CSOEMA Connection (Winter 2024)

Welcome to the CSOEMA Connection, a quarterly e-newsletter for members, associates, and friends of the Central States Occupational and Environmental Medicine Association.

President’s Insights Around the States OEM Images of the Month 2025 CSOEMA Spring Seminar Recap: CSOEMA Fall Seminar Upcoming Events The OEM Residency Match: Drs. Kim Hargis & Zeke McKinney OEM Clinical Practice Highlights OEM Research Rounds Member Highlights

CSOEMA History Project ACOEM Update CSOEMA Awards Chicago OEM Society Milestones Resident’s Corner T-Shirts & Other SWAG Get Engaged Support the CSOEMA Foundation Job Posting

Dear CSOEMA Members and Colleagues,

As we approach the new year, I hope this message finds you well and that you have had a chance to reflect on the accomplishments and challenges of the past year. 

In this issue of the CSOEMA Connection, we bring you headline news of significant events, research highlights, and current happenings in the field of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (OEM). The feature article in this newsletter spotlights an insightful interview with CSOEMA-region OEM residency program directors, Dr. Zeke McKinney from HealthPartners / University of Minnesota and Dr. Kim Hargis from University of Illinois at Chicago, to discuss the landmark decision to include OEM Residency programs in the National Residency Match Program (NRMP). Their reflections on the changes and opportunities associated with this transition offer valuable perspectives that will benefit current and future residents, while offering hope for future leaders and physicians in occupational and environmental medicine.

Additionally, I am excited to share several upcoming events that will shape our community in the months ahead. I would like to draw your attention to three significant gatherings that promise to be invaluable for our professional growth and networking. 

First, we look forward to seeing everyone at the 101st Annual CSOEMA Spring Seminar on March 13-15, 2025 in Coralville, IA where the conference theme is: OEM: Building Your Field of Dreams. Come immerse yourself in current issues in occupational and environmental medicine, continuing education, and ample networking opportunities. It will be a great chance to enhance your knowledge, discuss current issues, and build stronger relationships within our community. We are working diligently to ensure that this event meets the high standards you have come to expect from our organization. If you have an interesting presentation topic to share with your colleagues, we invite you to submit a presentation proposal for the CSOEMA Spring Seminar – please email Susan ([email protected]).  

Second, we look forward to the first meeting of the Chicago Occupational & Environmental Medical Society’s (COEMS) Spring Assembly on March 29, 2025 in Chicago, IL. This regional event, co-sponsored by CSOEMA and the UIC Great Lakes Center for Occupational Health and Safety (GLC-OHS), will offer a fantastic opportunity to connect with colleagues, share insights, and stay updated on the latest developments in our field. Mark your calendars and plan to join us for an engaging and informative session.

Third, we look forward to seeing you at the American Occupational Health Conference (AOHC) in Austin, Texas, April 27-30, 2025 – the premier professional meeting for physicians and other health professionals in OEM.

As we move into the new year, I am confident that our collective efforts will continue to advance the OEM field. I encourage you to participate actively in our upcoming events and to stay engaged with the important work that our organization undertakes. Let us remain steadfast in our commitment to OEM as we navigate the anticipated challenges posed by the new administration. Our role has never been more critical with the promised regulatory rollbacks and reduced enforcement. We have the opportunity to advocate for worker health and safety, utilizing our expertise to address emerging hazards and promote wellness. Together, we can harness the momentum of community engagement and scientific innovation to protect our workers and their environments. Let’s inspire hope through resilience and collaboration, ensuring every worker has a safe and healthy workplace.

Thank you for your continued support and commitment.

In solidarity, and with warmest regards,

Francine
President, CSOEMA 
2024-2025

Around the States

National

• CBS News (December 9, 2024): EPA bans two cancer-linked solvents found in some cleaners, lubricants and glues. The Environmental Protection Agency on Monday banned two solvents known to cause a range of cancers: trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE or Perc). The solvents are used in a variety of products, including cleaners, degreasers, sealants, lubricants, adhesives, paints and commercial applications such as dry cleaning. Safer alternatives are already available for the majority of these uses, according to a news release. Public health and environmental organizations laud the decision.
  
• News from the States (November 30, 2024): How a proposed federal heat rule might have saved workers’ lives. Without national regulations on preventing heat-related illness and death, OSHA has difficulty, in general, protecting workers before it’s too late, said Paloma Rentería, a Department of Labor spokesperson. Employers can save lives by providing ample water and breaks and building in time for new workers to adjust to extreme heat. This is the logic behind proposed national rules that President Joe Biden set in motion in 2021, aiming to protect an estimated 36 million workers exposed to extreme heat. The proposed rules — a heat standard from OSHA — reaches a milestone Dec. 30, when the public comment period closes. But it’s unlikely to be finalized before Biden leaves office. Now that  Donald Trump won, the rules will likely be stalled.
  
• The Intercept (November 25, 2024): Biden Made “Record Time” On Worker Protections For Heat. Trump Could Quickly Stamp Them Out. The Biden administration’s effort to establish heat protection rules for workers faces uncertainty as Donald Trump prepares to take office, potentially freezing the initiative. OSHA drafted heat protection rules after years of rising worker deaths linked to extreme heat, exacerbated by climate change. The rule requires employers in high-risk sectors to provide water, shade, and rest for workers during extreme heat conditions. The Trump administration is expected to halt progress on the rule, continuing a trend of diminished worker safety measures under Republican leadership.
  
• The Regulatory Review (November 28, 2024): Regulating Workplace Heat Exposure. Scholar argues that OSHA has the authority to regulate occupational heat exposure.

• Environmental Health News (November 28, 2024): Opinion: States must step up on workplace safety as federal protections erode. The incoming administration is expected to weaken federal workplace safety and public health regulations, leaving states and local governments to fill the gaps in protecting workers from hazards like toxins and extreme heat.

