Mathilde Vankelegom

I hold a medical degree from the National Autonomous University of Mexico and an MSc in Health Policy and Planning from the London School of Economics and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. My professional background includes work as a health economist consultant, where I developed expertise in research methodologies and economic modelling.

I joined the Department of Sociology at VUB in 2024 to start my PhD. My doctoral research aims to quantify the inequalities in tobacco use and its cancer burden in Belgium, focusing on developing a comprehensive Health Inequality Impact Assessment framework. The project incorporates nationally representative data and stakeholder perspectives to critically examine the impact of tobacco control policies on health disparities. By integrating quantitative analysis with policy-oriented research, I explore the complex intersections between socioeconomic factors, tobacco use, and public health outcomes.

Research keywords: Tobacco, Health inequalities, Cancer, Socioeconomic determinants of health