Frank Elgar

Professor Frank J. Elgar, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at McGill University, where he is cross-appointed to the Institute for Health and Social Policy and the Douglas Institute in the Faculty of Medicine. He is also an Associate Member of the Department of Psychology and holds a Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in Social Inequalities in Child Health. His research integrates health psychology and social epidemiology, focusing on social and structural determinants of children's health, health inequalities, and the impact of school and family environments on youth mental health.

Prof. Elgar earned his PhD in Developmental Psychology from Dalhousie University, following academic and research positions at Cardiff University, the Welsh Assembly Government, the University of Manitoba, and Carleton University. His work explores how economic inequality, poverty, food insecurity, and school violence shape adolescent health outcomes, contributing to global discussions on child and adolescent well-being.

His research involves national and international collaborations, including the World Health Organization’s Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study, where he examines socioeconomic disparities in adolescent health across 43 countries. His studies assess how political, economic, and social contexts influence youth health behaviors, refining public health strategies to reduce inequalities.

Beyond his research, Prof. Elgar is actively involved in policy development and academic mentorship, collaborating with health organizations and government agencies to improve youth health policies. His contributions to peer-reviewed publications on adolescent health, social inequality, and mental health interventions continue to shape best practices in public health research.

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