Occupational Health

From Washington’s swim beaches to Amazon’s Fulfillment Centers, students from the UW Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences (DEOHS) are getting an up-close look at their future careers as health and safety professionals this summer.

Stanley Freeman joined the University of Washington in 1977 for what was supposed to be a one-year stint to launch an industrial safety program. That short-term job turned into a 20-year career as he discovered his passion for teaching.

Eating salmon may be good for you, but catching them for a living could be hazardous to your health.

Vanessa Vargas showed up for her first day at her new job with her heart pounding so loud it nearly drowned out the sound of construction equipment at the Seattle building site where she had been hired as a carpenter apprentice. Vargas was the youngest person on the work site, the least experienced—and the only woman.

Miriam Calkins PhD, Environmental and Occupational Hygiene Hometown Harvard, Massachusetts Future plans Associate Service Fellow, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

  Editor's note: Professor Michael Yost joined the UW Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences (DEOHS) in 1993 and was named department chair in 2014. 

Peter Johnson, PhD, is Professor Emeritus in the UW Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences exposure sciences program and conducts ergonomics-related research.

Dr. Il Je Yu's research links human environmental exposure to toxicology, specializing in inhalation toxicology with occupational toxicology, nanotoxicology, safe chemical management and industrial hygiene, including exposure assessment.

Gail has her doctorate in Public Health from the University of Texas, School of Public Health. She is a Certified Industrial Hygienist. Currently she has joint appointments as a Visiting Professor with Universidad de La Sabana, Faculty of Nursing, Bogotá, Colombia and as an Occupational Health Instructor for Texas A&M University.

Dr. de Castro’s research focuses on population health inequities and inequalities by examining how employment opportunities, job conditions, and work organization contribute to chronic stress and occupational injury and illness risk; utilizing longitudinal analyses, biomarkers, large survey datasets, and engagement with minoritized groups.

Debra Cherry, M.D., M.S., is a board certified physician at Harborview, director of the UW Medicine Occupational and Environmental Medicine Residency and a UW associate professor of General Internal Medicine and an adjunct associate professor of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences. 

Chris Zuidema is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences with expertise in exposure assessment, air pollution, and occupational health.

Dr. Diana Ceballos is an assistant professor in the University of Washington Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences. Her life’s passion is to address health disparities by identifying environmental factors that cause disease, injury or impairment.

Dr. Peckham is an environmental scientist in the Hazardous Waste Management Program in the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, where he designs and conducts environmental and occupational health research to help reduce toxic exposures to workers and residents of King County. Dr. Peckham earned his PhD, MS and MPA from the University of Washington.  

Dr. Julianne Meisner is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the UW Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences (DEOHS) and an Assistant Professor in the UW Department of Global Health. A veterinarian with a PhD in Epidemiology, Dr. Meisner’s research interests focus on the intersection of human, animal and environmental health. 

Sally Thompson-Iritani, DVM/PhD, CPIA, has worked in the animal welfare, compliance and research field for over 30 years. She feels strongly that recognizing the important role of our animal caregivers and the relationship that we form with the animals in our care is essential for the well-being of both the animals and the people that interact with laboratory animals.

Cynthia L. Curl, MS, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Community and Environmental Health at Boise State University, where she studies the intersection between agricultural production and human health and directs the Curl Agricultural Health Lab.

Dr. Judit Marsillach is Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences at the University of Washington School of Public Health. In May 2021, she was appointed as the Sheldon D. Murphy Endowed Chair in Toxicology and Environmental Health.

Dr. Kasner is an Assistant Teaching Professor with a research focus on leveraging technology to prevent injury and illness among working populations.

Sheldwin earned a doctorate degree in Exposure Science and a MS degree in Epidemiology at the University of Washington School of Public Health; prior he also received a MPH at the University of New Mexico School of

Dr. Austin received her Doctor of Science in Environmental Health from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, with concentrations in Exposure Assessment and Biostatistics.

Research Services Program Manager/Toxicologist employed by the Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County (Haz Waste Program) at Public Health -- Seattle & King County. Responsibilities include setting the research agenda for the Haz Waste Program and supporting the research needs of both internal and external stakeholders.

Over twenty nine years award-winning experience with Fortune 50 Intel in a variety of highly visible Project/Program Management roles. Demonstrated expertise in tackling crucial business problems with insightful problem-solving, strong decision-making, and visionary perspective. Sought-after change agent and consensus-builder with deep-seated commitment to service and diplomacy.

I became interested in the characterization of urban air quality after working in Beijing in the mid-1990s. I make measurements to model the spatial and temporal distribution of pollutants. I am particularly interested in bringing new methods and technologies into exposure assessment for air pollution health studies.

Dr. Sprugel has worked in preclinical research and development in the biotechnology industry in Seattle for over 25 years, including work at ZymoGenetics, PathoGenesis and Chiron. She is currently a Scientific Director in Toxicology Sciences at Amgen in Seattle, where she works on safety assessments and nonclinical development strategies for drugs in the areas of inflammation and oncology.

Dr. Spielholz is a safety and health professional with over 20 years of experience across disciplines and industries. His expertise includes ergonomics, safety engineering, safety program implementation and compliance, biomechanics, human factors engineering and human performance, accident investigation, hazard analysis, risk management and emergency preparedness.

Dr. Ponce is an Executive Vice President, Nonclinical Development at Shape Therapeutics, a gene therapy company focusing on RNA editing (Seattle, WA). Prior to this position he was Sr.

Bruce Millies teaches occupational safety and health continuing education courses. He is a former lawyer who practiced environmental law, took a break from the law to earn an MS in environmental health from the University of Washington, and then decided to pursue a career in Industrial Hygiene.

Therese Mar received her PhD in 1998 from the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences - Toxicology Program. Her doctoral research was on the toxicokinetics of toluene in men and women under exercising and resting conditions.

Dr Lu is a Professor in the Department of Environmental Engineering and Sciences in the College of Resources and Environment at Southwest University in Chongqing, China. His teaching and research is focused on environmental physiology and toxicology.  He assists Chinese students from Zhejiang University to apply for graduate studies within DEOHS.