Staff profile

Professor Sarah Curtis is Professor Emerita at Durham University. She is an internationally recognised specialist in the geography of health and wellbeing. Her scholarship explores how and why places matter for human health. Her work concentrates on socio-geographical conditions and processes that are associated with inequalities in health and wellbeing, and risks for physical and mental health, in different contexts,.

As well as contributing to theoretical development of health geography, her work has strong applied and international aspects. Her research has informed and contributed to health policy development and evaluation of health services in the UK, France, Russia, Poland, Canada and the USA.

Sarah Curtis was appointed in September 2006 as Professor of Health and Risk in the Geography department at the University of Durham. From 2012 to 2015 she was Executive Director of the Institute of Hazard Risk and Resilience, where she led strategic development of interdisciplinary research at the University, focused on diverse aspects of hazards and risks in the physical and social environment and how to build resilience to these hazards. 

Sarah has been fully retired since 2016 and continues to carry out collaborative research with colleagues at Durham University Geography Department (in her role as Professor Emerita) and with the Centre for Research in Environment Society and Health at the University of Edinburgh, where she is Honorary Professor. 

In 2014 Sarah Curtis was elected as Fellow of the British Academy, an independent national academy of Fellows elected for their eminence in research and publication. She is also a Fellow and and Chartered Geographer (Founder Member) of the Royal Geographical Society, Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences and Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

Sarah Curtis holds a BA Hons in Geography from Oxford University and DPhil in Urban and Regional Studies from the University of Kent. Before joining Durham University she worked as Professor in Geography at Queen Mary, University of London.

Recent Research Includes:

• Sarah has been advising a collaborative project, funded by ESRC 2018-2019, involving Universities of Edinburgh, Durham and Newcastle, working on 'Recession and Mental Health in Scotland: Do Personal or Community Factors promote Resilience to Labour Market Change?'. Professor Jamie Pearce at University of Edinburgh is the Principal Investigator.
• in 2017-18 Sarah was a member of the research team at Durham University which worked on Community Wellbeing as part of the ESRC funded What Works for Wellbeing Programme.
• Sarah was Principal Investigator for the Leverhulme Trust Programme on Tipping Points based in the Institute of Hazard Risk and Resilience and employing 9 PDRAs in various Departments across the University, which completed in 2015.
• She was Principal Investigator for the project ‘BIOPICCC - Built Infrastructure for Older People in Conditions of Climate Change.’ 2009 -2012 funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council under their ARCC Programme. This has published a toolkit for development of adaptation to climate change which has been widely cited as a valuable planning resource.
• Research on physical activity and wellbeing in schools (the ‘MOVE’ project) (funded by ESRC), for which Sarah is Co-I directing research by Dr Katie Thomson, PDRA in geography.
• health impact assessment of urban regeneration schemes, (for the Department of Health, and other agencies).
• development of healthy public policy (with agencies in Canada and UK).
• research on how the social and physical environment relates to well-being, resilience and health of adults and children (funded by ESRC and the Nuffield Foundation).
• research on therapeutic design of psychiatric health care settings (funded by British Academy).
• international collaborative work on migration, health and wellbeing (supported by ESRC).
• comparative research on geographical variation in psychiatric service use supported by the Office of Mental Health for New York State, USA. This work has been widely disseminated through her research publications.

Sarah has collaborated through research and consultancy with a number of organisations including local and national agencies in the English National Health Service; the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, England, the Environment Agency, the Cabinet Office Resilient Communities Unit, the Health Protection Agency; The Greater London Authority, the World Health Organisation; the Insitut National de la Santé et Recherche Medicale, France. She has served as: non-executive director of a NHS Community and Mental Health Care Trust; on the Advisory Board for the London Health Observatory; and as board member and advisor for the National Collaborating Centre for Healthy Public Policy, National Institute of Public Health, Quebec, Canada. She has undertaken review and advisory roles for various national research councils in the UK and internationally.

Sarah Curtis was the Senior Editor, Medical Geography, for the leading international journal Social Science and Medicine (from 2003 - 2012), and she undertakes work for national Research Council committees and evaluation panels in the UK and abroad and was nominated member of the National Scientific Council of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, France from 2010-2018. She is a Member of the Society of Social Medicine and a Registered Practitioner of the Academy for Higher Education.

Sarah Curtis is author of several books including: Space, Place and Mental Health (2010) Ashgate.

