St. Bonaventure University

ST. BONAVENTURE FACULTY


Banik, Swagata

  • Dr. Swagata Banik

  • ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT
    ACADEMIC SCHOOL
    DePerro School of Health Professions

    TITLES/RESPONSIBILITIES
    Dean of the DePerro School of Health Professions, Professor
    CONTACT
    (716) 375-2299
    Send an email
    OFFICE
    Francis Hall 114
    COURSES TAUGHT
    ACADEMIC DEGREES
    M.Sc., Ph.D., Post-doctoral Fellow
    OTHER EDUCATION
    Certificate in Innovation and Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare, Harvard Medical School (ongoing).
    PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
    Dr. Banik is a nationally recognized public health scholar and academic leader with expertise in population health, global health, and health systems strengthening. Prior to joining St. Bonaventure University, he held senior academic and research leadership roles focused on curriculum development and accreditation, strategic growth initiatives, and the leadership of federally and foundation-funded research projects. His work has included mentoring interdisciplinary teams and building partnerships with healthcare systems, community-based organizations, and international collaborators to advance applied research and measurable health outcomes.

    As Dean of the DePerro School of Health Professions, Dr. Banik provides strategic leadership across Nursing, Physician Assistant Studies, Occupational Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology, Public Health, and Health Sciences. His leadership prioritizes rural health innovation, interprofessional education, workforce development, and community-engaged learning—strengthening academic-practice partnerships and expanding experiential training opportunities that prepare students to address complex health challenges in underserved communities.

    ACCOMPLISHMENTS
    • Principal Investigator, Co-Principal Investigator, and Co-Investigator on multiple federally and foundation-funded grants, including NIH (R01, R21, U54, P30), HRSA, CDC, AmeriCorps, NSF, U.S. Department of Education, and state-level initiatives,  and Foundations, securing and contributing to multi-million-dollar research and workforce development portfolios.
    • Across his career, Dr. Banik has secured and contributed to more than $10 million in competitive external funding, driving substantial growth in research enterprise, strengthening institutional infrastructure, and establishing federally funded health equity and workforce development initiatives.
    • Founder and Director of a federally funded Institute for Health Equity Research & Education and architect of community-based research partnerships addressing HIV prevention, stigma reduction, substance use, food insecurity, and workforce pipeline development.
    • Author of 70+ peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, and policy reports, with over 150 national and international conference presentations, focusing on population health outcomes, minority health, global HIV prevention, community-based participatory research, and social determinants of health.
    • Associate Editor and Editorial Board Member for leading international peer-reviewed journals, and a frequent reviewer for high-impact publications including; regularly serves as a reviewer for federal grant panels and national and international funding agencies.
    • Recipient of major philanthropic and federal investments supporting rural and underserved communities, including the launch of a mobile health clinic in Western New York and leadership in workforce development and health equity initiatives.
    • Recognized nationally and internationally through invited keynote and plenary presentations, editorial leadership roles, and service on professional boards, advisory councils, and national research committees.
    TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
    Dr. Banik’s teaching philosophy is grounded in the belief that health education should be applied, socially responsive, and rooted in real-world contexts. He emphasizes experiential learning, critical thinking, and community engagement, encouraging students to understand health not only as a clinical outcome but as a product of social, economic, and structural forces. His courses aim to prepare students to become compassionate professionals and thoughtful leaders committed to advancing community population health. 
    CURRENT RESEARCH INTERESTS/PROJECTS
    Rural men's health; Substance abuse and mental health; Intersection of HIV and chronic disease.
    PERSONAL INTERESTS/COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
    LINKS