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Dr. Sean Doherty grew up in Kitchener-Waterloo and is a proud graduate of St. Jerome’s highschool and the universities of Waterloo (BES and MA in Geography) and Toronto (PhD Civil Engineering, 1998). He has 30+ years of teaching and research experience.
Professor Doherty loves to engage students in the classroom using novel methods such as team-based learning, and has led exciting field camps for students to places such as the Peru, the Rockies, and Pinery Provincial Park. He will talk your ear off about cooking, brewing and playing hockey. He is also a devoted family man, regularly serves as a volunteer chef in the community, and is founder and chair of an award winning local charity (kwlegacy.ca).
Professor Doherty's research has transitioned from urban/transport to health geography. He is exploring some rather novel questions:
- Can a smartphone be a health device?
- How are parks making us healthier?
- Does your blood glucose vary over space?
- Can text messages make you eat more local foods?
He is especially interested in body-based sensors such as GPS and accelerometers, which are dramatically changing Geomatics, and leading to breakthroughs in our understanding of exposure to risks and disease.
- President’s Community Impact Awards, University of Waterloo, 2020. “KW Legacy Leaders”, . Awarded to all members of KW Legacy (non-profit, for which I am chair) for their extraordinary work within the community.
- Chef of the Year, Real Men Can Cook, 2013.
- Merit Award, for exceptional performance of duties, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019.
- Fred Burggraf Award, recognizing excellence in transportation research, 2006.
- MacLeans Magazine Popular Prof, 2005.
- Lady Davis Visiting Professor Fellowship, 2005.
- Postdoctoral Fellowship, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, 1998-2000.
Professor Doherty takes on a limited number of Masters and PhD students in a variety of human-health geography related fields.
For a full list of publications, see Professor Doherty's Google Scholars page at .
Recent Publications
Woods, N.*, Seabrook, J., Haines, J., Stranges, S., Minaker, L., O'Connor, C., Doherty, S., and Gilliland, J. 2023. Breakfast Consumption and Diet Quality of Teens in Southwestern Ontario. Current Developments in Nutrition 7(2): 1-11. In print Feb 2023.
Wray, A.*, Martin, G., Doherty, S., and Gilliland, J. 2023. Analyzing differences between spatial exposure estimation methods: a case study of outdoor food and beverage advertising in London, Canada. Health & Place 79: 1-10. . In print Jan 2023. Available online 31 July 31, 2021. Accepted July 26, 2021.
Mock, S., Halpenny, E., Koroll, R., Blye, C-J., Eagles, P., Flannery, D., Lemieux, C., and Doherty, S. 2022. Factors Affecting Psychological Commitment and Loyalty to Parks and Other Forms of Protected Areas in Canada. Journal of Ecotourism: 22(1): 120-143. In print June 3, 2022.
Brady, R.*, Lemieux, C., and Doherty, S. 2022. Visitor Perceptions and Behaviours Related to Ticks and Lyme Disease Risk in an Ontario Protected Area. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism: Volume 39 (Sept 2022): Article 100515. Accepted Mar 30, 2022. In print Sept 2022. .
Buttazzoni, A.*, Doherty, S. and Minaker, L. 2022. How do urban environments affect youth mental health? A novel conceptual framework to bridge public health, planning, and neurourbanism. Public Health Reports: 137(1): 48–61. . In print Jan/Feb 2022; First published on-line ahead of print Feb 9, 2021.
Piscitelli, A.*, Doherty, S. T., and Francis, S. 2021. Distinct places to address intimate partner violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence 36 (15-16): 7625–7644. . August 2021. Article first published online March 20, 2019.
Brown, R.*, Seabrook, J.*, Stranges, S., Clark, A., Haines, J., O'Connor, C., Doherty, S., and Gilliland, J. 2021. Examining the Correlates of Adolescent Food and Nutrition Knowledge. Nutrients 13(6), 2044. Submitted May 18, Accepted June 10, Published June 15, 2021.
Aversa, J.*, Hernandez, T. and Doherty, S. 2021. Incorporating Big Data within Retail Organizations: A Case Study Approach. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services. Volume 60 (May 2021); 1-9. Article 102447. . First available online January 18, 2021.