• Institute of Hazard, Risk & Resilience (IHRR)

• Built Infrastructure for Older People’s Care in Conditions of Climate Change (BIOPICCC)
• Built Infrastructure for Older People’s Care in Conditions of Climate Change (BIOPICCC)
• Extreme events and vulnerable people: Harnessing science to practice
• Geographical Variation in the Provision and Use of Health Services
• Migration, Health and Wellbeing: Comparative Perspectives from Britain and France
• Pathways of Housing Wealth and Well-being: precipitants and consequences of mortgage equity withdrawal in BHPS and HILDA
• Sources of Resilience to Adverse Social Environments
• Winners and losers in contrasting labour markets? Socio-economic and spatial inequalities in the population health effects of economic recession and economic growth, BUPA Foundation, £130,000 (2010-2014)

• 2015: Bringing wellbeing to community(£87250.40 from ESRC)
• 2013: Christopher Moyes MF PHD Nahid R(£53433.00 from Christopher Moyes Memorial Foundation)
• 2013: Christopher Moyes Memorial Foundation(£53433.00 from Christopher Moyes Memorial Foundation)
• 2012: Christopher Moyes MF IGRR Doctoral Fellowships(£173839.96 from Christopher Moyes Memorial Foundation)
• 2012: Christopher Moyes Memorial Foundation - Gift(£163800.00 from Christopher Moyes Memorial Foundation)
• 2012: Christopher Moyes Memorial Foundation - Gift(£163800.00 from Christopher Moyes Memorial Foundation)
• 2012: Differential acculturation and its impact on well being among Bangladeshi migrants living at different densities in the UK(£20233.46 from ESRC)
• 2012: Dissemination and evaluation of the prototype BIOPICCC toolkit(£25023.96 from Epsrc)
• 2012: Physical Activity and Wellbeing in Schools(£144339.15 from ESRC)
• 2012: Quality and Effectiveness of Supported Tenancies for people with mental health problems (QEST)(£5574.00 from NIHR)
• 2010: Evaluating the implementation of a new psychiatric inpatient facility(£168131.00 from NIHR)
• 2010: Tipping Points: mathematics, metaphors and meaning(£472569.00 from The Leverhulme Trust)
• 2009: BIOPICCC(£256926.10 from Epsrc)
• 2008: REVIEW OF RESEARCH EVIDENCE(£9820.14 from Health Protection Agency NE)
• 2007: MAPPING LINKS BETWEEN YOUNG PEOPLE(£60525.39 from The Nuffield Foundation)
• 2007: MIGRATION, HEALTH AND WELLBEING(£15898.26 from ESRC)

Available for media contact about:

• Health & welfare services: Health inequality
• Health & welfare services: Geography of Health

Authored book

• Bissell, J., Caiado, C.C.S., Curtis, S.E., Goldstein, M. & Straughan, B. (2015). Tipping Points: Modelling Social Problems and Health. Wiley.
• Curtis, S. (2010). Space, Place and Mental Health. Farnham.: Ashgate.
• Curtis, S. (2004). Health and Inequality: Geographical Perspectives. London: Sage.
• Curtis, S. & Taket, A. (1996). Health and Societies: Changing Perspectives. London: HodderArnold.
• Curtis, S. (1989). The Geography of Public Welfare Provision. London: Routledge.
• Aïach, P., Carr-Hill, R., Curtis, S. & Illsley, R. (1988). Les Inégalités Sociales de Santé en France et en Grande Bretagne: Analyse et Etude Comparative. Paris: INSERM.

