Grantee Highlights

The PEPH grantee highlights feature engaging stories about NIEHS-funded researchers, community partners, young investigators, and other collaborators who are working to address environmental public health issues. Featured individuals share their personal stories and how innovative tools, education, capacity building, and community-university partnerships are empowering communities to address environmental health disparities and promote environmental justice.

2023

• Mallery Quetawki — Using Art to Improve Environmental Health Literacy Among Indigenous Tribes
• Kevin Lane, Ph.D. — Applying Spatial Analysis to Air Pollution Research
• Joseph Hamm, Ph.D. - Fostering Trust-Building to Promote Environmental Health

2022

• Jamaji Nwanaji-Enwerem, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.P. – Combining Medicine, Environmental Research, and Policy to Reduce Health Disparities
• Andrij Holian, Ph.D. – Uncovering Mechanisms of Lung Injury to Improve Public Health
• Cynthia Curl, Ph.D., and Carly Hyland, Ph.D. – Teaming Up to Protect Agricultural Communities in Idaho
• Yoshira ‘Yoshi’ Ornelas Van Horne, Ph.D. – Putting Communities at the Center of Exposure Science Research
• Molly Kile, Sc.D. – Conducting Community Participatory Research Across Continents
• Karletta Chief, Ph.D. – Partnering with Tribal Communities to Protect Water from Pollution and Climate Change
• Kathleen Gray, Ph.D. – Improving Environmental Risk Communication Through Interdisciplinary Collaborations
• Gary Adamkiewicz, Ph.D. – Using Housing as an Opportunity to Improve Health
• Celia Chen, M.S., Ph.D., – Leveraging Partners Across Disciplines and Continents
• Jennifer Carrera, Ph.D. – Joining Forces With Communities to Bridge Gaps in Public Health

2021

• Christine Marie George, Ph.D. – Using Participatory Interventions to Engage Communities and Improve Water Quality and Health
• Perry Sheffield, M.D., M.P.H. – Increasing Capacity for Children’s Environmental Health in a Changing Climate
• Michele Marcus, Ph.D. – Lived Experiences Document and Validate a Community’s Struggle
• Juan Parras – Organizing Community Voices to Achieve Environmental Equity, Justice, and Resilience
• Elaine Symanski, Ph.D. – Collaborating with Communities to Address Environmental Health Disparities
• Diana Rohlman, Ph.D. – Innovating Environmental Health Communication
• Mary Turyk, Ph.D. – Promoting Healthy Fish Consumption in Asian Communities
• Luz Huntington-Moskos, Ph.D. – Partnering With Youth to Support Environmental Health Literacy in the Next Generation
• Natalie Sampson, Ph.D. – Building Capacity in Community Science to Address Environmental Inequalities
• Mindy Richlen, Ph.D. – Developing Innovative Community Engagement on Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)
• Angela Reyes – Addressing Air Pollution Effects With Multidisciplinary Matchups
• Montgomery Proffit – Making an Impact Through Employment Opportunities

2020

• Rachel Morello-Frosch, Ph.D. – Partnering With Communities to Improve Water Quality and Access
• BJ Cummings – Improving Environmental and Community Health in the Pacific Northwest
• Weihsueh Chiu, Ph.D. – Using Data Science to Bridge Disciplines and Protect Health
• David Turcotte, Sc.D. – Academic-Community Partnerships Provide Tools to Address Environmental Health
• Beverly May, Dr.P.H. – Empowering Rural Communities in Central Appalachia
• Dwayne Porter, Ph.D. – Engaging Communities in Water Quality Data and Connection to Quality of Life
• Dana Haine – Mixing Research with Creativity to Appeal to Learners
• Laurel Schaider, Ph.D. – On the Frontlines of PFAS Research

2019

• Cheyenne Grabiec – Addressing Environmental Health Concerns of Tribal Communities in the Southwest
• Luis Olmedo – Combating Exposures in Vulnerable Populations
• Jamie San Andres – Combating Exposures in Vulnerable Populations
• Esther Min – Academic-Community Collaborations to Address Environmental Justice in Washington State
• Meredith McCormack, M.D. M.H.S. – Creating Strong Community Partnerships to Address Environmental Health Disparities
• Paul Laurienti, M.D., Ph.D. – Addressing Health Disparities of Farmworkers and their Families
• Maida Galvez, M.D. – Empowering Pediatricians to Address Children’s Environmental Health Needs
• Courtney Carignan, Ph.D. – Working with Diverse Communities to Explore Environmental Health Impacts
• Staci Bilbo, Ph.D. – Bridging Basic Research and Clinical Care to Better Understand Autism
• Brian D. Smith II – Increasing Awareness for a Healthy Detroit
• Kim Harley, Ph.D. – Engaging Latino Youth in Environmental Health
• Sherry Baron, M.D. – Engaging the Community to Protect the Health of Low-Wage Workers
• Thomas McKeon – Working With Schools to Address Environmental Health Needs

2018

• Katy May, M.E.M. – Promoting Community Engagement in Environmental Health
• Victoria Persky, M.D. – Environmental Research Rooted in Community Concerns
• Joseph Hoover, Ph.D. – Using GIS to Share Scientific Findings with Tribal Communities
• Jonathan London, Ph.D. – Working with California Communities to Address Environmental Justice Concerns
• Shawn Gibbs, Ph.D. - Advancing Infectious Disease Preparedness Beyond Healthcare
• Chris Cain – Promoting Training and Career Opportunities for Construction Workers
• Kerry Butch - Truck Counts and Air Quality Monitoring on First Street
• Melissa Gonzales, Ph.D. – Integrating Native Culture in Research and Translation
• Jennifer Horney, Ph.D. – Understanding the Health Impacts of Disasters through Community Engagement
• Paloma Beamer, Ph.D. – Understanding How Culture and Behavior Affect Environmental Exposures

