CSOEMA Connection (Spring 2025)

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 Upcoming Events OEM Clinical Practice Highlights OEM Research Rounds Member Highlights CSOEMA History Project

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

Dear CSOEMA Members and Colleagues,

As we welcome the longer daylight hours of Spring of 2025, I’m excited to introduce our latest newsletter.  I extend a warm invitation to 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. This year’s seminar promises to deliver cutting-edge information on occupational medicine and valuable networking opportunities. The Thursday Seminar Lectures focus on Agricultural Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Then Friday and Saturday Seminar talks continue to deliver the latest in OEM. We’ve prepared a comprehensive program to keep you at the forefront of our field.

There are a number of other OEM meetings taking place this Spring including the first meeting of the Chicago Occupational & Environmental Medical Society’s (COEMS) Spring Assembly on March 29, 2025 in Chicago, IL co-sponsored by CSOEMA and the UIC Great Lakes Center for Occupational Health and Safety (GLC-OHS); and the American Occupational Health Conference (AOHC) in Austin, Texas, April 27-30, 2025 – the premier national professional meeting for physicians and other health professionals in OEM. These events offer a fantastic opportunity to connect with colleagues, share insights, and stay updated on the latest developments in our field. 

In light of many recent developments highlighted in this issue of the CSOEMA Connection, I must acknowledge the potential shifts in occupational safety and health regulations affecting all workers. These actions could significantly impact worker health and safety, making our role as occupational and environmental medicine professionals more critical than ever. Now, more than ever, your involvement in organizations like CSOEMA is crucial. We serve as a vital platform for staying informed, sharing knowledge, and advocating for evidence-based practices that protect worker health. Our strength lies in our collective expertise and commitment to maintaining high standards in occupational and environmental medicine. Let’s use this opportunity to come together, learn from each other, and reinforce our commitment to worker health and safety. Your participation and insights are invaluable as we face these challenges head-on.

I look forward to seeing you in Coralville and working together to uphold the highest standards of occupational and environmental medicine.

Thank you for your continued support and commitment.

In solidarity, and with warmest regards,

Francine
President, CSOEMA 
2024-2025

Around the States

National

• ABC News (February 21, 2025): Here are all the federal agencies where workers are being fired
  
• Environmental Safety Update (December 14, 2024): Workplace Safety and Environmental Law Alert Blog: Radical Change at OSHA During Second Trump Administration?

• Safety and Health Magazine (February 3, 2025): Trump directs agencies to cut 10 regulations for every new one

• New Solutions Journal (January 27, 2025): Editorial: Trump: A Disaster for Health, Safety, and Environment

• Inc. (February 5, 2025): Republican Pressure to Disband OSHA Rises Amid Sweeping Trump Orders Arizona GOP. Congressman Andy Biggs again called for the abolition of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration with a bill that could demolish decades of worker safety precedents.
  
• Investigate Midwest (February 6, 2025): EPA environmental justice staff ousted amid ongoing industrial ag complaints. Trump’s rapid dismantling of federal agencies is disrupting key government oversight functions. Critics say cuts at the EPA will stall investigations into industrial ag pollution in marginalized communities.

• STAT (February 15, 2025): Trump administration lays off FDA employees. The layoffs are part of a purge of probationary employees across the government

• MSN (February 14, 2025): HHS is losing thousands of workers under Trump administration probationary job cuts. Department of Health and Human Services officials expected most of the agency’s roughly 5,200 probationary employees to be fired Friday under the Trump administration’s move to get rid of nearly all probationary employees, according to an audio recording of a National Institutes of Health department meeting.
  
• Newsweek (February 14, 2025): Trump Administration Slashes CDC Workforce by 10 Percent in Sweeping Cuts. Nearly 1,300 probationary employees at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)—approximately one-tenth of its workforce—are being dismissed as part of the Trump administration’s directive to eliminate all probationary positions.
  
• MSN (February 12, 2025) Healthcare Workers Are Sharing How The Trump Administration Is Seriously Changing Their Work Just A Few Weeks In

• MSN (February 14, 2025): Trump Wants This Amazon Exec to Head a Key Worker Protection Group. On Wednesday, the president nominated David Keeling to serve as head of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which is tasked with maintaining safe and humane working conditions for American workers. Keeling previously oversaw safety at Amazon and UPS.

• FisherPhillips (November 13, 2024): Top 4 Predictions About What OSHA and MSHA Workplace Safety Professionals Can Expect From the New Trump Administration

• MSN (February 14, 2025): We owe modern medicine to public health research. Trump jeopardizes that. | Opinion

• NPR (January 10, 2025): Long COVID patients are frustrated that federal research hasn’t found new treatments

• KKF (February 19, 2025): The Covid ‘Contrarians’ Are in Power. We Still Haven’t Hashed Out Whether They Were Right.