Chapter in book

• Curtis, S. & Hoyez, A.C. (2012). Public Health and Migration. In The Encyclopedia of Global Human Migration. Ness, I., Bellwood, P., Gabaccia, D., Maty Bâ, S., Safitri, S. & Julca, A. Wiley Blackwell.
• Riva, M. & Curtis, S. (2011). Policy Responses and the Physical Environment. In Geographies of Obesity: Environmental Understandings of the Obesity Epidemic. Pearce, J. & Witten, K. Farnham, Ashgate.
• Riva, M. & Curtis, S. (2011). The Rural, Material and Social Context of Positive Health in England. In Wellbeing and Place. Atkinson, S., Painter, J. & Fuller, S. Farnham, Ashgate.
• Curtis, S., Riva, M. & Rosenberg, M. (2010). Health Geography in Public Health. In Companion to Health and Medical Geography. Brown, T., McLafferty, S. & Moon, G. Oxford Blackwell. 325-345.
• Curtis, S. (2007). Geographie sociale et geographie de la sante. In Geographie de la Sante: un Panorama. Fleuret, S. & Thouez, J-P. Paris.: Economica. 26-36.
• Curtis, S. & Cummins, S.C.J. (2007). Ecological studies. In Macro Social Determinants of Health. Galeo, S. USA: Springer. 327-348.
• Gesler, W. & Curtis, S. (2007). Application of Concepts of Therapeutic Landscapes to the Design of Hospitals in the UK: The example of a Mental Health Facility in London. In Therapeutic Landscapes. Williams, A. Ashgate. 149-164.
• Curtis, S. (2004). Social exclusion, health and health care; the case of the National Health Service in England. In Geographies and Moralities: International Perspectives on Development, Justice and Place. Lee, R. & Smith, D. Oxford: Blackwell. 79-82.
• De Campos, R., Congdon, P., Curtis, S., Gregory, I. N., Rees Jones, I. & Southall, H. (2004). Locality-level mortality and socio-economic change in Britain since 1920: first steps towards analysis of infant mortality variation. In The Geography of Health Inequalities in the Developed World: Views from Britain and North America. Boyle, P. J., Curtis, S., Graham, E. & Moore, E. London: Ashgate.
• Curtis, S. & Bebbington, A. (2004). Geographical variations in health and welfare and their significance for equity and efficiency in resource allocation. In Long-Term Care: Matching Resources and Needs. Knapp, M., Challis, D., Fernández, J.-L. & Netten, A. Aldershot: Ashgate. 199-218.
• Fagg, J., Curtis, S., Stansfeld, S. & Congdon, P. (2004). Neighbourhood influences on adolescent health in East London. In Featuring the Quality of Urban Life in Contemporary Cities of Eastern and Western Europe. Sagan, I. & Czepczyński, M. Gdańsk-Poznań Bogucki Wydawnictwo Naukowe = Bogucki Scientific Press. 117-124.
• Moon, G. & Curtis, S. (1998). Health and Health Policy in Europe. In A European Geography. Unwin, T. London: Prentice Hall. 291-295.
• Jones, I. & Curtis, S. (1997). Health. In Britain's Cities: Geographies of Division in Urban Britain. Pacione, M. London: Routledge. 218-243.
• Curtis, S. (1995). Geographical perspectives on poverty, health and health poverty in different parts of the UK. In Off the Map: the Social Geography of Poverty in the UK. Philo, C. London: Child Poverty Action Group. 153-174.
• Curtis, S. (1993). Contributions. In Dictionary of Human Geography. Johnston, R., Gregory, D. & Smith, D. Oxford: Blackwells. 241-243; 374-376; 489-490.
• Curtis, S. (1992). Social welfare as a dimension of regional development. In Regional Development in the 1990s: The British Isles in Transition. Townroe, P. & Martin, R. London: Regional Science Association. 251-256.
• Curtis, S. (1991). Residential location as a gateway to care. In Housing for Health. Smith, S., Knill-Jones, R. & McGuckin, A. London: Longman. 19-42.
• Curtis, S. & Hyndman, S. (1989). The need for change in information, organisation and resources: a study of housing dampness and respiratory illness. In Readings for a New Public Health. Martin, C. & McQueen, D. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. 203-213.
• Curtis, S. (1989). Community welfare services in the inner city: the case of Inner London. In Social Problems in the City. Smith, D. & Herbert, D. Oxford: OUP. 176-197.
• Mohan, J. & Curtis, S. (1989). The geography of ill-health and health care. In The North-South Divide: Regional Change in Britain in the 1980s. Lewis, J. & Townsend, A. London: Paul Chapman. 175-191.
• Bucquet, D. & Curtis, S. E. (1989). Decentralisation and sectorialisation of Medico-Social services for the elderly in France. In Géographie et Socio-Economie de la Santé. Paris: Centre de Recherche d'Etude et de Documentation en Economie de la Santé (CREDES). 3-12.
• Aïach, P. & Curtis, S. E. (1989). Croissance comparée de la morbidité déclarée en France et en Grande Bretagne. In Géographie et Socio-Economie de la Santé. Paris: Centre de Recherche d'Etude et de Documentation en Economie de la Santé (CREDES). 169-180.

Conference Paper

• Curtis, S. E. (2006), Evaluer l'impact sur la Santé des Politiques Hors du Secteur Médicale, Journées Annuelles de Santé Publique. Montréal, Quebec, Montreal, Quebec.
• Curtis, S. E. (2006), How can we address health inequality through healthy public policy in Europe?, Sixth European Urban & Regional Studies Conference. Roskilde, Denmark, Roskilde.
• Curtis, S.E. (2006), Development and persistance of human capability and resilience in their social and geographical context, Festival of Science. Institute for Research on Health and Society, University College, London, England, Institute for Research on Health and Society, University College, London.
• Curtis, S. E. (2006), Les facteurs individuels et sociaux associés à la santé mentale des jeunes adultes en Angleterre, Assemblée des Chercheurs Centre de recherche Léa-Roback sur les inégalités sociales de santé de Montréal, 9-10 November. Hôtel Mont Gabrile, Ste-Adèle, Laurentides, Htel Mont Gabrile, Ste-Adle, Laurentides.
• Curtis, S. E. (2005), La consommation des services en psychiatrie à New York City et à Londres: L'intérêt et des limites d'un perspective géographique, GEOIDE Congress. University of Sherbrook, Quebec, Canada, University of Sherbrook, Quebec.
• Curtis, S. E. (2005), People, places and health, Dahlgren and Whitehead and beyond: the social determinants of health in research, policy and service delivery. Institute of Society, Health and Ethics, University of Cardiff, UK, Institute of Society, University of Cardiff.
• Curtis, S. E. (2004), Les inégalités de santé une perspective géographique, Centre for Research on Contemporary Issues in Public Health (CRESP). University of Paris 13, Bobigny, France, University of Paris 13, Bobigny.
• Curtis, S. E. (2004), Varying use of mental health care among the populations of local areas in New York State, 1999-2001, Office of Mental Health for New York State. Albany, USA, Albany.
• Curtis, S. E. (2004), Les hospitalisations en psychiatrie à New York et à Londres, Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales. Paris, France., Paris.
• Curtis, S. E. (2004), Area and place effects on mental health and health care, Annual General Meeting of Psychiatry Section, Royal Society of Medicine. London, England, London.
• Curtis, S. E. (2004), The British NHS on the global scene: the importance of globalisation and new technologies for the NHS in Britain, London Society of Academic Primary Care Annual Meeting. Madingly Hall, Cambridge, England, Madingly Hall, Cambridge.
• Curtis, S. E. (2004), L'intérêt et les limites des analyses multi-niveaux pour mesurer les effets des lieux sur les inégalités de santé, Institut de recherche et documentation en économie de la santé. Paris, France, Paris.
• Curtis, S. E., Lucas-Gabrielli, V. & Tonnellier, F. (1998), Peut-on traduire RAWP en français? = Can RAWP be translated from English to French?, 5ème colloque geographie et socio-économie de la santé allocation des ressources, géographie des soins. Biblio no. 1242. CREDES, Paris, France, CREDES, Paris.