• GreenBiz/Trellis (November 11, 2024): What to expect for environmental policy in a 2nd Trump administration. Here’s a preview of how policy and personnel may shape the Trump administration’s public health and environmental agenda. In a year of highly destructive hurricanes, floods, and fires, the Nov. 5 elections unleashed a political tsunami whose aftershocks in the United States and globally will be felt for years to come.

• Bloomberg (November 25, 2024): Your State Better Be Ready to Protect Workers Under Trump. Employees exposed to toxins, extreme heat and other hazards shouldn’t expect relief from the incoming administration.

• Midland Reporter Telegram (November 27, 2024): Healthcare workers five times more likely to face workplace violence. Healthcare workers are five times more likely to experience an injury from workplace violence than other professions. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) defines workplace violence as “any act or threat of physical violence, harassment, intimidation or other threatening disruptive behavior that occurs at the work site.”

• Occupational Safety and Health (November 26, 2024): Navigating Worksite Safety Amid the Holiday Hustle. Holiday season workers in warehouses and delivery roles face heightened safety risks, making proactive training and hazard awareness crucial for injury prevention.

• Occupational Safety and Health (November 27, 2024): Strategies for Maintaining Safety Standards Amid a Labor Shortage. Why contractor assessment and safety monitoring matter more than ever.

• NIOSH (October 23, 2024): A New Partnership Focuses on the Occupational Safety and Health Needs of Lone Workers. Working alone is common in many industries and may introduce safety and health risks for workers. In 2023, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) formed a partnership to improve safety and health for lone workers by developing and disseminating information about the risks of working alone and promising prevention strategies.
  
• NIOSH (November 1, 2024): NIOSH announces funding for 10 academic Centers of Excellence for Total Worker Health. The Centers are hubs for TWH-related research and practice. They build the scientific evidence base to develop new solutions for complex occupational safety and health problems. Their research offers practical solutions that keep workers safe and healthy. It also helps employers build and retain a productive workforce. The Centers use multidisciplinary research projects, including intervention-focused research, outreach, and education. Evaluation activities help to improve our understanding of which solutions work. Centers’ novel research has the potential to improve the safety and health of workers, employers, and communities. Recipients include the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Iowa.

• US Army (October 31, 2024): USAMMA makes workplace safety a priority, works toward ASOHMS certification. The U.S. Army Medical Materiel Agency takes great pride in the safety of its workforce, and the organization is taking steps to further solidify that commitment through official certification programs.
  
• Investigate Midwest (November 27, 2024): Meatpacking plant workers at higher risk for severe finger injuries compared to other industries. OSHA reported that a lack of plant safety features at plants is a top concern. Data from 2015 to 2023 shows over half of severe incidents that happened at meatpacking plants in the last decade have injured workers’ fingers and fingertips, including amputations. Of the nearly 1,800 severe injuries that occurred at meatpacking plants, more than 900 injured a worker’s fingers.

• Investigate Midwest (November 15, 2024): US could rely more on foreign ag workers under Trump. High demand is already straining the government. To keep up with high demand, the US Department of Labor moved staff from processing other visas to reviewing H-2A visas, creating a backlog in other visas the agency oversees. Because of high demand, DOL performed far fewer audits of H-2A applications in 2023 than just a few years ago because staff who would perform audits are now busy processing applications. The agency itself has said high demand might affect “program integrity.” The first Trump administration promoted the use of the H-2A program while performing raids on workplaces suspected of having undocumented workers — a large component of the agriculture workforce.

• Modern Healthcare (September 24, 2024):  Why hospital-at-home, other providers are pressing worker safety. Healthcare workers are about five times more likely than others to be intentionally injured on the job by another person, according to the Labor Department. Those who provide care in the home are at greater risk because they often work by themselves in environments that their employers cannot control, according to a study from the CDC. At-home care providers are testing strategies to better protect workers who are raising the alarm on workplace safety.

• OSHA (November 4, 2024): Department of Labor encouraged by decline in worker death investigations. Initiatives lead to significant reductions in fatal trench collapses,  falls. Fewer workers are dying from hazards where the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has focused its enforcement resources. Preliminary agency data show a decrease in fatalities the agency is mandated to investigate, including significant reductions in fatal injuries from trench collapses and falls, two of the leading causes of death among construction industry workers.

• Globe News Wire (November 25, 2024): Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Issues New Arc-Flash Hazard Guidance. First Guidance Update in Almost Twenty Years Tells Workers: “Don’t Wear Fuel”

• Occupational Safety and Health (November 13, 2024): Federal Transit Administration Sets New Safety Standards for Rail Transit Workers. The department’s new national safety standards require transit agencies to adopt safety programs and training to protect workers on or near tracks.

• Occupational Safety and Health (October 31, 2024): OSHA Compliance in 2025: How to Navigate Evolving Standards, Industry Challenges and Essential Solutions for Workplace Safety. In 2025, staying compliant with OSHA’s evolving standards will be essential as companies navigate new technological, ergonomic and safety challenges to protect employees and maintain productivity.
  
• South Dakota Searchlight (August 21, 2024): U.S. House Dems ask OSHA to respond to reports that state agencies tipped off employers. Leading Democrats on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce and its Workforce Protection Subcommittee demanded answers on Tuesday from Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su regarding allegations that certain state Occupational Safety and Health Administration agencies possibly misused federal funds and gave advance notice to employers of workplace safety inspections.

• Marijuana Moment (October 30, 2024): Federal Officials Discuss New OSHA Program On Marijuana Industry Workplace Hazards. Federal officials from the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) on Tuesday discussed a new program aimed at identifying and addressing workplace hazards in Colorado’s legal cannabis industry, part of an effort to reduce the risk of occupational injury, illness and death at marijuana businesses.
  