• NPR (February 14, 2025): Staff at CDC and NIH are reeling as Trump administration cuts workforce

• KKF (February 12, 2025): Measles Outbreak Mounts Among Children in One of Texas’ Least Vaccinated Counties

• Politico (February 16, 2025): Trump administration firings hit key office handling bird flu response. The layoffs in USDA’s National Animal Health Laboratory Network program office come as egg prices reach record highs amid worsening outbreak.
  
• NPR (February 19, 2025): The USDA fired staffers working on bird flu. Now it’s trying to reverse course

• MSN (February 16, 2025): Trump admin fires CDC ‘disease detectives’ as bird flu fears rise.
  
• CNN (January 30, 2025): Trump administration’s halt of CDC’s weekly scientific report stalls bird flu studies

• Salon (February 2, 2025): Trump administration’s communication freeze restricted access to critical bird flu information. Veterinarians treating cows are waiting for test results to determine their risk. But they’re facing delays.

• NPR (February 14, 2025): Trump administration restricts CDC research and messaging with layers of oversight

• Ag Web (February 16, 2025): Trump Administration Shifts Strategy on Avian Flu. Spearheaded by National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett and USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, the plan prioritizes enhanced biosecurity measures and medication to control the spread of the virus and moves away from mass culling of infected flocks.
• NYTimes (February 18, 2025): CDC Study Finds Silent Bird Flu Infections in Dairy Veterinarians. The vets had no symptoms, and one worked only in states where no dairy infections had been reported.

• KKF (February 19, 2025): House Cats With Bird Flu Could Pose a Risk to Public Health
  
• NPR (February 2, 2025): On the frontline against bird flu, egg farmers fear they’re losing the battle

• KKF Health News (February 14, 2025): Urgent CDC Data and Analyses on Influenza and Bird Flu Go Missing as Outbreaks Escalate
  
• Scientific American (December 20, 2024): How the U.S. Lost Control of Bird Flu, Setting the Stage for Another Pandemic. As the bird flu virus moved into cows and people, sluggish federal action, deference to industry and neglect for worker safety put the country at risk

• CDC MMWR (February 20, 2025): Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus Infection of Indoor Domestic Cats Within Dairy Industry Worker Households — Michigan, May 2024

• NY Times (February 20, 2025): Dairy Workers May Have Passed Bird Flu to Pet Cats, C.D.C. Study Suggests. But the study, whose publication was delayed by a pause in public communications by the agency, leaves key questions unanswered.

• CIDRAP (February 20, 2025): Michigan cats may have caught H5N1 from dairy workers; Ohio counties declare avian flu emergency

• Occupational Health and Safety (February 18, 2025): Ohio Reports First Probable Human Case of Bird Flu in Farm Worker. Health officials said the case involves an adult male farm worker who had contact with deceased commercial poultry.
  
• Occupational Safety and Health (February 11, 2025): Avian Flu and Workplace Safety  Though sustained human-to-human transmission has not been observed, infections have occurred after unprotected contact with infected animals.

• CNN (February 22, 2025): Texas’ largest outbreak of measles in 30 years has reached 90 cases
  
• ABC News (February 25, 2025): Texas measles outbreak grows to 124 cases, mostly among unvaccinated. Children and teenagers between ages 5 and 17 make up the majority of cases.

• UChicago News (February 20, 2025): Why measles is resurging—and the rise of vaccine hesitancy. Infectious disease expert examines the uncertain future of children’s health
  
• Fox News (February 28, 2025): Measles cases continue to spread in multiple states following child’s death. ‘Wildly contagious’ virus has been reported primarily in unvaccinated people. 

• KKF (February 4, 2025): For California Farmworkers, Telehealth Visits With Mexican Doctors Fill a Gap
  
• Nature (14 February 2025): ‘Targeted and belittled’: scientists at US environmental agency speak out as layoffs begin. President Donald Trump and his team view the Environmental Protection Agency as a threat to US prosperity. Workers have been waiting for the axe to fall.

• Union of Concerned Scientists Blog (February 19, 2025): The Trump Administration Is Waging an Attack on Environmental Health and Fair Representation

• NBC News (January 30, 2025): California wildfires: What we know about L.A.-area fires, what caused them, who is affected and more. Fueled by powerful winds and dry conditions, a series of ferocious wildfires erupted the second week of January and roared across the Los Angeles area.
  
• USA Today (February 14, 2025): Feds will not test soil after LA fires cleanup. Experts warn more testing is needed.
  