Edited book

• Bennett, P., Curtis, S., Calman, K. & Smith, D. (Accepted). Risk Communication and Public Health. Oxford.: Oxford University Press.
• Bennett, P., Calman, K., Curtis, S. & Fishbacher-Smith, D. (2009). Risk Communication and Public Health. Oxford University Press.
• Boyle, P. J., Curtis, S., Graham, E. & Moore, E. (2004). The Geography of Health Inequalities in the Developed World: Views from Britain and North America. London: Ashgate.

Journal Article

• Curtis, Sarah, Cunningham, Niall, Pearce, Jamie, Congdon, Peter, Cherrie, Mark & Atkinson, Sarah (2021). Trajectories in mental health and socio-spatial conditions in a time of economic recovery and austerity: a longitudinal study in England, 2011-2017. Social Science and Medicine 270: 113654.
• Curtis, Sarah, Congdon, Peter, Atkinson, Sarah, Corcoran, Rhiannon, Peasgood, Tessa & MaGuire, Rosie (2020). Adverse conditions for wellbeing at the neighbourhood scale in England: potential and challenges for operationalising indicators relevant to wellbeing in and of places. Wellbeing, Space and Society 100009.
• Atkinson, S., Bagnall, A-M., Corcoran, R., South, J. & Curtis, S. (2020). Being well together: individual subjective and community wellbeing. Journal of Happiness Studies 21(5): 1903-1921.
• Baranyi, Gergő, Cherrie, Mark, Curtis, Sarah, Dibben, Chris & Pearce, Jamie R. (2020). Neighborhood Crime and Psychotropic Medications: A Longitudinal Data Linkage Study of 130,000 Scottish Adults. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 58(5): 638-647.
• Baranyi, Gergő, Cherrie, Mark, Curtis, Sarah E., Dibben, Chris & Pearce, Jamie (2020). Changing levels of local crime and mental health: a natural experiment using self-reported and service use data in Scotland. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 74(10): 806-814.
• Killaspy, Helen, Priebe, Stefan, McPherson, Peter, Zenasni, Zohra, McCrone, Paul, Dowling, Sarah, Harrison, Isobel, Krotofil, Joanna, Dalton-Locke, Christian, McGranahan, Rose, Arbuthnott, Maurice, Curtis, Sarah, Leavey, Gerard, MacPherson, Rob, Eldridge, Sandra & King, Michael (2019). Feasibility Randomised Trial Comparing Two Forms of Mental Health Supported Accommodation (Supported Housing and Floating Outreach); a Component of the QuEST (Quality and Effectiveness of Supported Tenancies) Study. Frontiers in Psychiatry 10: 258.
• Curtis, Sarah, Pearce, Jamie, Cherrie, Mark, Dibben, Christopher, Cunningham, Niall & Bambra, Clare (2019). Changing labour market conditions during the ‘great recession’ and mental health in Scotland 2007–2011: An example using the Scottish Longitudinal Study and data for local areas in Scotland. Social Science & Medicine 227: 1-9.
• Curtis, S., Oven, K., Wistow, J., Dunn, C. & Dominelli, L. (2018). Adaptation to extreme weather events in complex health and social care systems: The example of older people’s services in England. Environment and Planning C: Politics and Space 36(1): 67-91.
• Williams, Laurence, Macnaghten, Phil, Davies, Richard & Curtis, Sarah (2017). Framing ‘fracking’ Exploring public perceptions of hydraulic fracturing in the United Kingdom. Public Understanding of Science 26(1): 89-104.
• Sandhu, Sima, Priebe, Stefan, Leavey, Gerard, Harrison, Isobel, Krotofil, Joanna, McPherson, Peter, Dowling, Sarah, Arbuthnott, Maurice, Curtis, Sarah, King, Michael, Shepherd, Geoff & Killaspy, Helen (2017). Intentions and experiences of effective practice in mental health specific supported accommodation services: a qualitative interview study. BMC Health Services Research 17(1): 471.
• Tymms, Peter, Curtis, Sarah E., Routen, Ash C., Thomson, Katie H., Bolden, David S., Bock, Susan, Dunn, Christine E., Cooper, Ashley R., Elliott, Julian G., Moore, Helen J., Summerbell, Carolyn D., Tiffin, Paul A. & Kasim Adetayo S. (2016). Clustered randomised controlled trial of two education interventions designed to increase physical activity and well-being of secondary school students: The MOVE Project. BMJ Open 6(1): e009318.
• Wistow, J., Dominelli, L., Oven, K.J., Dunn, C.E. & Curtis, S.E. (2015). The role of formal and informal networks in supporting older people's care during extreme weather events. Policy and Politics 43(1): 119-135.
• Wood, V.J., Gesley, W., Curtis, S.E., Spencer, I.H., Close, H.J., Mason, J. & Reilly, J.G. (2015). 'Therapeutic landscapes' and the importance of nostalgia, solastalgia, salvage and abandonment for psychiatric hospital design. Health & Place 33: 83-89.
• Wood, V.J., Curtis, S.E., Gesler, W., Spencer, I.H., Close, H.J., Mason, J. & Reilly, J.G. (2013). Creating 'therapeutic landscapes' for mental health carers in inpatient settings a dynamic perspective on permeability and inclusivity. Social science & medicine 91: 122-129.
• Curtis, S.E., Gesler, W., Wood, V.J., Spenser, I., Mason, J., Close, H. & Reilly, J. (2013). Compassionate containment? Balancing technical safety and therapy in the design of psychiatric wards. Social Science & Medicine 97: 201-209.
• Fagg, J., Curtis, S., Cummins, S., Stansfeld, S. & Quesnel-Quesnel-Vallée, A. (2013). Neighbourhood deprivation and adolescent self-esteem: Exploration of the ‘socio-economic equalisation in youth’ hypothesis in Britain and Canada. Social Science and Medicine 91: 168-177.
