By Alena Kuzub
What do cancer and heart disease have in common with gun violence?
From a public health perspective, Northeastern University professor Matthew Miller says, avoiding any of them begins with understanding their root causes.
“Epidemiology helps us understand how to think about causation,” says Miller, an expert on injury and violence prevention. “By shedding light on the causes, one can then think about how to prevent the outcomes that you want to avoid and promote those that you want to see more of.”
Miller has devoted more than 25 years of his career to studying firearm-related injury and violence. His rigorous research has established a clear causal link between firearm availability and increased risks of suicide, homicide, and unintentional injuries and deaths.
In recognition of his contributions to research, teaching and public health service, Northeastern recently named Miller a university distinguished professor of health sciences and epidemiology.
This appointment follows his election to the National Academy of Medicine in November for his “foundational epidemiological research on firearm access and suicide” that “enhanced our understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of suicide prevention via lethal means restrictions.”