• Spectrum News (February 19, 2025): Environmentalists concerned with pace of cleanup, possible fire-related contaminants in soil. In the wake of the Palisades and Eaton fires that collectively destroyed over 16,000 homes, businesses and other buildings across Los Angeles County, lies contaminated debris that could be seeping into the soil.

• KKF Health News (January 21, 2025): Amid Wildfire Trauma, L.A. County Dispatches Mental Health Workers to Evacuees
  
• Harvard School of Public Health (January 30, 2025): Long-term, multi-institutional study on health impacts of Los Angeles wildfires launched
  
• ABC 7 News (February 20, 2025): During wildfires, lead levels in air briefly increased 110 times just south of Eaton Fire, CDC says
  
• NPR (January 29, 2025): Here’s how climate change fueled the Los Angeles fires

• KKF (January 14, 2025): Beyond Hard Hats: Mental Struggles Become the Deadliest Construction Industry Danger

• Grist (December 23, 2024): In Florida, officials and communities clash over where to build the nation’s largest trash incinerator. Residents argue the project will disproportionately impact majority-Black and -Hispanic Miami-Dade area communities.
  
• Occupational Health and Safety (Jan 31, 2025): Chemical Safety Board Releases First Volume of Incident Reports on Chemical Accidents. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board has released the first volume of its new incident reports, providing public access to summaries of serious chemical accidents and their probable causes.
  
• NPR (December 16, 2024): Amazon manipulated injury data to make warehouses appear safer, a Senate probe finds
  
• Safety and Health Magazine (February 23, 2025): Psychological Health and Safety: Protecting Industrial Workers Beyond Physical Hazards

Illinois

• NPR Illinois (February 10, 2025): Gov. JB Pritzker set ambitious climate goals for Illinois. The state is far from meeting them.
  
• ABC 7 News (February 18, 2025): Federal workers in Chicago protest mass firings by Trump administration

• Chicago Sun-Times (Nov 14, 2024): What Trump EPA means for Illinois, climate fight. While the president-elect promises clean air and water, climate and equity likely to take a back seat to fossil fuel excavation.

• WGN 9 (February 7, 2025): Illinois faces funding cut-off for electric vehicle charging stations; Pritzker vows to fight back

Indiana

• Indianapolis Star (February 5, 2025): Some employers want people in office. Many workers say no. What’s Indiana’s new normal? A recent study found that nearly 46% of remote U.S. workers would leave if they faced a return-to-office mandate. In Indiana, about 14% of the workforce teleworks.
  
• WRTV (February 19, 2025):New bill seeks to protect all healthcare workers from workplace violence passes Senate vote

Iowa

• Iowa College of Public Health (January 21, 2025): Iowa researchers examine the association of hurricanes with veterans’ mental health

• Iowa Capital Dispatch (February 4, 2025): North Dakota federal judge axes environmental rule. Iowa led case over environmental review process for infrastructure projects, including pipelines

• Storm Lake Times Pilot (February 18, 2025): Letters to the Editor: Cancer in Iowa
• KCRG 9 ABC (February 3, 2025): Red Dye 3: A look in the reason behind the ban

Kansas

• Fire and Safety Journal (February 21, 2025): Firefighter battle against cancer gains momentum. Wichita, Kansas, has taken a major step forward by launching a $250,000 cancer screening program for its firefighters.

Minnesota

• Lake Expo (February 2, 2025): Radioactive Missouri Site Polluted With Manhattan Project Waste May Finally Be Cleaned Up

Nebraska

• Economic Policy Institute (January 30, 2025): Paid sick leave improves workers’ health and the economy. Beginning this year, Americans in three more states—Alaska, Missouri, and Nebraska—will have access to paid sick leave, bringing the total number of states that provide paid sick leave up to 18 (plus Washington D.C.). These policies provide workers short-term leave to care for themselves or their family when they become sick.
• Public News Service (January 27, 2025 ): Protecting Nebraska workers from avian flu. A bill has been introduced in Lincoln to protect workers in the agriculture sector from dangerous workplace practices and get ahead of a potential avian flu outbreak by having safeguards in place.

North Dakota

• North Dakota Monitor (February 4, 2025): North Dakota federal judge axes environmental rule. Order says federal agency has spent decades governing review process without authority.
  
• Environmental Health News (January 27, 2025): North Dakota governor who sued Interior Department is now set to lead it
• Successful Farming (February 18, 2025): Lawmakers Vote Down 6 Bills to Limit Carbon Capture in North Dakota

South Dakota

• South Dakota Searchlight (February 7, 2025): South Dakota cities could stop fluoridating drinking water under bill passed by committee

Wisconsin

• Wisconsin Public Radio (February 10, 2025): Wisconsin joins lawsuit to block NIH funding cuts that UW says will harm patients, workers. Trump administration said National Institutes of Health will cap grantee administrative costs at 15 percent

• Wisconsin Watch (February 10th, 2025): Wisconsin has 18,000 federal workers. Trump’s plans for cuts could erode services. Federal workers say they’re being demonized and fear delivery of services may suffer.
  
