health disparities.

Key research interests include the health impacts of social networks, parental bereavement, and the social determinants of health among migrant populations. He has authored influential works such as Den Orättvisa Hälsan (2012) and Social Capital and Health Inequality in European Welfare States (2013). His recent studies address disparities in COVID-19 outcomes among immigrant groups and the long-term health consequences of bereavement.

Rostila’s work combines epidemiological methods with sociological perspectives, often using large-scale Swedish register data. His projects include investigating the unintended health consequences of parental leave policies and the health implications of childhood bereavement across lifespans.

His contributions span over 50 peer-reviewed articles and books, emphasizing health equity and policy interventions to reduce socioeconomic disparities. He collaborates internationally, including studies on long-COVID disparities in Europe and North America.