About Laura
Dr. Laura Schmidt is a highly respected sociologist and public health expert dedicated to understanding how modern lifestyles and economic pressures are driving the rise of chronic disease around the world. She is a Professor of Health Policy and an Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). Laura’s goal is to bridge academic research with practical public policy. Her primary focus is on identifying and changing the “structural determinants” of health—meaning the ways that market forces and inequality push people toward unhealthy choices. This involves examining how the commercial sale and marketing of products like tobacco, sugar, and alcohol undermine the health of entire populations. For years, she has led SugarScience, a project that educates the public about the latest facts on sugar and its health consequences. More recently, Laura has become a leading voice in addiction policy. She authored the book, The Binge Clock, which investigates the alarming rise of heavy drinking among women and young adults, tying it directly to harmful industry practices. As a senior scientist at the UCSF Addiction and Policy Research Program, Laura works directly with decision-makers to push for scientifically backed social reforms. Her mission is to change the public environment to make healthy living easier and more affordable for every person.
