Risk Assessment

After 18 years at the University of Washington, Peter Johnson, professor in the Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, will retire in mid-November.

According to the analysis, “strategic investments in a coordinated global-pandemics initiative would likely have a return ratio of between $17 and $20 on every $1 spent.” Curbing pandemics might also address shared global challenges, such as gender and social inequalities, and support climate adaptation and mitigation.

Public Health Researcher located within the Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in Public Health—Seattle & King County. Areas of interest include evaluating and mitigating hazardous chemical exposures in underserved populations.

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.

Barbara Silverstein is the Research Director of the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries Safety and Health Assessment and Research for Prevention (SHARP) Program.

Nat is a marine biologist and zoologist by training. He has managed the multidisciplinary Ecotoxicology Program at the Nortwest Fisheries Science Center since 2004. He joined the Center in 1998 as a Postdoctoral Associate with the National Academies of Science and Engineering (National Research Council) after completing a doctorate in zoology from the University of Washington.

Mary Schoen joined Soller Environmental after completing a post-doctoral research position with the US EPA. While with the EPA, Mary developed risk assessment and sustainability assessment tools for natural and engineered water systems. Her work helped to establish the scientific foundation for the development of new 2012 Draft National Ambient Water Quality Criteria.

Walt Rostykus, Vice President and Ergonomics Engineer for Humantech, has over 30 years of experience delivering and managing ergonomic, occupational safety, industrial hygiene, and environmental programs.

Dr. Ponce is a Scientific Director in the Comparative Biology and Safety Assessment group at Amgen (Seattle, WA). Prior to this position he was Director of Preclinical Safety Assessment at ZymoGenetics, Inc. (Seattle, Washington).

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 somehow forgot to return to being a lawyer.

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. Roseanne M. Lorenzana is a Ph.D. toxicologist including a residency program in general toxicology and field investigation, plus more than 25 years experience in federal and state environmental agencies (now retired), as well as affiliate academic appointments. Dr. Lorenzana is also a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and a Diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology.

As a dedicated Injury Epidemiologist, Captain in the U.S. Public Health Service, and Interim Deputy Director for the new NIOSH Western States Division, Dr. Lincoln is known for having created the NIOSH Commercial Fishing Safety Research and Design Program.

Dr. TOM LEWANDOWSKI is a principal scientist at Gradient in Seattle, Washington. Dr. Lewandowski has over 20 years of experience in the areas of product safety evaluation, metals toxicology, and developmental toxicology. He is currently involved in leading Gradient's efforts in the emerging area of Green Chemistry.

Dr. Liz Dykstra is the Public Health Entomologist for the Washington State Department of Health’s Zoonotic Disease Program. After earning her BA in Biology from Luther College, she served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Senegal, West Africa.

As Regional Science Liaison to EPA’s Office of Research and Development, I work with senior management in ORD’s Six National Program Offices, which include Human Health Risk Assessment, Chemical Safety for Sustainability (green chemistry, LCA, high throughput, comp tox, AOPs, etc.), Sustainable and Healthy Communities, Air/Climate/Energy, Homeland Security, and Safe and Sustainable Water Resour

Rob received a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1986. Rob's interest's moved from cancer research to toxicology and, in 1993, he received a Master of Science degree from the Department of Environmental Health at the University of Washington in Seattle.

Andrew L. Dannenberg, MD, MPH, is an Affiliate Professor in the Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences and in the Department of Urban Design and Planning at the University of Washington, where he teaches courses on healthy community design and health impact assessment.

Dr. Patricia Cirone retired from the U.S. Environmental Protection, Region 10 (USEPA) in 2006 where she served as the Chief of the Risk Evaluation Unit for over 20 years. Since retiring Dr. Cirone has been an Affiliate Professor at the University of Washington, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences and a consultant with Ridolfi, Inc.

Won-Seok Choi, PhD is interested in understanding the mechanisms of neuron death induced in Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease by environmental toxicants. He has investigated signaling pathways triggered by various neurotoxins to define the link to the neuro-degenerative disorders, and to discover therapeutic targets to treat and/or prevent them.

Dr. Michael Yost is Professor and Chair of the UW Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences (DEOHS). He is also the Director of the Pacific Northwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center at DEOHS. A member of the DEOHS faculty since 1993, Dr. Yost was named department chair in August 2014. 

Nancy Simcox, MS, is a Lecturer and the Director of the Continuing Education Programs for the UW Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences. She develops and delivers research-based education programs for practicing professionals, including industrial hygienists, physicians, nurses, safety engineers and others in the environmental, health and safety field. Ms.

Dr. Edmund Seto received his PhD in Environmental Health Sciences from the University of California, Berkeley. His research focuses on the quantification of exposures and risk as they relate to environmental and occupational health. Using Geographic Information System (GIS) spatial methods, mathematical models, and novel information technologies, Dr.

Dr. Seixas is a certified industrial hygienist with an emphasis on the quantification of exposure for occupational epidemiology. In addition to teaching occupational hygiene courses and maintaining an active research program, Dr. Seixas serves as Chief Editor of the Annals of Work Exposures and Health.

Dr. Meschke is an environmental and occupational health microbiologist, specializing in the fate, transport, detection and control of pathogens in environmental media (air, water, food and surfaces). 

Dr. Terrance J. Kavanagh is Professor in the UW Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences. He also serves as the Director and Principal Investigator of the UW Center for Exposures, Diseases, Genomics and Environment (EDGE) Center at DEOHS.

Kristie L. Ebi is professor of environmental and occupational health and of global health at the University of Washington.

Dr. Cohen is Principal Lecturer in the Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, Assistant Chair for Stakeholder Engagement and Director of the Field Research and Consultation Group. He is a certified industrial hygienist and certified safety professional.

Tania Busch Isaksen is a Lecturer and the Undergraduate Program Coordinator for the Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences (DEOHS), as well as a Clinical Associate Professor for the Department of Health Services.