Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences at University of Washington

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks in gratitude to our donors for supporting DEOHS students in their environmental and occupational health journey. If you are looking for a way to make an impact, a contribution to the Rick Gleason Endowment helps support student scholarships and fellowships, continuing education, conference travel, and more.

Professor Karen Levy shared reflections about her research on children's health in Beira, Mozambique, at our latest #EnviromentalHealth seminar. She and her team, which included partners at Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University, followed health impacts after a $200 million World Bank investment to improve the public water infrastructure. The multiyear PAASIM study was unique in that it studied a community-wide intervention in an urban setting, rather than point-of-use interventions like filters, and employed extensive objective measurements of both exposures and outcomes.

New research led by DEOHS Professor Joan Casey found that wildfire smoke is especially hazardous as a contributing factor in cognitive decline. An analysis of the health care records of 1.2 million Southern California residents found that higher long-term smoke exposure was associated with a significant increase in the odds that a person would be diagnosed with dementia. Casey published the full study Nov. 25 in JAMA Neurology. #dementia #alzheimers #wildfiresmoke #airpollution #dementiariskfactors

Questions about avian flu? DEOHS Professor and Director of University of Washington Center for One Health Research, Dr. Peter Rabinowitz talks with KUOW Public Radio to answer common questions and discuss Washington's One Health approach. Take a listen ??

We're seeking participants for an upcoming focus group on trust in public health and heat guidance in the Pacific Northwest. If you live in Multnomah County, Oregon; King County, Washington; or Vancouver, B.C., please consider signing up to tell us your thoughts. When: January 2025 Duration: 70 minutes Location: Zoom This study assesses how trust in public health authorities impacts residents' communication-seeking behavior and beliefs during extreme heat, such as the 2021 Pacific Northwest heat dome. If interested, please fill out the form (link in comments), and the research team will email you. #FocusGroup #ResearchStudy #CommunityVoices #YourOpinionMatters #Extremeheat #Heatwave

A $3.8 million grant from the The National Institutes of Health will establish the new REACH Center, which will incorporate a computer model developed by DEOHS faculty. Funding includes a randomized trial to evaluate the Climate Health and Risk Tool (CHART) model involving 30 city and county health departments across the country. ? ? CHART allows users to input location, anticipated timeframe (current or future climate) and potential vulnerabilities (health, social, economic or environmental challenges). ? ? The model then provides estimates of heat-related health risks at the census-tract level (think right down to your neighborhood in many cases) and suggests evidence-based ways to reduce this risk. ? #UWInnovates ?

Cryptocurrency mines can create unhealthy levels of noise pollution, prompting Professor Joan Casey to co-author a letter in JAMA addressing the problem. She advises health care providers to be on the lookout for complaints from patients who live near mines. #NoisePollution #Crypto #Cryptocurrency #cryptocurrencynews

Join our vibrant and growing faculty team at the University of Washington's Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health program in the University of Washington School of Public Health. ? We’re looking for an assistant teaching professor, a full-time, 12-month faculty position for a passionate leader ready to inspire and guide change in food systems, nutrition, and health. Within this position, you will help build curricular capacity by teaching existing undergraduate food systems, nutrition, and health courses, develop new courses, mentor experiential learning projects, and play an active role in program, department, and school governance. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to food policy, food systems, food justice and equitable food systems, food systems modeling, entrepreneurship, nutrition, population health, and promoting food systems that support environmentally sustainable and healthy food choices. Review of applications will begin January 5, 2025 and continue until the position is filled. For more information and to apply: https://lnkd.in/gzEsgnHx ?

Can water supply improvements lead to healthier kids? We're excited to hear the latest updates from Professor Karen Levy's research in Mozambique at our next #EnvironmentalHealth seminar on Nov. 21. Join us online or in person!