Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health

Curriculum

The interdisciplinary curriculum is based on a public health model for practice. Graduates are prepared to participate in a multi-disciplinary approach to planning, implementing, managing, and evaluating programs and services for worker health and safety.

The curriculum includes industrial hygiene technical and public health cores, as well as electives offered within the UTHealth School of Public Health.

Learn more, IH Program Outcomes and Objectives and Enrollment Information

Fall 2024 to Summer 2025 MPH EOHS Degree Planner

Stipends, Tuition Support, and Benefits

The Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health at the UTHealth School of Public Health is one of 18 CDC/NIOSH Education and Research Centers in the United States, supported by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The SWCOEH is comprised of academic degree programs in occupational medicine, industrial hygiene, occupational epidemiology, and total worker health. The SWCOEH also supports active continuing education, outreach and pilot project research training programs.

Traineeships are available (full tuition and fees support and a monthly stipend) are available to full-time students on a competitive basis as part of the SWCOEH (trainees must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents). Requirements for the traineeships include acceptance into the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences academic program, maintenance of a minimum course workload, and satisfactory academic progress.

How to Apply

How to apply for the programs, admission requirements and application deadlines can be found online.

Students should apply for the appropriate degree within the Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences.

For More Information

Jooyeon Hwang, PhD, CIH
Associate Professor and Program Director
Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health
UTHealth School of Public Health
1200 Pressler, E607
Houston, TX 77030
Phone: 713-500-9274
Email: [email protected]

• Faculty
• Trainees

Faculty

Jooyeon Hwang, PhD, CIH

Dr. Jooyeon Hwang is an Associate Professor in Industrial Hygiene for the Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health (SWCOEH) at the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health. She received her Ph.D. in Industrial Hygiene and M.S. in Environmental Health Sciences from the University of Minnesota. Dr. Hwang was as a postdoctoral fellow at the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health. Her research has focused on evaluation of the relationship between occupational exposure to specific contaminants and adverse health effects in several different industries including mining, agricultural, and public safety including firefighters. In particular, her research conducts the development of new exposure-associated microbiomes and multi-omics assessment methods to characterize occupational and environmental exposures for health studies.

Robert Emery, DrPH

Dr. Robert Emery is Vice President for Safety, Health, Environment & Risk Management for The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and Professor of Occupational Health at the University of Texas School of Public Health. Bob has over 37 years of experience in health & safety and possesses master’s degrees in health physics and environmental sciences, and a doctorate in occupational health. Bob holds the unique distinction of holding national board certification in seven main areas of health & safety; health physics [Certified Health Physicist, CHP], occupational safety [Certified Safety Professional, CSP], biological safety [Certified Biological Safety Professional, CBSP], industrial hygiene [Certified Industrial Hygienist, CIH], hazardous materials management [Certified Hazardous Materials Manager, CHMM], security management [Certified Protection Professional, CPP] and risk management [Associate in Risk Management, ARM].

Anna Gitter, PhD

Dr. Anna Gitter is an Assistant Professor in Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences for the Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health. She received her B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Michigan and both her M.S. and Ph.D. in Water Management and Hydrological Science from Texas A&M University. During her Ph.D., she also worked as a Research Specialist for the Texas Water Resources Institute and addressed water quality issues throughout the state. Dr. Gitter was also a postdoctoral research fellow with UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, where she developed methods to inform public health decision-making using environmental data. Dr. Gitter’s research includes human health risk modeling to interpret environmental exposures and water resource management for public health. Her current work includes public health preparedness through wastewater epidemiology, evaluating health effects and adaptations for climate change, and advancing human health risk modeling.

Kristina Mena, PhD

Kristina D. (Crabtree) Mena, MSPH, PhD is the Regional Dean of UTHealth Houston School of Public Health in El Paso. She is a Professor and Department Chair of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences. Dr. Mena earned a BA in Biology at Franklin College (Indiana), a MSPH at the University of South Florida, a PhD in environmental microbiology at The University of Arizona, and completed a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at Kansas State University. Dr. Mena has over 25 years of experience addressing disease transmission through water and food using risk assessment and epidemiological studies. Dr. Mena was re-appointed by former USEPA Administrator Scott Pruitt to serve second terms on both the USEPA Chartered Science Advisory Board and the USEPA Drinking Water Committee.

Mary Ann Smith, PhD

Mary Ann Smith is an Assistant Professor in Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences for the Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health. Her training is in Pharmacy and in Pharmacology/Toxicology. Her interests focus on understanding mechanisms of xenobiotic-induced toxicity as they relate to environmental & occupational exposures and subsequent adverse health effects. In addition, she has an interest in the translation of complex scientific information to language which is accessible to the general lay public, with a particular emphasis on accessibility to underserved communities.

Lawrence W. Whitehead, PhD, CIH

Dr. Lawrence W. Whitehead, BA, B.Arch., M.Arch., PhD, CIH, FAIHA, is an Associate Professor in Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences for the Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health. He has taught at the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health since 1986. He is a Certified Industrial Hygienist, and directed the ABET-accredited graduate academic curriculum in industrial hygiene at the U.T. School of Public Health. Through 2019, and is now Assistant Director. He teaches Occupational Health Controls, Occupational Health Field Trips, Public Health Ecology, and co-teaches Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene. His research has primarily been involved with exposure assessment for epidemiology projects, and studies of the need for professional industrial hygienists across industry, and projection of such needs. Dr. Whitehead was a member of the American Board of Industrial Hygiene from 1987 to 1992. He was elected a Fellow of the AIHA in 1999.

Industrial Hygiene Trainees

Spencer Chichester, BS
SWCOEH Trainee

Spencer Chichester is a second-year MPH student in Industrial Hygiene at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health. A greater Houston-area native, Spencer received his B.S. in Forestry with a minor in Spatial Science from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. Spencer’s research interests include environmental toxins, pesticide persistence, and bio-safety, particularly laboratory sterilization techniques for prions. He aims to become a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) in the future.

Youngjin Kim, BS
SWCOEH Trainee

Youngjin Kim is a second-year MPH student at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, specializing in Industrial Hygiene. Youngjin attained his B.S. in Biomedical Sciences from Texas A&M University and is now pursuing his master's degree in Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, specializing in Industrial Hygiene. Youngjin is interested in the field of Industrial Hygiene because he values employee health and minimizing hazardous workplace conditions. Youngjin hopes to work as an Industrial Hygienist and eventually become a Certified Industrial Hygienist.

Nhu Nguyen, BA
SWCOEH Trainee

Nhu Nguyen is a second-year MPH student at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, specializing in Industrial Hygiene. Nhu obtained her B.A. in Biology from the University of North Texas. After working for a few years in the healthcare and revenue cycle management industry, she decided to return to school and aspires to be a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH). Nhu is excited about this new journey.

Anahid Rafieha, BS
SWCOEH Trainee

Anahid Rafieha is a first-year MPH student at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, specializing in Industrial Hygiene. Anahid earned her B.S. in Public Health with a minor in Occupational Health and Safety from Texas A&M University. Driven by her passion for public health and background in environmental engineering research, she is committed to becoming a Certified Industrial Hygienist and is excited to dedicate herself to the field of environmental health and safety.

Jacquelin Switzer, BS
SWCOEH Trainee

Jacquelin Switzer is a first-year MPH (Master of Public Health) student in Industrial Hygiene at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health. Jacquelin obtained her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. She worked for eight years in public education, teaching math and science to bilingual Intermediate students at Tomball ISD. Her interests include biomimicry, advancing a circular society, recycling, and waste management. Jacqui’s goal is to become a Certified Industrial Hygienist and help keep varying occupations safe and healthy.

Lucy Watson-Cook, BS
SWCOEH Trainee

Lucy Watson-Cook is a second-year MPH student at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, focusing on environmental health and Industrial Hygiene. Lucy recently received her B.S. in Public Health from the University of Texas (UT) at Austin where she concurrently participated in the accelerated master’s program with UTHealth. In the future, she hopes to earn her Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) credential and begin working in the field.