Dr. William Avison is a sociologist with expertise in the sociology and epidemiology of mental health. He is Professor Emeritus at Western University and a Scientist in the Lawson Health Research Institute, and the Division of Children's Health and Therapeutics of the Children's Health Research Institute. Widely published in international sociology and psychiatry journals, his research focuses on social disparities in maternal and child health and on the study of families experiencing stress across the life course. He was the recipient of the 2009 Leonard I. Pearlin Award for Distinguished Contributions to the Sociological Study of Mental Health from the American Sociological Association. He is Past Chair of the Board of Directors of the Ontario Mental Health Foundation and Past Chair of the Council for Canadian Child Health Research. He is a past member of the Board of Directors of the Maternal, Infant, Child and Youth Research Network (MICYRN)