Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health
The mission of the Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health (SWCOEH) is to protect and promote the health, safety, and well-being of the workforce and the community through innovative research, inspiring education, and engaging outreach. The SWCOEH supports a transdisciplinary and holistic approach to research, education, and outreach in occupational and environmental health. Our faculty are engaged in research to better understand occupational and environmental exposures and hazards, and develop risk mitigation strategies. The Center is home to a NIOSH Education and Research Center (ERC) training grant, continuously funded since 1977, and a NIEHS Prevention, Preparedness, and Response Consortium (P2R Consortium) funded since 2010. In 2019, the SWCOEH was officially recognized as a NIOSH Total Worker Health® Affiliate advancing workers safety, health, and well-being. The SWCOEH is under the leadership of Sarah Felknor, MS, DrPH, Center Director.
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Upcoming Events
- Occupational Health Journal Club: Granzymes, IL-16, and Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase One Increase During Wildfire Smoke Exposure
January 15, 2026 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CT - Occupational Health Journal Club: Elevated Ambient Temperature Associated with Increased Cardiovascular Disease–Risk Among Patients on Hemodialysis
February 19, 2026 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CT - Occupational Health Journal Club: Applying Machine Learning to Workers’ Compensation Data to Identify Industry-Specific Ergonomic and Safety Prevention Priorities
March 19, 2026 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CT - 2026 Gulf Coast Safety & Health Summit
Norris Conference Center
April 16, 2026 - Occupational Health Journal Club: Association of 13 Occupational Carcinogens in Patients Occupational Carcinogens in Patients with Cancer, Individually and Collectively
April 16, 2026 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM CT - Hybrid - Occupational Health Journal Club: Formaldehyde Exposure and Mortality Risks from Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Other Lymphohematopoietic Malignancies in the US National Cancer Institute
May 21, 2026 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CT - UC Berkeley Ergonomics and Industrial Hygiene NIOSH ERC Webinar Series
The Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health is part of the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health