celeste.monforton@gwumc.edu

The OHS Section closed out 2008 with gusto.  There were the inspiring sessions presented at the APHA Annual Meeting in San Diego, such as those the Occupational Health Disparities Institute and the Farmworkers Feed Us All photo-journalism exhibit, and the release of our “Protecting Workers on the Job” agenda, a collaborative effort with the National COSH.  This year, 2009, will offer many opportunities for us as APHA members to advance occupational health and safety, and I encourage you to get involved with us. 

In this issue of the Section newsletter, you’ll find a new feature: short articles highlighting the work of OHS Section members.  This time the profiles are of Matt Keifer, MD, MPH, and Lee Petsonk, MD, who each have been members of the OHS Section for at least 25 years.  For those of you who find yourself explaining the value of occupational health and safety research, practice, and policy, we hope these profiles will help you raise public awareness by providing a window into OHS Section members’ work.  The next time someone asks “What is occupational health and safety?” direct them to these profiles.  We’ll be posting them on the Section Web site.  We welcome your recommendations of individuals -- both new members and long-standing ones -- to feature in future newsletters. 

This newsletter would not be possible without the long-standing volunteer service to the OHS Section of Ingrid Denis, MA, our newsletter editor.