Occupational Medicine

Learn more about NWCOHS funding for DEOHS graduate students in Occupational Hygiene, One Health and Occupational & Environmental Medicine At the marine mammal hospital Sealife Response, Rehab and Research (SR3) in Des Moines, Washington, this fall has been a busy one: the facility has

Inna Antonchuk MPH, Environmental and Occupational Health Hometown Rivne, Ukraine Future plans Continuing to work as a nurse as well as applying her public health training, perhaps with a government agency “I am very interested in immigrant occupational health but also in public health policy."

Apply for the program In the earliest stages of life, our health is particularly vulnerable to environmental contaminants such as particulate matter in air and endocrine disruptors in food, water and household products.

Dorian Kenleigh MPH, Occupational and Environmental Medicine Hometown Pittsburgh, PA Future plans Continuing to advocate for workers, such as in the cannabis industry as a medical consultant.

Dr. Esi Nkyekyer, OEM Clinic medical director 

Talk with an adviser Learn about our graduate degrees

Sverre Vedal, MD, MSc Joined DEOHS 2004 Proudest achievement "The work I’m most proud of as I look back involves people: mentoring students and caring for patients."

“OK, who do we have next?” Dr. Esi Nkyekyer leans forward, listening intently as a medical fellow describes her next patient.

Veterinary workers, farm animal handlers, aquaculture workers and others who work closely with animals are at high risk for on-the-job injuries and illnesses. But when those workers need treatment for bites, scratches, kicks, exposure to infectious diseases or other workplace exposures, they currently have nowhere to turn for specialized care.

DEOHS graduates are tomorrow's health and safety leaders. We’re celebrating our soon-to-be 2018 graduates with this new video featuring promising research led by our students this year.  

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. 

Dr. Luke Mease is the program director for the Preventive Medicine Residency at Madigan Army Medical Center Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA. He previously served as Chief of Preventive Medicine at the same location. Dr.

Dr. Chunbai Zhang is an occupational medicine specialist in Seattle, Washington and is affiliated with Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System-Seattle. He received his medical degree from Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth in 2004. He is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in UW's Division of Internal Medicine, and the director of Employee Occupational Health.

Dr. Hu is a physician-scientist, board-certified in Internal Medicine and Preventive (Occupational) Medicine, who most recently served as Professor of Environmental Health, Epidemiology, Global Health and Medicine and the Founding Dean of the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto (2012-2018). Previously, Dr.

Board-certified in Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Medical Director of Occupational Health for Franciscan Health System in Tacoma, WA. Specialist in evaluation and treatment of occupational injury and disease, chemically-related illness, Federally-regulated medical exams (DOT, FAA, USCG, Department of Defense, OWCP, Harborworkers and Longshore, Jones Act).

Dr. Brodkin has had a private practice in Occupational & Environmental Medicine in Seattle since 2003, with a focus on occupational pulmonary disease, with an emphasis on asbestos-related lung diseases. Dr.

Dr. Spector is a physician-scientist with a focus on the prevention and management of adverse health outcomes related to heat exposure in working populations. 

Nancy Simcox, MS, is Assistant Teaching Professor and the Director of the Continuing Education programs for the UW Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences.

Coralynn Sack joined the Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences and the Department of Medicine in 2018. She is a physician-scientist with clinical and research expertise in environmental and occupational lung disease. She received her MD from the University of Buffalo and MPH in epidemiology from the UW.

Dr. Peter Rabinowitz is Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences and Director of the UW Center for One Health Research.

Dr. Kaufman is a physician-epidemiologist, board-certified in internal medicine and occupational medicine.

Dr. Gary Franklin is a Research Professor in the UW Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences and in the Department of Medicine (Neurology), as well as an Adjunct Research Professor in the UW Department of Health Systems and Population Health. Dr.

Aim – The primary aim of this study is to direct future research and guide interventions for the prevention of workplace violence [WPV] in the emergency department [ED] using a multidisciplinary approach and qualitative evidence of perceived facilitators and barriers of WPV.

Objective: This study characterizes determinants of depression and anxiety among U.S. Mariners during the COVID-19 pandemic and identifies areas for intervention on these outcomes.

Introduction: The expansion of the U.S. cannabis industry has created thousands of new jobs in cultivation, processing and distribution. While little is known about occupational hazards in the Cannabis industry, pilot studies suggest an increased risk of respiratory exposures and associated adverse health outcomes, including immunologic sensitization to Cannabis.

Rationale: Approximately 31% of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is caused by vapor, gas, dust and fumes (VGDF). In collaboration with the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries Safety and Health Assessment and Research for Prevention Program, we report a new algorithm for surveillance of Occupational COPD.

Objective: Firefighters are exposed to occupational hazards including carcinogens working in states like Washington with laws that provide line-of-duty benefits for certain cancers; however, research on exposure-disease relationships is inconsistent for covered cancers like malignant melanoma (MM).

Background: Adverse health effects of extreme heat in occupational settings are substantial, particularly among outdoor workers who perform physical labor. Core body temperature (CT) is a critical indicator of heat strain. Excessive increase in CT negatively affects physical and cognitive performance and can lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke.