Seattle Magazine's September 2008 issue named Professor Scott Barnhart and Clinical Associate Professor Tim Gilmore "top doctors" in the field of occupational medicine.

The Institute of Medicine appointed Professor Matt Keifer to a committee on Gulf War Syndrome. In January, Keifer presented on pesticides in clinical care at the 18th Annual Western Migrant Stream Forum in San Diego, California. He also gave a tribute to activist Shelley Davis, who advocated for the safety of workers, children, and the environment. In February, he taught pesticide health and safety in Puerto Rico, in a program supported by the Migrant Clinicians Network and the Environmental Protection Agency.

In January, Lecturer Rick Gleason presented on the safety and health of construction workers at the Tri-State Construction Annual Safety Seminar in Bellevue, Washington. In February, he taught a course on accident and incident investigation.

Helen Murphy

Helen Murphy, the Pacific Northwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center's (PNASH) Director of Outreach, partnered with StoryCorps, a national oral history project, to record and archive the rich oral history of U.S. farmers and farm life as well as their experience in preventing farm accidents.

In February, PNASH hosted its annual Health Fair at the Washington Governor's Agriculture Safety Day in Yakima, Washington. The event gathers more than 300 agricultural employers and workers to learn and discuss farm safety and health. Sessions are held in both Spanish and English.

The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIO SH) recently released the National Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing Agenda, a publication largely influenced by the January 2006 National Occupational Research Agenda Town Hall meeting organized by PNASH and DEOHS

In February, the Center for Ecogenetics and Environmental Health (CEEH), along with the Superfund Basic Research Program, organized a seminar featuring two researchers from Southern California who are involved in studying the health effects of air pollution near ports, educating community residents about the latest research findings, and informing policymakers about the need to control diesel emissions to protect public health. Following the presentations, the audience discussed how the work being done in California might be relevant to the Pacific Northwest.

The Integrated Environmental Health Middle School Project (IEHMSP), part of the Community Outreach Education Core of the CEEH, has been recognized in the West Coast region. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Lead Poisoning Prevention Program incorporated some of the IEHMSP curriculum materials in a publication made available to high school teachers. In addition, the Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction's (OSPI) Environmental Education Report identified IEHMSP as a model program. OSPI used IEHMSP materials for a teacher's guide on sustainable design that encourages students to explore how environmental factors impact their health.

In March, Steve Hecker, director of Continuing Education and Outreach (CEO), and Mike Willis, assistant director of CEO and director of the Pacific Northwest OSHA Education Center, presented "Engaging youth with an activity-based OSHA 10-hour course" at the Alaska Governor's Health and Safety Conference in Anchorage. The OSHA Center will begin a new "Hazardous and Solid Waste Specialist" certificate program in Alaska for members of the Yukon Intertribal Watershed Council. The Center offered three OSHA 10- Hour Construction courses (one in Spanish) in conjunction with Construction Safety Day and in collaboration with the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries and the Associated General Contractors of Washington.

Doctoral student Rick Neitzel was elected President of the National Hearing Conservation Association in December 2008. He presented "Can subjective perceptions of noise be used to improve noise exposure estimates?" at the Association's conference in Atlanta, Georgia on February 13.

In December 2008, doctoral student Tingting Li was featured speaker at the Superfund Research Program annual meeting in Pacific Grove, California. Her research focuses on characterization of a genetic polymorphism that increases susceptibility of humans to the neurotoxic effects of mercury.

Also in December, Erica Finsness (MPH, Environmental and Occupational Health, 2008), undergraduate student My Dung Nguyen, and graduate student Hamilton Bennett presented posters on their participation in the International Experiences in Occupational and Environmental Health program directed by Professor Matt Keifer. Finsness and Bennett traveled to Cambodia and Nguyen to Vietnam.

In January, doctoral student Clarita Lefthand delivered the student presentation at the annual UW Health Sciences Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute.

Michael Rommen

In 2008, undergraduate Michael Rommen was selected as one of 10 students nationwide to participate in the inaugural class of the Collegiate Leaders for Environmental Health program, a 10-week summer internship at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Environmental Health and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. He also served as an ensign in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps during the program.

Janessa Graves (MPH, Environmental and Occupational Health, 2008) is a member of an ad hoc committee to form the International Federation of Public Health Students, a group trying to gain recognition and formal status by the World Health Organization.

DANIELL NAMED ROHM & HASS PROFESSOR

William Daniell

In January, the School of Public Health named Associate Professor William Daniell the Rohm & HaasProfessor of Public Health Sciences. Sponsored by the Rohm & Haas Company of Philadelphia, the endowed professorship “gives an investigator five years and generous financial resources to add to our knowledge of the health consequences of exposure to chemicals,” said Dr. Patricia Wahl, dean of the School of Public Health. Daniell will investigate environmental and occupational issues of concern to public health in Southeast Asia, beginning with an epidemiological study to test pesticide exposures in Cambodia. Former DEOHS recipients of the award have included Professors Noah Sexias (2002–2008) and Dave Eaton (1992–1997).

KEIFER GIVEN COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION AWARD

Matt Keifer (left side of photo) receiving Community Volunteer Recognition Award from UW Medical Center Executive Director Stephen Zieniewicz.
Photo: Sarah Fischer

Since his earliest years as a public health physician in Nicaragua, Professor Matt Keifer has worked to improve the lives of under-served and at-risk groups in Washington state, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. Through research, teaching, and professional and personal activities, his work focuses on better understanding and managing occupational and health risks faced by individuals working in hazardous situations and with hazardous materials. In January, Keifer received a Community Volunteer Recognition Award at the UW’s Health Sciences Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute, jointly sponsored by UW Health Sciences Administration and UW Medical Center

 

 

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