• Plant Services (September 3, 2024): Workers require lung transplants due to silica exposure, countertop manufacturer fined over $1 million. During their inspection, OSHA investigators discovered employees “laboring in a haze of dust throughout the workspace.” An OSHA investigation determined Florenza Marble & Granite Corp. exposed workers to silica levels up to six times greater than permissible limits. The agency was alerted to potential health and safety hazards at the countertop manufacturing facility when a 31-year-old employee began suffering from accelerated silicosis and required a double lung transplant.

• Firehouse (November 12, 2024): OSHA Hearing on Proposed Emergency Response Modifications Begins. The proposed standards will impact how firefighters, EMS, search and rescue crews train and respond to incidents. The proposed change focuses on improving responder safety and addresses training, equipment, communications, and command. “Current OSHA emergency response and preparedness standards are outdated and incomplete. They do not address the full range of hazards facing emergency responders, lag behind changes in protective equipment performance and industry practices, conflict with industry consensus standards, and are not aligned with many current emergency response guidelines provided by other federal agencies,” according to a statement from federal officials.

• Railway Track & Structures (October 30, 2024): NTSB Board Members Applaud New FTA Action to Protect Rail Transit Roadway Workers. The National Transportation Safety Board applauded a new Federal Transit Administration final rule aimed at protecting rail transit roadway workers. Under the FTA final rule, rail transit agencies must adopt approved protection programs for all workers who access tracks and the right-of-way. It would establish required job safety briefings, training programs, and lone-worker protections.

• Occupational Health & Safety (November 4, 2024): MSHA Identifies 112 Violations Throughout September 2024 Impact Inspections. The agency conducted inspections at eight mines, identifying 24 significant and substantial violations as well as one imminent danger order across seven states.

• Mining Technology (November 12, 2024): Occupational health: how mining impacts workers’ well-being. As a Utah hospital dedicated to treating mining-related health conditions marks its 20th year of operation, we look at the occupational health burden mining still carries despite advances in health and safety.
  
• CIDRAP (October 23, 2024): CDC vaccine advisers recommend second COVID vaccine dose for seniors, immune-compromised. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) vaccine advisory group today recommended a second 2024-25 COVID-19 vaccine dose, spaced 6 months apart, for people ages 65 and older and for people in younger age groups who have moderate or severe immunocompromising conditions.

Illinois

• Crain’s Chicago Business (October 23, 2024): Cracked skull, fractured bones show dangers at Rivian’s factory. A cracked skull. A foot fracture. A back laceration so severe it required surgery. An amputated finger. These are among the injuries suffered by workers at Rivian Automotive Inc., which has only one factory yet has racked up more US safety violations initially deemed “serious” than any other automaker since the start of last year. The electric vehicle maker received initial citations for 16 serious violations in the past 21 months from the U.S. OSHA. Toyota, Honda, Volvo, Nissan, General Motors, and Ford each received no more than 10. Volkswagen, BMW, and Subaru saw none.

• AutoBlog (November 4, 2024): Safety concerns mount at Rivian’s Illinois plant amid OSHA violations. Rivian’s Normal, Illinois plant has been cited for 16 initial OSHA violations in less than two years, sparking concerns over safety standards.

• Chicago Tribune (September 2, 2024): ‘Our world is falling apart’: Father, son both suffering from incurable lung disease as their former employer faces dozens of OSHA citations. For almost 24 years, Antonio Campos dedicated his life to cutting stone at Florenza Marble & Granite Co., a small countertop manufacturer on the city’s West Side. It was a job that gave him enough money to provide for his family in Mexico and care for his relatives in Chicago. Seven years ago, he recruited his son, José Gómez, to work alongside him. 7 Campos, 58, is awaiting a lung transplant. His 32-year-old son has already received one. Both father and son were diagnosed with silicosis, an occupational lung disease caused by the inhalation of toxic crystalline silica dust, which is kicked up when workers cut and grindstone. 

• UIC (November 4, 2024): New UIC center will explore tools for climate equity in Chicago. A new University of Illinois Chicago research center will gather experts from public health, medicine, engineering, urban planning and biological sciences to measure these health impacts and test nature-based interventions such as green infrastructure to minimize the consequences of climate change on humans.

Indiana

• Indiana Capitol Chronicle (November 11, 2024): Indiana records lowest-ever nonfatal occupational injury and illness rate. Fewer than three out of 100 full-time Hoosier workers got hurt or sick on the job last year, according to a federal survey released Friday. It’s Indiana’s lowest rate since data collection began in the early ’90s.

• Occupational Safety & Health (November 04, 2024): MSHA Identifies 112 Violations Throughout September 2024 Impact Inspections. The agency conducted inspections at eight mines, identifying 24 significant and substantial violations as well as one imminent danger order across seven states. Among the inspected sites was the North Indianapolis Quarry & Mill in Indiana, operated by Martin Marietta Materials Inc., where MSHA issued an imminent danger order when a miner was found working on an elevated deck without adequate fall protection, risking a potentially fatal fall of 23 feet.

Iowa

• Resilence (November 26, 2024): Animal Agriculture Conference Asks: What’s the Future of Our Food System? Iowa’s environmental crisis has policy leaders and farmers challenging corporate agriculture.

Kansas

• EPA (October 8, 2024): EPA Issues Final Rule Requiring Replacement of Lead Pipes Within 10 Years, Announces over $27.7M in Funding to Kansas to Provide Clean Water to Schools and Homes. EPA announces new final regulations and new funding under the Biden-Harris administration’s Investing in America Agenda for clean drinking water.
  
• EPA (October 23, 2024): Biden-Harris Administration Announces Nearly $33M for Water Infrastructure in Kansas Through Investing in America Agenda. EPA News Release: Biden-Harris Administration Announces Nearly $33M for Water Infrastructure in Kansas Through Investing in America Agenda.