• Wood, V.J., Curtis, S.E., Gesler, W., Spencer, I.H., Close, H.J., Mason, J.M. & Reilly, J.G. (2013). Spaces for smoking in a psychiatric hospital: social capital, resistance to control, and significance for 'therapeutic landscapes'. Social Science and Medicine 97: 104-111.
• Riva, M. & Curtis, S.E. (2012). Long-term local area employment rates as predictors of individual mortality and morbidity: a prospective study in England, spanning more than two decades. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health 66(10): 919-926.
• Oven, K., Curtis, S., Reaney, S., Riva, M., Stewart, M.G., Ohlemuller, R., Dunn, C., Nodwell, S., Dominelli, L. & Holden, R. (2012). Climate change and health and social care: Defining future hazard, vulnerability and risk for infrastructure systems supporting older people’s health care in England. Applied Geography 33: 16-24.
• Cairns, J.M., Curtis, S.E. & Bambra, C. (2012). Defying Deprivation: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Area Level Health Resilience in England. Health and Place 18(4): 928-933.
• Curtis, S. & Oven, K. (2011). Progress Report: Geographies of Health and Climate Change. Progress in Human Geography
• Riva, M., Bambra, C., Curtis, S.E. & Gauvin, L. (2011). Collective resources or local social inequalities? Examining the social determinants of mental health in rural areas. European Journal of Public Health 21(2): 197-203.
• Riva, M., Curtis, S. & Norman, P. (2011). Residential mobility within England and urban-rural inequalities in mortality. Social Science and Medicine 73(112): 1698-1706.
• Riva, M., Terashima, M., Curtis, S., Shucksmith, J. & Carlebach, S. (2011). Coalfield Health Effects: Variation Across Former Coalmining Communities in England. Health and Place
• Curtis, S. & Riva, M. (2010). Progress Report: Health Geographies II: Complexity and health care systems and policy. Progress in Human Geography 34: 513-520.
• Coldefy, M. & Curtis, S. (2010). The Geography of Institutional Psychiatric Care in France 1800 - 2000: Historical Analysis of the Spatial Diffusion of Specialised Facilities for Institutional Care of Mental Illness. Social Science and Medicine
• Riva, M., Bambra, C., Easton, S. & Curtis, S. (2010). Hard Times or Good Times? Inequalities in the Health Effects of Economic Change. International Journal of Public Health
• Mindell, J., Biddulph, J., Taylor, L., Lock, K., Boaz, A., Joffe, M. & Curtis, S. (2010). Improving the Use of Evidence in Health Impact Assessment. Bulletin of the World Health Organization 543-550.
• Pabayo, R., Belsky, J., Gauvin, L. & Curtis, S. (2010). Do Area Characteristics Predict Change in Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity from Ages 11 to 15 Years? Social Science and Medicine
• Curtis, S. & Riva, M. (2010). Progress Report: Health Geographies I: Complexity theory and human health. Progress in Human Geography 34(2): 215-223.
• Curtis, S., Setia, M. & Quesnel-Vallee, A. (2009). Socio-Geographic Mobility and Health Status: a longitudinal analysis using the National Population Health Survey of Canada. Social Science and Medicine 69(12): 1845-1853.
• Curtis, S., Gesler, W., Priebe, S. & Francis, S. (2009). New spaces of inpatient care for people with mental illness: a complex "rebirth" of the clinic? Health and Place 15(1): 340-348.
• Curtis, S. & Riva, M. (2009). Health geographies II: complexity and health care systems and policy. Progress in Human Geography 34(4): 513-520.
• Riva, M., Curtis, S., Gauvin, L. & Fagg, J. (2009). Unravelling the extent of inequalities in health across urban and rural areas: Evidence from a national sample in England. Social Science and Medicine 68(4): 654-663.
• Curtis, S., Congdon, P., Almog, M. & Ellermann, R. (2009). County variation in use of inpatient and ambulatory psychiatric care in New York State 1999-2001: Need and Supply influences in a structural model. Health and Place 15(2): 568-577.
• Curtis, S. & Riva, M. (2009). Health geographies I: complexity theory and human health. Progress in Human Geography 34(2): 215-223.
• Curtis, S. & Hoyez, A.C. (2009). Franco-British Working Group on Migration Health and Wellbeing. International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care 4-19.
• Curtis, S. (2008). How can we address Health inequality through healthy public policy in Europe? European Urban and Regional Studies 15(4): 293-305.
• Fagg, J., Curtis, S., Stansfield, S., Cattell, V., Tupuola, A-M. & Arephin, M. (2008). Area social fragmentation, social support for individuals and psychosocial health in young adults: Evidence from a national survey in England. Social Science and Medicine 66(2): 242-254.
• Cattell, V, Dines, N, Gesler, W & Curtis, S (2008). Mingling, observing and lingering: Everyday public spaces and their implications for well-being and social relations. Health and Place 14: 544-561.
• Fagg, J., Curtis, S., Clark, C., Congdon, P. & Stansfield, S. (2008). Neighbourhood perceptions among inner-city adolescents relationships with their individual characteristics and with independently assessed neighbourhood conditions. Journal of Environmental Psychology 28(2): 128-142.
• Curtis, S., Pederson, A., Bruce, T. & Frankish, J. (2008). Pour des politiques publiques favorables a la sante dans le contexte de la preparation de grands evenements internationaux: l'exemple des jeux olympiques. Telescope 14(2): 95-105.
