As professor and chair of the department, it is my pleasure to welcome you to one of the most dynamic and impactful fields in public health, that of Environmental and Occupational Health. Our department is dedicated to understanding how environmental exposures, workplaces, communities, and social conditions influence human health and well-being. Through innovative research, outstanding education and meaningful community engagement, we work to address some of today's most pressing public health challenges.
Our faculty conduct cutting-edge research spanning environmental toxicants, occupational exposures, climate-related health threats, in relation to the biological mechanisms underlying renal, neurologic, and respiratory diseases, seeking to develop practical solutions that improve health locally, nationally, and globally.
Students in our MPH, MS, and PhD programs receive rigorous training in research methods, exposure science, epidemiology, policy and community engagement. Just as importantly, they gain hands-on experience tackling real-world environmental health challenges. Our graduates are well prepared for impactful careers in government agencies, industry, nonprofit organizations, health care systems and academia, where they become leaders advancing healthier communities and workplaces.
A defining strength of our department is our commitment to community partnerships. Students and faculty collaborate through nationally recognized centers and institutes, including the Center for Healthy Environments and Communities and the Asthma and Environmental Lung Health Institute. These partnerships provide opportunities to translate research into action, engage directly with communities and create measurable improvements in public health.
As a physician-scientist, I have long been fascinated by the ways environmental factors intersect with biology to influence health and disease. My own research focuses on understanding how air pollution and respiratory viruses interact with asthma, particularly through biological pathways involving oxidative stress. By combining precision public health and precision medicine approaches, we aim to identify new strategies for prevention, remediation and treatment that improve health outcomes for individuals and populations alike.
I firmly believe that the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health within the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health is helping to shape the future of environmental and occupational health. Whether you are a prospective student seeking a rewarding career, a researcher interested in collaboration, or a community partner looking to make a difference, I invite you to connect with us. Together, we can advance discovery, improve health and build healthier environments for generations to come.