Minnesota

• Safety and Health (November 25, 2024): Rulemaking to revise Minnesota’s lead regulations underway. Minnesota OSHA will establish a working group to assist the state’s Department of Labor and Industry in revising regulations on lead exposure for both general industry and construction.
  
• KMIT 3 News (November 12, 2024): Workplace health and safety improves in Minnesota, but still trails the national average. The rate of workplace injury and illness in Minnesota has fallen substantially but still remains above the national average. The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry says the annual Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses found the state had an estimated 2.9 OSHA-recordable, nonfatal, workplace injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time-equivalent (FTE) workers in 2023.  That’s down sharply from 3.8 cases per 100 FTE workers in 2022.

• KMIT 3 News (November 14, 2024): Smithfield to pay $2 million penalty over child labor violations in Minnesota. Smithfield Packaged Meats Corporation has agreed to pay a $2 million penalty over allegations of child labor violations at its facility in St. James. The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, or DLI, entered into a Nov. 13 consent order with Smithfield Packaged Meats Corp. to resolve a two-year investigation that found the plant to have employed at least 11 minors between the ages of 14 and 17 from April 13, 2021, through the same date in 2023.

Missouri

• KCUR (November 4, 2024): In an effort to reduce deadly grain bin accidents, OSHA expands safety emphasis program.  The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration has identified the grain handling industry as extremely hazardous. Being trapped in grain is the most common type of accident that occurs. There were at least 27 cases of grain entrapment in the U.S. last year. OSHA recently added Missouri to the list of states where it’s emphasizing grain handling safety.

Nebraska

• Ogletree Deakins (November 11, 2024): Nebraska Says Yes to Marijuana Measure, but Florida, North Dakota, and South Dakota Just Say No. Efforts to legalize marijuana failed in three states and succeeded in one state on November 5, 2024.

North Dakota

• KXNET News (November 24, 2024):  ND the deadliest state for construction workers. Construction work is often regarded as a difficult industry, but it has to be done to help keep old and new communities afloat. However, the nature of the job brings a risk of injury or death that is much higher than most other careers — and this is clearer in North Dakota than in any other state.

• Jamestown Sun (November 4, 2024): Prevent a disaster by boosting safety habits around farm trucks. North Dakota ranks near the top nationally for truck-involved crash fatality rates, says Kim Vachal, a senior researcher and expert in rural road safety with NDSU’s Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute. State crash records show that 66.7% of serious crashes (those with fatalities and disabling injuries) occurred on rural roads between 2016 and 2020.

South Dakota

• South Dakota Searchlight (June 29, 2024): SD water has lots of lithium, study says, as research into health effects continues. Much of South Dakota’s drinking water has more naturally occurring lithium in it than the federal government preliminarily advises as a healthy level, according to numbers in a recent study released by the U.S. Geological Survey.

Wisconsin

• Occupational Safety and Health (November 27, 2024): DOL Awards Wisconsin $4.3 Million to Support Workers Affected by Opioid Crisis. The U.S. Department of Labor awarded $4.3 million to Wisconsin to fund job training and disaster relief efforts for those affected by the opioid crisis.

OEM Images of the Month

A 33-year-old underground perforator who worked 12 years was diagnosed with silicosis. The chest radiography progressed from the initial ILO 2/2 q/q category to the large opacity B category with a progression time of 7 years.

A 41-year-old factory worker with 16 years of dust exposure and chest radiography progressed from the initial ILO 3/2 q/q category to the B large category with a progression time of 7 years.

Khishigtogtokh, Davaajav MD; Bayasgalan, Nasanjargal MD; Lkhachinbal, Munkhtsetseg MD; Dashtseren, Ichinnorov MD, PhD; Nishikawa, Yoshitaka MD, PhD; Toyama, Mayumi MD, PhD; Takahashi, Yoshimitsu DrPH; Nakayama, Takeo MD, PhD. Progression of Chest X-ray Findings of Silicosis Among Fluorspar Miners and Prognostic Factors: Retrospective Cohort Study in Mongolia. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 66(11):p e544-e550, November 2024. | DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000003209

CDC (November 18, 2024): Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Bird Flu Response Update. CDC continues to respond to the public health challenge posed by a multistate outbreak of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus, or “H5N1 bird flu,” in dairy cows, poultry, and other animals in the United States. CDC is working in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), state public health and animal health officials, and other partners using a One Health approach. Since April 2024, CDC, working with state public health departments, has confirmed avian influenza A(H5) virus infections in 52 people in the United States. 

• Governing (October 4, 2024): Opinion: To Fight Bird Flu, Lock Down the Cows. The virus that could mutate into the next human pandemic has been found in herds in at least 14 states. Without sufficient testing, we need to be careful about moving cows from one location to another.

• MSN (November 29, 2024): CDC Calls for Wider Bird Flu Testing After More Farmworker Infections Found. Health officials from the CDC called for more testing of people on farms who have contracted bird flu. The federal agency updated its recommendations for wider testing after a new study revealed more farmworkers had signs of infection, even though they reportedly did not display symptoms of illness. In the study conducted from June to August, blood tests for 115 farmworkers in Michigan and Colorado showed that 7 percent of the workers appeared to have been infected with Type A H5N1 influenza—a flu virus subtype that causes bird flu—but only half said they recalled experiencing symptoms.  The federal agency updated its recommendations for wider testing after a new study revealed more farmworkers had signs of infection, even though they reportedly did not display symptoms of illness.
  
• Science (November 7, 2024): Many human infections with ‘cow flu’ are going undetected. Scientists find evidence of past H5N1 infection in 7% of workers exposed at dairy farms—but no signs of human-to-human transmission.