• Curtis, S. (2007). L'utilisation des politiques publiques pour promouvoir la sante: Quelques reflexions sur l'example de la planification du parc olympique 2012 a Londres. Reviews for Health Promotion and Education Online
• Curtis, S. (2007). Socio-economic status and geographies of psychiatric inpatient service use. Places, provision, power and wellbeing. Epidemiologia e psichiatria sociale 16(1): 10-15.
• Cummins, S., Curtis, S.E., Diez-Roux, A.V. & Macintyre, S. (2007). Understanding and representing 'place' in health research: A relational approach. Social Science and Medicine 66(2): 1825-1838.
• Curtis, S. (2007). How can we address health inequality through healthy public policy in Europe? European Urban and Regional Studies
• Curtis, S., Gesler, W., Fabian, K., Francis, S. & Priebe, S. (2007). Therapeutic landscapes in hospital design: a qualitative assessment by staff and service users of the design of a new mental health inpatient unit. Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy 25(4): 591-610.
• Curtis, S.E. (2007). Concluding commentary: Report from the eleventh international symposium in medical geography: a comment from the senior editor. Social Science and Medicine 65: 169-171.
• Warfa, N., Bhui, K., Craig, T., Curtis, S., Mohamud, S., Stansfeld, S., McCrone, P. & Thornicroft, G. (2006). Post-migration geographical mobility, mental health and health service utilisation among Somali refugees in the UK: A qualitative study. Health and Place 12(4): 503-515.
• Fagg, J., Curtis, S.E., Stansfeld, S. & Congdon, P. (2006). Psychological distress among adolescents, and its relationship to individual, family and area characteristics in East London. Social Science and Medicine 63(3): 636-648.
• Curtis, S.E., Copeland, A., Fagg, J., Congdon, P., Almog, M. & Fitzpatrick, J. (2006). The ecological relationship between deprivation, social isolation and rates of hospital admission for acute psychiatric care; a comparison of London and New York City. Health and Place 12(1): 19-37.
• Tonnellier, F. & Curtis, S.E. (2005). Medicine, landscapes, symbols: 'The Country Doctor' by Honoré de Balzac. Health and Place 11(4): 313-321.
• Rees Jones, I., Berney, L., Kelly, M., Doyal, L., Griffiths, C., Feder, G., Hillier, S., Rowlands, G. & Curtis, S. E. (2004). Is patient involvement possible when decisions involve scarce resources? A qualitative study of decision-making in primary care. Social Science and Medicine 59: 93-201.
• Curtis, S.E., Southall, H., Congdon, P. & Dodgeon, B. (2004). Area effects on health variation over the life-course: analysis of the longitudinal study sample in England using new data on area of residence in childhood. Social Science and Medicine 58(1): 57-74.
• Gesler, W., Bell, M., Curtis, S.E., Hubbard, P. & Francis, S. (2004). Therapy by design: evaluating the UK hospital building program. Health and Place 10(2): 117-128.
• Almog, M., Curtis, S.E., Copeland, A. & Congdon, P. (2004). Geographical variation in acute psychiatric admissions within New York City 1990-2000: growing inequalities in service use? Social Science and Medicine 59(2): 361-376.
• Mindell, J., Boaz, A., Joffe, M., Curtis, S. E. & Birley, M. (2004). Enhancing the evidence base for health impact assessment. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 58(7): 546-551.
• Asthana, S., Curtis, S. E., Duncan, C. & Gould, M. (2002). Themes in British health geography at the end of the century: a review of published research 1998–2000. Social Science and Medicine 55: 167-173.
• Curtis, S.E., Cave, B. & Coutts, A. (2002). Is urban regeneration good for health? Perceptions and theories of the health impacts of urban change. Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy 20(4): 517-534.
• Congdon, P., Campos, R., Curtis, S. E., Southall, H., Gregory, I. N. & Jones, I. R. (2001). Quantifying and explaining changes in geographical inequality of infant mortality in England and Wales since the 1890s. International Journal of Population Geography 7: 35-51.
• Almog, M., Curtis, S.E. & Fitzpatrick, J. (2001). La géographie du recours à l’hôpital psychiatrique en relation avec la pauvreté, et son intérêt à New York et à Londres. Technologie et Santé 45(1): 40-56.
• Curtis, S. E. (2001). Health in London. Area 33(1): 84-91.
• Cave, B. & Curtis, S. E. (2001). Developing a toolkit to assess the potential health impact of urban regeneration schemes. Promotion and Education 1: 12-16.
• Curtis, S. E. & Lawson, K. (2000). Gender, ethnicity and self-reported health: the case of African-Caribbean populations in London. Social Science and Medicine 50: 365-385.
• Curtis, S. E., Gesler, W., Smith, G. & Washburn, S. (2000). Approaches to sampling and case selection in qualitative research: examples in the geography of health. Social Science and Medicine 50: 1001-1014.
• Curtis, S. E. (2000). Statistiques microlocales dans le recensement de la population britannique: accès aux données pour la communauté scientifique. L'Espace Géographique 29(1): 37-41.
• Curtis, S. E. & Rees Jones, I. (1998). Is there a place for geography in the analysis of health inequality? Sociology of Health and Illness 20(5): 645-672.