2017

• Nicolette Teufel-Shone, Ph.D. – Establishing Meaningful Community Partnerships to Protect Native Peoples and Cultures
• Lynn Grattan, Ph.D. – Using Community-Based Approaches to Address Native Community Concerns
• Daniela Friedman, Ph.D. – Working with Communities to Improve Health Risk Messaging
• Phil Brown, Ph.D. – Understanding Community Awareness and Actions on Environmental Health Issues
• Keith Pezzoli, Ph.D. – Promoting Healthy Places, Healthy People, and Rooted Communities through a Bioregional Framework
• Nicholas Newman, D.O. – Preparing Doctors to Meet Their Patients' Environmental Health Needs
• Frances K. Barg, Ph.D. – Engaging Community Members to Understand Long-Term Implications of Hazardous Waste
• Carmen M. Vélez-Vega, Ph.D. – Establishing Partnerships to Address Environmental Health Concerns for Pregnant Women and Children in Puerto Rico
• Melanie Pearson, Ph.D. – Working with Atlanta Communities to Address Environmental Health Concerns
• Panagis Galiatsatos, M.D. – Bridging the Gap between Health Care Providers and Residents in Baltimore
• Madeleine Scammell, D.Sc. – Connecting Local Environmental Health Concerns to Scientific Research
• Jani Ingram, Ph.D. – Addressing Environmental Health Needs of Navajo Nation
• Tommy Rock – Exposing Years of Uranium Water Contamination in a Navajo Community

2016

• Tipawan Reed – Building Program Capacity and Economic Self-Sufficiency for Underserved Populations
• Jill E. Johnston, Ph.D. – Addressing Environmental Justice Issues Through Community Health Research
• Matthew Dellinger, Ph.D. – Using Creative Approaches to Engage Native Americans in the Upper Great Lakes
• Henry Spliethoff – Helping Communities Adopt Healthy Urban Gardening Practices
• David Bellinger, Ph.D. – Examining lead exposure from a societal perspective
• Patrice Sutton – Addressing Environmental Exposures of Pregnant Women
• James Fredrick – Improving Workplace Health and Safety for Immigrant Day Laborers
• Guy Williams – Finding collaborative environmental justice solutions for the people of Detroit
• Jada Brooks, Ph.D. – Addressing Health Disparities Among American Indians
• Nancy Schoenberg, Ph.D. – Working with Appalachian Communities to Address Health Disparities
• Elizabeth Yeampierre – Facilitating Change for Environmental Justice through Community Empowerment and Advocacy
• Susan Schantz, Ph.D. – Blending Approaches to Explore How Environmental Exposures Affect the Brain
• Sharon and David Gauthe – Addressing Environmental Justice Issues in Gulf Coast Communities
• Steve Wing and Gary Grant – Community-driven Research for Environmental Justice

2015

• Kenneth Oldfield and Roy Stover – Building Capacity for Native Americans in Hazardous Chemical Safety and Awareness
• Ogonnaya Dotson-Newman – Helping Vulnerable Communities Achieve Environmental Justice and Sustainability
• Rosalina “Rose” James, Ph.D. – Facilitating Tribal-Academic Partnerships
• Karen Miller and Laura Weinberg – Bringing Breast Cancer Education to Underserved Groups
• Jose Antonio Tovar-Aguilar, Ph.D. – Improving Working Conditions for Farmworkers
• Daniel Madrigal, M.P.H. – Making Environmental Health Information Accessible for All
• Catherine Karr, M.D., Ph.D., M.S. – Bridging Environmental Health and Pediatrics
• Dina G. Markowitz, Ph.D. - Bridging the Gaps in Science and Environmental Health Education
• Allan C. Just, Ph.D. – Addressing Children’s Environmental Health in Vulnerable Populations
• Marti Lindsey, Ph.D. – Making Environmental Health Information Meaningful to All
• Katrina Smith Korfmacher, Ph.D. – Addressing Environmental Health and Policy Needs of Communities
• Tap Bui – Empowering Communities to Bounce Back after Deepwater Horizon
• Mitchel Rosen, Ph.D. – Keeping Workers and Emergency Responders Safe
• Alexandra Anderson – Engaging Young People in Environmental Health
• Joe Taylor - Building Community Resilience through the Arts

2014

• Paul English, Ph.D. – Addressing the Impacts of Air Pollution, Pesticides, and Climate Change
• Anna Goodman Hoover, Ph.D. - Taking Time to Dialogue with Stakeholders
• Neasha Graves – Translating Environmental Health Research Through Education
• Viola “Vi” Waghiyi – Fighting for Environmental Justice in the Arctic
• John Sullivan – Setting the Stage for Healthier Communities
• Erin Haynes, Dr.P.H. – Partnering for Healthier Communities
• Annie Belcourt, Ph.D. - Increasing Awareness of Native American Environmental Health Disparities
• Asa Bradman, Ph.D. – Advocating for Children's Environmental Health
• Allison Patton and Kevin Lane – Working with communities to understand near-highway air pollution

2013

• Edith Parker, Dr.P.H. – Community-Engaged Researcher
• Edward (Ted) Emmett, M.D. – An innovator in occupational medicine, communication, and community empowerment
• Naomi Hirsch – Using Web technologies to engage with stakeholders
• Denise Moreno Ramírez – Empowering communities through research translation and outreach activities