• Nature (November 20, 2024): Why a teenager’s bird-flu infection is ringing alarm bells for scientists. A strain of avian influenza is showing signs of adaptation to human hosts, but there is no evidence that it can transmit from person to person.

• NYTimes (November 29, 2024): OPINION: A Bird Flu Pandemic Would Be One of the Most Foreseeable Catastrophes in History

• NYTimes (November 26, 2024): OPINION: I Ran Operation Warp Speed. I’m Concerned About Bird Flu.

• NYTimes (November 19, 2024): OPINION: The World Is Watching the U.S. Deal With Bird Flu, and It’s Scary

• CIDRAP (October 23, 2024): Avian flu infects two more dairy workers in California’s Central Valley. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) reported two more H5 avian influenza infections, both confirmed by the CDC, raising the state’s total to 15.

101th Annual 2025 CSOEMA SPRING SEMINAR on March 13-15, 2025

Registration for the 101th Annual 2025 CSOEMA Spring Seminar is now open. Join us for the CSOEMA Spring Seminar on March 13-15, 2025, in Coralville, IA, as a live in-person and online event. Attend the event for professional enrichment, continuing medical education credits, and fellowship with your OccMed colleagues. Visit the CSOEMA website to register for this event. Conference presentations and speakers will be announced in the months before the conference. Take advantage of the Early Bird Discount; if you register before January 1, 2025, you will get $50 off of your registration fee. 

Is there a particular topic you would like presented at the next CSOEMA Seminar? 

Do you have a presentation that you would like to share? We are always looking for talented, interesting speakers for our Seminars.  Do you or someone you know have a presentation or topic that would interest our membership?  Let us know by completing this quick form!

2024 CSOEMA FALL SEMINAR RECAP

The 2024 CSOEMA Fall Seminar, “Workplace Trick or Treat: Crafting Wellness and Good Mental Health,” was held on Thursday, October 31, 2024, as a full-day live virtual event and bonus asynchronous webinar lectures on Halloween! The seminar was an engaging opportunity for learning and discussion, featuring expert speakers who addressed pressing topics in occupational and environmental medicine, with a particular focus on workplace mental health and wellness. We thank all attendees who participated in this virtual event. Also, we thank the Seminar speakers – Greg Couser MD MPH; Daven Morrison MD; Zeke McKinney, MD, MHI, MPH, FACOEM, DipABLM; Francine Katz, DO, MPH, FACOEM, DipABLM; Gaurava Agarwal MD; Dandaithapani Thyagarajan MBBS, MMed, PGCert, CMIA; Mark Hyde, MA; Ashley Nadeau MD MPH; Dominick Dabrowski, MD MPH, and Prapti Kuber MD – who made this conference possible by taking the time out of their busy schedules to share their expertise and present at the conference. Each speaker brought a wealth of knowledge and expertise, making complex topics accessible and engaging. Finally, we would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the conference co-chairs, Drs. Greg Couser, Isabel Pereira, and Francine Katz, for their exceptional leadership and dedication in organizing the 2024 CSOEMA Fall Seminar. Their commitment to advancing the field of occupational and environmental medicine was evident in every aspect of the event, from the carefully curated presentations to the engaging discussions that took place. Overall, the seminar was a fantastic opportunity to learn and collaborate in the field of occupational and environmental medicine!

CME certificates have been emailed from NJAAP please check your Spam or Junk folders. If you have not received your certificate, please contact Susan at [email protected] .

Upcoming Events

CSOEMA 2025 Spring Seminar(Register here)  $50 early bird discount through Dec 31, 2024	Coralville, IA	March 13-15, 2025
Chicago OEM Society Spring Assembly (Info here)	Chicago, IL	March 29, 2025
AOHC 2025(Register here)	Austin, TX	April 27-30, 2025

The OEM Residency Match

Interview with Kim Hargis, MD, MPH and Zeke McKinney, MD, MPH, MHI, FACOEM

In August 2024, ACOEM announced that occupational and environmental medicine (OEM) residencies and fellowships will participate in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) for the upcoming residency application cycle, marking a historic moment aimed to streamline the matching process for both applicants and residency programs, thereby enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of placing future OEM specialists.

We had the chance to sit down with Kim Hargis, MD, MPH, Program Director of the UIC Occupational and Environmental Medicine Residency Program (Chicago), and Zeke McKinney, MD, MPH, MHI, FACOEM, Program Director, HealthPartners Occupational Medicine Residency Program (Minneapolis/St Paul) to get their perspectives on the recent changes to the residency match process through the NRMP.  

Q: Given the changes to the residency match process, how do you anticipate this change will affect the number and quality of applicants to your program?

Q: How are you preparing your program and faculty for this new matching process?

Dr. Hargis:  We are very excited about the change and look forward to participating in the NRMP match. Our program faculty continue to use a holistic approach to screening and interviewing applicants and rank candidates based on their fit with our program. We hope that the simplified process will attract more applicants and as a result, will increase our success in the match.

Dr. McKinney:  Thankfully it seems very little will change for faculty other than the timing. Our program of course has had to become familiar with the NRMP processes, but these are relatively straightforward. One consideration OEM programs have faced is how many positions to offer. Historically, we could offer as many positions as we wanted annually, and that has not changed, but we need to be a bit more proscriptive in terms of how many positions we are offering for trainees that have already completed an internship versus not, or for military-only (i.e., funded) positions.Q: Do you expect the NRMP participation to increase the visibility of occupational medicine among medical students? If so, how?

Dr. Hargis:  We aren’t making many changes to our selection criteria, and we will continue to select applicants based on the attributes that we believe are important for residents to be successful in our program. We hope that the NRMP process will enhance our ability to match those preferred applicants who are also interested in our program. I think that aside from funding issues, programs should be able to fill each of their positions with applicants who also prefer their program.