• Congdon, P., Shouls, S. & Curtis, S. E. (1997). A multi-level perspective on small area health and mortality: a case study of England and Wales. International Journal of Population Geography 3: 243-263.
• Curtis, S. E., Petukhova, N., Sezonova, G. & Netsenko, N. (1997). Caught in the 'Traps of Managed Competition'? Examples of Russian Health Care Reforms from St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region. International Journal of Health Services 27(4): 661-686.
• Curtis, S. E. (1997). Les inégalités de santé en Grande Bretagne et en France: des approches géographiques diverses. Actualité et Dossier en Santé Publique 19: XXVIII-XXX.
• Shouls, S., Congdon, P. & Curtis, S. E. (1996). Geographic variation in illness and mortality: the development of a relevant area typology for SAR districts. Health and Place 2(3): 139-155.
• Shouls, S., Congdon, P. & Curtis, S. E. (1996). Modelling inequality in reported long term illness in the UK: combining individual and area characteristics. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 50(3): 366-376.
• Curtis, S. E. (1995). The geography of health and health care: a British point of view. Espace, Populations, Sociétés 1: 49-58.
• Curtis, S. E., Petukhova, N. & Taket, A. (1995). Health care reforms in Russia: The example of St. Petersburg. Social Science and Medicine 40(6): 755-765.
• Leibovici, D., Curtis, S. E. & Ritchie, K. (1995). The application of disability data from epidemiological surveys to the development of indicators of service needs for the dependent elderly. Age and Ageing 24(1): 14-20.
• Curtis, S. E. (1994). Les inégalités face à la santé en Grande-Bretagne. Courrier du CNRS 81: 168-169.
• Bryce, C., Curtis, S. E. & Mohan, J. (1994). Coronary heart disease: Trends in spatial inequalities and implications for health care planning in England. Social Science and Medicine 38(5): 677-690.
• Curtis, S. E. (1993). Geography of coronary heart disease in England. Health Education Journal 52(2): 72-78.
• Curtis, S. E., Bucquet, D. & Colvez, A. (1992). Sources of instrumental support for dependent elderly people in three parts of France. Ageing and Society 12: 329-354.
• Curtis, S. E. (1990). Use of survey data and small area statistics to assess the link between individual morbidity and neighbourhood deprivation. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 44: 62-68.
• Aïach, P. & Curtis, S. E. (1990). Social inequalities in self-reported morbidity: Interpretation and comparison of data from Britain and France. Social Science and Medicine 31(3): 267-274.
• Curtis, S. E. & Pindar, S. (1990). Explaining geographical disparities in educational achievement: a case study of East London. Espace, Populations, Sociétés 99-106.
• Curtis, S. E., Taket, A., Prokhorskas, R., Shabanah, M. & Thuriaux, M. (1989). Vers la santé pour tous dans la région européenne de l'OMS. Surveillance des progrès accomplis. II. Conditions préalables: bilan démographique et sanitaire. Revue d'Epidémiologie et Santé Publique 37: 295-317.
• Curtis, S. E. (1989). Les metamorphoses du National Health Service. Panorama du médecin 2910: 4.
• Curtis, S. E. (1989). The development of geographical information systems for locality planning in health care. Area 21(4): 391-399.
• Taket, A. & Curtis, S. E. (1989). Locality planning for health care. Area 21(4): 357-364.
• Curtis, S. E. (1987). The patient's view of general practice in an urban area. Family Practice 4(3): 200-206.
• Curtis, S. E. (1987). Hospital services for the elderly in London and Paris. Espace, Populations, Sociétés 1: 257-270.
• Bucquet, D., Colvez, A., Robine, J. M. & Curtis, S. E. (1987). Etude des facteurs liés à l'incapacité pour les taches domestiques chez les personnes agées en Ile de France: Application à la planification infra-régionale des services d'aide ménagère. Revue d'Epidémiologie et Santé Publique 35: 323-329.
• Curtis, S.E. (1987). Home help provision to the elderly in France and England: a national and metropolitan comparison. Revue d'Epidémiologie et Santé Publique 35: 141-150.
• Curtis, S. E. (1987). Self reported morbidity in London and Manchester: Inter-urban and intra-urban variations. Social Indicators Research 19: 255-272.
• Bucquet, D. & Curtis, S. E. (1987). Characteristics of elderly people using home help in three regions of France. Revue d'Epidémiologie et Santé Publique 35: 318-322.
• Curtis, S. E. (1987). Recent developments in the geography of health care in Britain. Geografie van gezondheid en gezondheidszorg = Geography of Health and Healthcare 34: 21-26.
• Bucquet, D. & Curtis, S. E. (1986). Socio-demographic variation in perceived illness and the use of primary care: The value of community survey data for primary care service planning. Social Science and Medicine 23(7): 737-744.
• Curtis, S. E. & Ogden, P. (1986). Bangladeshis in London: a challenge to welfare. Revue Européenne des Migrations Internationales 2(3): 135-150.
• Curtis, S. E. (1985). Le point de vue des experts: intervention de Me Sarah Curtis. 3eme Colloque National de Observatoires Regionaux de la Santé Actes de Colloque 189-193.
• Curtis, S. E. & Woods, K. (1983). Health care in London: Planning issues and the contribution of local morbidity surveys. London Papers in Regional Science 13: 57-77.
• Curtis, S. E. (1982). Spatial analysis of surgery locations in general practice. Social Science and Medicine 16: 303-313.