Reining, C.*, Lemieux, C.J., and Doherty, S. T., 2021. Linking restorative human health outcomes to protected area ecosystem diversity and integrity, Journal of Environmental Planning and Management 64(13): 2300-2325. . First published online Feb 3, 2021.
Glista, D., O’Hagan, R., Cornelisse, L., Shah, T., Hayes, D., Doherty, S., Gilliland J., and Scollie S. 2020. Combining Passive and Interactive Techniques in Tracking Auditory Ecology in Hearing Aid Use: A Pilot Study Incorporating Acoustic, Place-Based and Experience Sampling Methods. Canadian Audiologist, 7(5). . Published May 4, 2020.
Aversa, J., Hernandez, T. and Doherty, S. 2020. Spatial Big Data and Retail Location Decision Making: Opportunities and Challenges. In Regional Intelligence: Spatial Analysis and Anthropogenic Regional Challenges in the Digital Age. Edited by Eric Vaz, pp 205-224, Heidelberg: Springer. First Online 17 March 2020.
Mills, B., Andrey, J., Doherty, S., Doberstein, B., and Yessis, J. 2020. Winter storms and fall-related injuries: Is it safer to walk than to drive? Weather, Climate & Society 12 (3): 421–434. . Published in print July 1, 2020, on-line May 13, 2020.
Piscitelli, A, and Doherty, S. T., 2019. The Social Disorganization of Intimate Partner Violence. Journal of Community Safety and Well Being 4(2): 37-41. .
Mills, B., Andrey, J., Doberstein, B., Doherty, S., and Yessis, J. 2019. Changing patterns of motor vehicle collision risk during winter storms: A new look at a pervasive problem. Accident Analysis and Prevention 127: 186-197. .
Aversa, J., Doherty, S. and Hernandez, T. 2018. Big Data Analytics: The New Boundaries of Retail Location Decision Making. Papers in Applied Geography. Volume 4(4): 390-408.
Vitale, M. and Doherty, S. 2018. Lifestyle and Weight Changes Among Immigrants in Canada. International Journal of Migration, Health, and Social Care 14(4): 439-454.
Piscitelli, A, and Doherty, S. T., 2018. Connecting Social Disorganization to Broken Windows and Routine Activities. The Canadian Geographer 62(4): 589–596.
Quinlan-Cutler, S., Doherty, S., and Carmichael, B. 2018. The Experience Sampling Method: Examining its use and potential in tourism experience research. Current Issues in Tourism 21(9): 1052-1074.
Piscitelli, A, Harrison, J., Doherty, S. T., and Carmichael, B. 2017. Older adults casino gambling behavior and their attitudes toward new casino development. The International Journal of Aging and Human Development 84(4): 415–430.
Mock, S., M. Havitz, C.J. Lemieux, P.D. Flannery, P.F.J. Eagles, and S.T. Doherty. 2016. The contribution of parks commitment and motivations to well-being. Journal of Parks and Recreation Administration 34(3): 83-98.
Lemieux, C.J., Doherty, S. T., Eagles, P. F. J., Groulx, M. W., Hvenegaard, G. T., Gould, J., Nisbet, E., and Romagosa, F*. 2016. Policy and Management Recommendations Informed by the Health Benefits of Visitor Experiences in Alberta’s Protected Areas. Journal of Parks and Recreation Administration 34(1): 24-52.
McKeever, P., Dunn, J., Yantzi, N., Aslam, H., Doherty, S., Ruddick, S., Young, N., and Scott, H. 2015. The Development of an Ethnography-based Accessibility Survey With and for Disabled Children. Journal of Ethnographic and Qualitative Research 10(2): 69-86.
Gilliland, J. A., Sadler, R.C., Clark, A. F., O'Connor, C., Milczarek, M. and Doherty, S.T. 2015. Using a smartphone application to promote healthy dietary behaviours and local food consumption. BioMed Research International. Volume 2015, Article ID 841368, 11 pages.
Smith, W.*, Li, X., Pan, B., Witte, M., and Doherty, S. T. 2015. Tracking destination image across the trip experience with smartphone technology. Tourism Management 48: 113-122.
