Occupational & Environmental Medicine

NIOSH-supported postdoctoral training is a major focus of teaching and research efforts through UCSF's Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine in the Department of Medicine. Trainees seeking board certification in occupational medicine obtain academic training at Berkeley's School of Public Health where they earn an MPH degree. Individuals interested in pursuing the residency must apply to both the School of Medicine and the School of Public Health (for the MPH).
 
In addition to the MPH at Berkeley, postdoctoral clinical training includes a variety of practicum and clinical experiences through local employers and clinics in Northern California. These activities are supplemented by weekly clinical case conferences, biweekly grand rounds, and monthly research seminars and journal clubs. Specialized research opportunities in occupational and environmental lung injury, ergonomics/cumulative trauma injury, neurotoxicology, injury epidemiology, and heavy metal poisoning are available. Academic training is supplemented by a multi-week UCSF continuing education course, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, taught by practitioners in various aspects of the field. A public health rotation is required in which trainees may work with California's Department of Health Services, Cal/OSHA or Cal/EPA. Trainees also gain practical experience in the evaluation and treatment of city and county workers through San Francisco Occupational Health Services. Additional specialized training is offered in acute toxicology through the San Francisco Bay Area Poison Control Center.
 
The Lung Biology Center (LBC), also a division in the Department of Medicine at UCSF, serves as the research headquarters for COEH-funded faculty members doing basic research on lung damage from environmental and occupational pollutants. Directed by Dean Sheppard, MD, the mission of LBC is to use cell and molecular biology to study important questions about diseases of the lungs and airways. For more details visit the Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine's web site.

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