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between urban planning and public health began during his doctoral research, when he noticed many preventive medicine and public health journals publishing studies related to urban design.

“The link between planning and health was not widely understood around 2010,” said Dr Koohsari, who has published more than 140 peer-reviewed journal articles between 2021 and 2025 and has been recognised among top 2 percent of scientists worldwide in the Stanford/Elsevier Global List.

“If a planner talked about health issues, people would ask, ‘Are you a medical doctor?’” he recalled.

Responding to a question about developing countries like Bangladesh, where governments focus more on treatment than prevention, he said investments still mainly go toward curative healthcare because treatment is more visible and receives greater public attention.

“Urban planning contributes to prevention in a different way,” he said.

He gave the example of exercise and daily physical activity. Joining a gym requires money, time, and commitment, and many people eventually stop going. Research shows that nearly 70 percent of new gym members quit within six months.

However, if a neighbourhood has safe sidewalks, proper lighting, and nearby parks, residents naturally become more physically active without consciously planning exercise.

“Researchers call this ‘habitual’ or ‘automatic’ physical activity. Urban design can encourage healthy behaviour naturally,” he said.

According to him, pedestrian-friendly neighbourhoods, parks, and safe walking environments are essential for improving public health. If public transport stations are within walking distance and sidewalks are safe and comfortable, people will naturally choose to walk more.

He also stressed the importance of protecting public open spaces.

From a public health perspective, these spaces are important because they encourage physical activity and social interaction and can often be improved relatively easily. Research also shows that properties near quality parks and public spaces become more valuable.

However, he noted that public spaces are often ignored or encroached upon due to political or economic interests.

On why governments often give low priority to public open spaces, Dr Koohsari said policymakers need evidence-based economic analysis.

He cited research from Melbourne showing that investments in sidewalks and public spaces can significantly reduce healthcare costs.

“This kind of cost-benefit analysis is easier for policymakers to understand than simply saying parks are good for health,” he said.

He also stressed the importance of inclusive design. “If a public space works well for children, elderly people, and persons with disabilities, then it will work well for most other people too.”

Dr Koohsari further highlighted the importance of community participation in maintaining parks, gardens, and sidewalks.

Finally, he said urban planners and designers carry enormous responsibility because poor planning decisions can affect generations.

“A city does not become better by chance. It must be carefully designed, planned, and continuously improved,” he concluded.