Q: How do you think this change will impact the competitiveness of occupational medicine residency positions?

Dr. Hargis:  I think that there will be more programs in competition for the most competitive applicants. The algorithm is designed to match applicants into the most preferred programs that also prefer them. With more programs in competition for the applicants, the programs will themselves become more competitive. I think it will be interesting to see how things change over the next few years as more programs are in competition for well qualified applicants. The programs will need to work to ensure their curriculum will meet the needs of a growing and competitive applicant pool.

Dr. McKinney:  If the premise is true that OEM will have more applicants, then implicitly our positions will become more competitive as the number of positions is in contrast decreasing nationally with one program closing this year and another next year.

Q: Are there any concerns about potential disadvantages of joining the NRMP for occupational medicine programs?

Dr. Hargis:  None come to mind. The previous system was the best we had and it worked relatively well, but had flaws. I am hopeful that the algorithm used by the NRMP, which won a Nobel Prize, will be a more fair and equitable system for all programs.

Dr. McKinney:  Not for me. I have been strongly advocating our participation in NRMP for several years because although NRMP is not a perfect program, our lack of participation separates us from other specialties and decreases our visibility, both of which seem to have been suboptimal strategies for us at least during my career.

Q: What impact do you think this change will have on the future of the occupational medicine specialty? 

Dr. McKinney:  Hopefully a big one! This was one of the major visibility elements affecting our specialty, the other of which being our specialty (OEM) being classified as “Preventive Medicine” under ACGME until 2022. However, there is still more to do in terms of getting OEM as part of medical school curriculum in general, so students can at least hear about our specialty earlier than applying for residency.

Dr. Hargis:  I hope that the new match process will result in an increase in the quantity and quality of applicants. In addition, by having an avenue to match current medical students, there will be increased visibility of OEM, which should in turn result in more applicants. I expect these changes will help to ensure ongoing training opportunities in OEM. I only hope that funding opportunities will also increase to ensure we are able to meet any growing demand.

Q: What advice would you give to residency applicants preparing for the first Occupational Medicine NRMP Match cycle?

Dr. Hargis:  Take great care in creating your final rank list, since the results are binding. This should be a simpler process for the applicants, who can now create a final rank list based on their preferences and let the algorithm find their best match. Applicants who have participated in the previous system report anxiety and stress around having to decline offers by phone and email throughout the afternoon, or to make decisions under pressure when their top choices did not make offers. I hope this will be a better system for the applicants.

Dr. McKinney:  Our change to NRMP most likely will not significantly change anyone’s likelihood of being able to obtain a position. I would let applicants know — as in the past — that there will likely be open positions after The Match is completed, so they can keep their eyes open if they don’t end up matching with their list. Also, we would encourage anyone that does match to OEM to share that information proudly and loudly, whether at their medical school’s Match Day, or on social media!

Q: Are there any other things you would like to share about the new Occupational Medicine NRMP Match?

Dr. McKinney:  OEM Program Directors and ACOEM are open to any feedback — positive or negative — about how residents feel about our participation in The Match!Dr. Hargis:  We are very excited about this historic change and optimistic for the future of OEM.

Image Credits: NRMP from https://www.nrmp.org accessed on December 2, 2024.

For additional information on current issues facing Occupational and Environmental training programs and the OEM field, check out these recent articles:

• ACOEM (August 8, 2024): ACOEM Announces Participation in NRMP Residency Pathway Match.
  
• Martin, CJ. The Slow-Moving Crisis of Training in Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 66(10):p e528-e536, October 2024. | DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000003187
  

Green-McKenzie, Judith MD, MPH; Khan, Alya MD, MS; Redlich, Carrie A. MD, MPH; Margarin, Aisha Rivera MD, MS; McKinney, Zeke J. MD, MHI, MPH. The Future of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 64(12):p e857-e863, December 2022. | DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002676

OEM Clinical Practice Highlights

• NIOSH (October 7, 2024): Primary Care and the Working Patient — Occupational Health Principles in Practice. Primary care providers (PCPs) see many work-related injuries and illnesses.4,5 As such, they have important roles in diagnosing and managing work-related injuries and illnesses. Hazards at a patient’s job can affect their ability to work safely and productively. Work and work exposures can also impact a patient’s reproductive health, infectious disease risk, and chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease and cancer—topics often first managed in primary care.

• JOEM (November 2024): Fazen LE; Martin BE; Isakari M; Kowalski-McGraw M; McLellan R; Ahsan R; Berenji M. Occupational Electronic Health Records: Recommendations for the Design and Implementation of Information Systems in Occupational and Environmental Medicine Practice—ACOEM Guidance Statement. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 66(11):p e614-e627, November 2024. | DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000003236 

• JOEM (November 2024): Hymel PA; Stave GM; Burton W; Schultz A; Jones N; Liva J; Price R; Loeppke R; Stout R; Saito K.  ACOEM Presidential Task Force on Lifestyle Medicine and OEM Practice. Incorporating Lifestyle Medicine into Occupational Medicine Practice – ACOEM Guidance Statement. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine ():10.1097/JOM.0000000000003268, November 8, 2024. | DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000003268
  
• JOEM (October 2024): Harber P; Beckett WS. Medical Evaluation for Respirator Use—Updated Approaches. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 66(10):p 848-856, October 2024. | DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000003192
  

• Kentucky OSH: New shift work, sleep, and mental health resource. Many shift workers have work schedules outside of the traditional daytime hours of 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. A new resource from the Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health Surveillance program describes ways workplaces can support shift workers’ mental health.

• MDGuidelines: Did you know? Your ACOEM Membership now includes access to MDGuidelines, the industry-leading online tool for quickly accessing evidence-based disability duration information, and ACOEM Clinical Guidelines. This offer is valid for U.S.-based ACOEM members with active membership. Launch the new MDGuidelines ACOEM Navigator. For more information, click here.
  