Report

• Curtis, Sarah, Congdon, Peter, Atkinson, Sarah, Corcoran, Rhiannon, MaGuire, Rosie & Peasgood, Tessa (2019). Individual and local area factors associated with self-reported wellbeing, perceived social cohesion and sense of attachment to one’s community: analysis of the Understanding Society Survey. What Works Centre for Wellbeing.
• Shucksmith, J., Carlebach, S., Riva, M., Curtis, S., Hunter, D, J., Blackman, T. & Hudson, R. (2010). Health Inequalities in Ex-Coalfield/Industrial Communities. A report to the Improvement and Development Agency for Local Government and the Department of Health.
• Mindell, J., Boaz, A., Joffe, M., Curtis, S. E., Taylor, L. & Birley, M. et al (2005). A guide to reviewing published evidence for use in health impact assessment. London Health Observatory.
• Curtis, S. & Cave, B. (2002). Regeneration and neighbourhood change. Health Development Agency, Queen Mary.
• Stansfeld S., Curtis, S. E. & Haines, M. et al. (2001). Rapid review on noise and health for London. A review to support the development of the Mayor of London's Ambient Noise Strategy. Departments of Psychiatry and Geography, Queen Mary.
• (2001). Health impact assessment for groundwork SRTS projects.
• Cave, B. & Curtis, S. E. (2001). Health impact assessment for regeneration projects. London, East London and the Health City Action Zone and Queen Mary.
• Curtis, S. E. & Ross, P. (2001). Changing healthcare provision for children in East London. East London and City Health Authority..
• Curtis, S. E. & Allen, E. (1991). Unified Commissioning Project. Barking and Havering Family Health Service Authority and Barking, Havering and Brentwood DHA..
• Curtis, S. E., Grant, L. & Daker-White, G. (1991). Prefeasibility study for the gate project: a literature review. Department of Geography.
• Curtis, S. E. (1987). Indicators of the consequences of chronic diseases and their use for planning purposes in England and Wales. EEC COMAC/HSR research project MR3 INSERM, Unite 164, Le Vésinet, Paris..
• Curtis, S. E. (1986). Area and individual aspects of deprivation and morbidity. End of Award Report to the Economic and Social Research Council, QMC Health Research Group..