Environmental Public Health

Here you can:

Measure the impact
of wildfire smoke
on people’s health.

Harness your passion for improving public health.
At DEOHS, you can:

man looking at smoke
Lead a groundbreaking study on the odds of mortality associated with wildfire smoke (thesis project of Annie Doubleday, pictured above)

hands
Promote healthy aging and build the resilience of older adults to natural disasters.

image from mapping tool
Develop a mapping tool to show communities most impacted by pollution and environmental inequality.

Why study Environmental Public Health?

Environmental public health focuses on the ways the natural and built environments affect human health. Specialists in this field identify, evaluate and control exposures to chemical and microbial contaminants in air, water, soil and food to improve health and health equity.

As a student in Environmental Public Health, you will:

  • Choose to earn your MS, MS Applied or PhD degree.
  • Take common core courses introducing foundational concepts and skills, including: risk assessment, management and communication; assessment and management of exposures to environmental hazards; core principles of toxicology; and how to use a One Health approach to address complex challenges.
  • Learn about policies and practices that prevent or control environmental hazards in a variety of settings and choose additional courses on topics that align with your interests, such as disaster preparedness, the built environment, climate change or hazardous waste.
  • Complete a culminating experience (thesis or dissertation) showcasing your ability to integrate the skills you have learned to address an environmental or occupational health problem.
Marrissa VanRy Headshot

The guidance and support I’ve received from my faculty adviser has helped me excel and has already resulted in several career opportunities that could help me make a positive impact in the world.

Marissa VanRy,
MPH, Environmental and Occupational Health
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Environmental Public Health: Student research projects

Our faculty and research

Dr. Tania Busch Isaksen Headshot

As our climate continues to change and our communities at the wildland interface grow, we can expect that wildfires and the smoke that they produce will become an increasingly important public health hazard in the Pacific Northwest.

Dr. Tania Busch Isaksen,
DEOHS Teaching Professor and Co-founder, the Collaborative on Extreme Event Resilience.
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Research spotlight

Portrait of Lianne Sheppard

A model of scientific integrity

DEOHS Professor Lianne Sheppard recognized by the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology for her principled approach to science

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A group of travelers with suitcases stand in line at an airport near a sign about the novel coronavirus

Are travel bans effective?

Research is scarce and suggests that travel bans may only delay the spread of disease, says a new paper from the University of Washington

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Jackson preparing to collect wastewater from a septic system. Photo by John Zinza, Washington State Department of Health.

Research with real-world impact

DEOHS student’s work leads to environmental recommendations to create cleaner waterways

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Career pathways

Our Environmental Public Health graduates find careers in a range of private, public, nonprofit and academic positions. Recent DEOHS graduates work as:

  • Air Quality Specialist at Puget Sound Clean Air Agency.
  • Quantitative Health Risk Analysis Consultant at EpiX Analytics.
  • Microbiologist with the US Food and Drug Administration.
Jonathan Nagata Headshot

Alumni profile

My time at UW empowered me to pursue a dynamic career in public service.

Jonathan Nagata,
Scientist, US Environmental Protection Agency
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