• ACOEM | On-Demand Learning: Enhance Your Skills and Knowledge and earn continuing medical education. View ACOEM’s extensive on-demand learning opportunities in the ACOEM Store. ACOEM is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to sponsor continuing medical education for physicians.

OEM Research Rounds

• Mess F, Blaschke S, Gebhard D, Friedrich J.  Precision prevention in occupational health: a conceptual analysis and development of a unified understanding and an integrative framework. Front. Public Health, 17 September 2024. Volume 12 – 2024 https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1444521. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1444521
• Khishigtogtokh D; Bayasgalan N; Lkhachinbal M; Dashtseren I; Nishikawa Y; Toyama M; Takahashi Y; Nakayama T.Progression of Chest X-ray Findings of Silicosis Among Fluorspar Miners and Prognostic Factors: Retrospective Cohort Study in Mongolia. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 66(11):p e544-e550, November 2024. | DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000003209

• Silva JM; Cavalcante A; Rêgo TVAS; Henriques DKS; Cucato GG; Ritti-Dias RM; Farah BQ. Breaking up Sitting Time With Isometric Wall Squat Exercise During Occupational Activities: A Feasibility Randomized Trial. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 66(10):p e521-e527, October 2024. | DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000003207 

Member Highlights

• Anthony Harris, MD, MPH, was featured in an article in the November edition of AfroTech: As A Global Medical Director For Workplace Health And Safety At Amazon, Dr. Anthony Harris Is Using Tech To Improve Occupational Safety For Employees. Dr. Harris is a UIC Occupational and Environmental Medicine Residency alum, and he is leading the future of medicine at Amazon.
  

Support the CSOEMA History Project

We invite you to make a financial contribution to support preserving the history of occupational and environmental medicine. Your donations will help fund ongoing projects, including completing the Occupational and Environmental Medicine documentary, which aims to capture our legacy and contributions to the OEM field. If you are interested in supporting this initiative, please contact CSOEMA Executive Director Susan Rittenhouse at [email protected]. Your support is invaluable to the success of this project and the continued growth of our organization.  

ACOEM Update

• Represent CSOEMA as a member of the ACOEM House of Delegates. The House of Delegates is ACOEM’s legislative branch, making recommendations to the ACOEM Board of Directors concerning policy matters affecting the College. These policy issues take the form of resolutions. Created in October 1966, the House usually meets twice a year — at the spring American Occupational Health Conference (AOHC) and at ACOEM HQ in the fall. For more information, send an email to [email protected]. 

Enterprise Health produces the OccTok podcast to support the ACOEM Ambassador Program. Hosted by Jeff Donnell, each episode features occupational health professionals who share their stories about how they got into OEM, what they like most about the field, and what advice they have for medical professionals who are considering this career path. All episodes can be accessed on Podbean or Apple podcasts.

Has your ACOEM membership lapsed?

We would love to have you back as a member.  ACOEM membership provides opportunities for physicians and associated healthcare professionals to enhance their careers through education, networking, and leadership. Membership also helps to: 1) Enhance the stature and recognition of the specialty; 2) Strengthen the voice of OEM in health policy debates; 3) Promote new levels of competency in the prevention and treatment of illness, injury, and disability in the work environment and community; 4) Reduce Seminar Registration Rates. Contact ACOEM’s Customer Support Team at 847-818-1800 and ask about a discount to renew.

Nominations Accepted for the CSOEMA Awards

• The National Leadership Award is presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the specialty and has taken steps to promote the specialty on a national level through research, education, and/or by increasing awareness of the value of the specialty. This individual has gone beyond medical practice to positively influence the specialty, and this individual’s efforts serve as a voice for the specialty among their peers. Their efforts demonstrate leadership, commitment, and dedication to advancing the goals of the specialty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. This award is not limited to members of CSOEMA and may be presented to individuals outside of the CSOEMA membership. The CSOEMA National Leadership Award was created in 1989 and was originally called the Robert R.J. Hilker Lecture.

• The Dedicated Service Award, created in 2005, is given at the Spring Seminar of the Central States Occupational and Environmental Medicine Association. The Dedicated Service Award recognizes a CSOEMA member who has exhibited outstanding service to the Association over a period of many years.

• The Exemplary Service Award, created in 2009, is given at the Fall Seminar of the Central States Occupational and Environmental Medicine Association. The Exemplary Service Award recognizes a CSOEMA member who has exhibited outstanding leadership and ability to accomplish a specific initiative or task that has and/or will provide significant benefit to the Association.  

• The Dr. Alice Hamilton Award was established in 2024 to encourage and celebrate physicians with exemplary contributions to the fields of occupational medicine research, education, clinical occupational medicine, or occupational/environmental toxicology. This award also serves as a tribute to Dr. Alice Hamilton, a pioneering figure in occupational medicine in the early 20th century. The recipients of this award show the ongoing excellence in the occupational medicine field and serve to perpetuate her legacy so that future generations learn from the contributions made by physicians who came before us and continue our important work improving workplace medicine and prevention. Look for the inauguration of the Alice Hamilton Award to be given in Spring 2025. 

Recognize a deserving member for a CSOEMA award by following this link HERE.   

Chicago Occupational & Environmental Medical Society

Milestones – In Memoriam

Residents Corner

Zeke J. McKinney, MD, MHI, MPH, FACOEM Program Director, HealthPartners Occupational Medicine Residency Program HealthPartners West End Clinic 1665 Utica Ave. S., Ste. 100 St. Louis Park, MN 55416 [email protected] Phone: 952-541-2607 | Fax: 952-541-2626 https://mnoccmedresidency.com/

CSOEMA T-Shirts & Other SWAG

Get Engaged!