Quinlan-Cutler, S., Doherty, S., and Carmichael, B. 2015. Immediacy, photography and memory: The tourist experience of Machu Picchu. In World Heritage, Tourism and Identity. Edited by L. Bourdeau, M. Gravaroi-Barbas and M. Robinson, pp 131-145. Surrey, UK: Ashgate Publishing. .
Canally, C.*, Doherty, S. T., and Doran, D. 2015. Using integrated bio-physiotherapy informatics in home healthcare settings: A qualitative analysis of a point-of-care decision support system. Health Informatics Journal. Vol 21(2): 149-58.
*Students
- Introduction to Human Geography (GG 102)
- Thesis Preparation (GESC 360)
- Third Year Field Studies (GESC 399)
- Fourth Year Field Studies (GESC 451), Peru, Rockies
- Geographic Information and Analysis (GESC 254)
- Geographic Research Methods (GESC 258)
- Marketing Geography (GG 366)
- Human Activity and Travel Behaviour (GG 624)
- Mobility and Health Analysis (GG 675Z)
- Urban Economic Geography (GG 260)
- Human Activity and Travel Behaviour (GG 624)
- Transit Spatial Decision Making (GG 675)
- Agent-based Simulation of Maritime Traffic (GG 675)
- Mobility & Health Analysis (GG 675Z)
- Modern Retail Consumer Behaviour (GG 675U)
Co-Applicant, Parks Canada, General Class Contributions Program “ParkSeek: Understanding the access and quality dimensions of parks and recreational facilities in Canada”. Principal Investigator: Christopher Lemieux. Co-Applicants: Jason Gilliland, and Catherine Reining. 2022. $200,000.
Co-Applicant, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Project Grant “Urban environments and youth mental health: examining how adolescent mental health indicators are associated with urban design and cognitive architecture in a mid-sized Ontario city”. Principal Investigator: Leia Minaker (Nominal PI, U Waterloo), Jennifer Dean, Colin Ellard, Rob Feick. 2021-2024. Total Grant $100,000.
Partner, Public Health Agency of Canada, Enhanced Surveillance for Chronic Disease Program, “ParkSeek: Understanding the access and quality dimensions of parks and recreational facilities in Canada”. Chris Lemieux, Dawn Carr, Don Carrathurs, Matthew Adams, Mariana Brussoni, John Fleming, Pierre Gauthier, Jason Gilliland (Applying Unit, Western, Human Environments Analysis Lab), Bryan Grimwood, Mark Groulx, Jinhyung Lee, Harvey Lemelin, Jed Long, Daniel Rainham, Beverly Sandalack, Trish Tucker, Paul Villeneuve. 2020-2024, $995,697.
Co-Investigator, , Project Grant “Food Retail Environment Surveillance for Health and Economic Resiliency: FRESHER Ontario”. Jason Gilliland (PI, Western), Robert Andersen, Godwin Arku, John Fleming, Jess Haines, Anders Holm, Leia Minaker, Jamie Seabrook. 2020-2022. Total Grant $114,460.
Co-Investigator, Canadian Institutes of Health Research(CIHR), Project Grant “Evaluation of a Smartphone Based Intervention for Improving Food Literacy, Food Purchasing, and Diet Quality Among Youth in Urban, Suburban, and Rural Environments”. Jason Gilliland (PI, Western), Colleen O’Connor, Karen Campbell, Jess Haines, Kambiz Norozi. 2018-2023. Total Grant $684,674.
Collaborator, SSHRC Insight Grant Proposal “Families under fire: A multi-country study examining the psychosocial impacts of restricted mobility for families affected by war”. 2022-2025. Principal Investigator: Bree Akesson (WLU). Proposed budget $320,245.
Chair, Board of Directors, (since 2014). Registered Charity 2021. Served as acting chair 2021, then elected as first chair April 2022-2024. Charity raises annually ~$150,000 for university/college scholarships and other charities, via annual fundraisers.
Volunteer Chef, Bridgeport Café, Wayside Program, hosted at Emmanuel United Church, 22 Bridgeport Rd W, Waterloo. .
- Waterloo Region Record: .
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- The Cord: .