As our regional component professional organization, CSOEMA operates through the support of members who contribute their time and leadership to make the organization successful. We always seek members to serve as Conference Co-Chairs, Board of Governors, and other committee members. In addition to these roles, there are so many more ways to get involved.  Check out our new webpage highlighting the numerous opportunities to get further involved here. Your participation lends your voice to the organization and gives back to the field of Occupational Medicine. Interested?  Let us know by sending an email to [email protected]. 

Support the CSOEMA Foundation

Don’t forget to support the CSOEM Foundation by making a charitable donation. The CSOEM Foundation supports CSOEMA by providing resident scholarships and other seminar-related expense support that would otherwise not be available. Donations made are tax-deductible and support the ongoing work of CSOEMA. 

Job Posting

GE Healthcare Careers

PA, NP, or RN – US Occupational Health Manager

• Location: Waukesha, WI
• Time type: Full-time
• Job ID: R4014215

Job Description Summary: The US Occupational Health Manager is responsible for managing a national team of Occupational Health Nurses providing on-site and remote occupational health care under medical supervision as authorized by Federal and Local laws. This role requires a deep understanding of different workers’ compensation state plans, leave management (FMLA, STD, LTD) strategies, well-being program design, and prior experience supporting colleague occupational health issues in partnership with EHS, HR, and people leaders. 

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Providing direct on-site acute injury/illness care, case management, and remote guidance to colleagues as authorized by Federal/Local laws and under directives and governance from GEHC.
• Lead continuous quality improvement on standards and processes for travel medicine, accommodations, drug testing, etc.
• Strong advocate for a positive and healthy work culture, strategic leader related to health promotion for US operations.
• Manage billing and contracts relevant to Occ health services to ensure no delays or disruptions in service.
• Foster a strong partnership with Security, Benefits, EHS and other stakeholders to support business objectives and colleague health, safety, and well-being.

Required Qualifications:

• Required to possess a valid Nurse Practitioner (NP), Physician Assistant (PA), or Registered Nurse (RN) license in Wisconsin and certification in Basic Life Support.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Word and Excel, web-based systems/programs, and electronic medical record systems.
• At least 5 years in full-time occupational health and at least 10 years’ experience in adult clinical care, along with prior experience leading nurses. This includes Occupational health department, hospital, primary care, urgent care, ER, or public health department settings.
• Advanced proficiency in clinical assessment/treatment skills and MSK exams, basic emergency response per BLS requirements, administering medications per standing order protocol, administering vaccinations, and phlebotomy.
• Deep expertise of FMLA, Workers’ Compensation laws and regulations, ADA, and OSHA regulations.
• Ability to work onsite at the Waukesha campus 1-2 days a week, within normal business hours, 8-5 pm CT.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Preferred to possess a Nurse Practitioner (NP) or Physician Assistant (PA) license.
• Corporate occ med or hospital occ med experience, with a preference for recent corporate experience.
• Prior occupational health or emergency room/family practice-related work experience.
• Certified Occupational Health Nurse (COHN), COHN-CM, CCM, or similar certification.

GE HealthCare is a leading global medical technology and digital solutions innovator. Our purpose is to create a world where healthcare has no limits. Unlock your ambition, turn ideas into world-changing realities, and join an organization where every voice makes a difference, and every difference builds a healthier world.  GE HealthCare is an Equal Opportunity Employer where inclusion matters. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.  

For more information about the position or to apply, click here.

Are you interested in posting a job listing with CSOEMA?

Job postings will be listed on both the CSOEMA website and the CSOEMA Connection Newsletter and distributed once via email to the CSOEMA membership. Please send an email to: [email protected]

For members or sponsors:

• One free 60-day advertisement period/year
• $150 for each additional 60-day advertisement period

For unaffiliated individuals/organizations:

• $300 for a 60-day advertisement period

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CSOEMA Executive Committee

Francine Katz, DO, MPH, FACOEM, President
Isabel Pereira, DO, MPH, MSA, President-Elect
Malgorzata B. Hasek, MD, MPH, FACPM, FACOEM, Vice President
Maria Starchook-Moore, MD, FACOEM, Secretary-Treasurer
Laura Breeher, MD, MPH, MS, FACOEM, Immediate Past President​

CSOEMA Governors

Chris Iverson, MD MBA, MPH; vacant	Governors at Large: 2022-2025
Kodjo Bossou, MD, MPH; Erin Kennedy MD, MPH, MRO, CIME	Governors at Large: 2023-2026
Sarah Bronner MD MPH; Kim Hargis MD, MPH	Governors at Large: 2024-2027
Ashley Nadeau MD, MPH (MN); Claudia Corwin, MD, MPH (IA)	State Governors: 2022-2025
Ambica Nakhasi, MD (IL) Christopher Smelser; DO, MPH, FACOEM (IN)	State Governors: 2023-2026
Matthew Klick DO, MPH (MO); Corey Cronrath DO, MPH, CPE, FACOEM (WI)	State Governors: 2024-2027
S. Laura Chung MD, JD (UIC); Prapti Kuber MD, MBA (Health Partners)	Resident Governors: 2024-2025

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CSOEMA Connection Editorial Staff

William Wong, MD, MPH, FACP, FACOEM, Editor-in-Chief
Claudia Corwin, MD, MPH, FACOEM, Editor
Anitha Nimmagadda, MD, MPH, Editor

The CSOEMA Connection newsletter is the collaborative effort of CSOEMA members. It is a way for us to celebrate our members’ work, discuss important issues, and share information to support our mission. Allow your voice to be heard by contributing to this newsletter. If you have ideas for themes of future newsletter issues, have a tip for us about something (or someone) to feature, or just to let us know how we are doing, please reach out. Please send any contributions, questions, or comments to [email protected], or contact Susan Rittenhouse, CSOEMA Executive Director, at [email protected].