• WLGR (February 13, 2025): Wisconsin Supreme Court hearing arguments to allow UW Health employees to collectively bargain
• Business Insider (February 5, 2025):3M discloses October 2024 subpoena related to Prairie du Chien facility

OEM Images of the Month

The Palisades Fire burning a structure on January 8. CAL FIRE_Official – Palisades Fire

Evening light falls across homes and neighborhoods devastated by the Palisades Fire in areas near Pacific Palisades, California, Jan. 14, 2025. More than 2,500 National Guard personnel have been called up as part of wildfire response efforts and have been providing aerial and ground firefighting support, security and traffic control, and logistical support in support of state, and federal authorities. Source: Sgt. 1st Class Jon Soucy – https://www.flickr.com/photos/thenationalguard/54272193113 This image was released by the United States Army with the ID 250114-A-WU705-4564R. Also see: 

• Newsweek: LA Fires: Expert on 5 Things Not To Say to People Affected by Disaster Published on January 10, 2025. 

Scientific American (January 13, 2025): Photos Show Why Los Angeles Fires Were the Worst in City’s History. The ferocity and scale of the fires that tore through the Los Angeles area become clearer in photographs.

Images from BBC (14 January 2025): Maps and images reveal scale of LA wildfire devastation

CBS (February 28, 2025): Map shows measles cases across U.S.

Measles activity is increasing in parts of the United States and Canada in 2025.

• The Texas Department of State Health Services is reporting an outbreak of measles in the South Plains Region of Texas, with 146 cases as of February 28, 2025. Only five of the persons were vaccinated, 20 patients have been hospitalized and there has been one death in an unvaccinated school-aged child.
• The New Mexico Department of Health is reporting an outbreak of measles in Lea County, near Gaines County, Texas. As of February 28, 2025, 9 cases have been identified.
• The Public Health Agency of Canada has reported 44 cases of measles in 2025, 31 cases in Ontario and 13 in Quebec. Thirty-three (33) persons were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status and four patients have been hospitalized.
• The New Jersey Department of Health has reported 3 cases of measles among unvaccinated Bergen County residents as of February 20, 2025.
• On February 26, 2025, the Kentucky Department for Public Health announced a confirmed case of measles identified in an adult that recently traveled internationally to an area with ongoing measles transmission.
• “Immune amnesia,” or the resetting of the immune system, can occur among persons who are infected with measles. This can cause increased susceptibility to other infectious diseases after a measles infection.
• The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, which includes two doses, is 97% effective at preventing measles. Communities develop herd immunity when at least 95% of residents are vaccinated.
  

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (February 28, 2025): Fluview: This graph reflects the number of specimens tested and the number determined to be positive for influenza viruses at the public health lab (specimens tested is not the same as cases). It does not reflect specimens tested only at CDC and could include more than one specimen tested per person. Specimens tested as part of routine influenza surveillance as well as those tested as part of targeted testing for people exposed to influenza A(H5) are included.

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.

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.

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!

Upcoming Events

CSOEMA 2025 Spring Seminar(Register here)	Coralville, IA	March 13-15, 2025
Chicago OEM Society Spring Assembly (Info here)	Chicago, IL	March 29, 2025
Medical Review Officer Comprehensive Course (Info here)	Austin, TX	April 25-26, 2025
Medical Center Occupational Health Course (Info here)	Austin, TX	April 26, 2025
AOHC 2025(Register here)	Austin, TX	April 27-30, 2025
AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment 6th Edition 2024 (Info here)	Austin, TX	May 01 – 01, 2025

OEM Clinical Practice Highlights

• 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

Zadunayski, Tanis MSc; Durand-Moreau, Quentin MD; Adisesh, Anil MD; Burstyn, Igor PhD; Labrèche, France PhD; Ruzycki, Shannon MD; Cherry, Nicola MD, PhD. Determinants of Post-COVID Ill-Health in a Cohort of Canadian Healthcare Workers. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 67(1):p 1-10, January 2025. | DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000003226

• Chaudhry, Zaira S. MD, MPH; Choudhury, Avishek PhD. Clinical Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Occupational Health: A Systematic Literature Review. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 66(12):p 943-955, December 2024. | DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000003212

Member Highlights

• Zeke McKinney, MD, MHI, MPH, Occupational Medicine Physician, UMN/Health Partners Occupational Medicine Residency Program Director, and Research Investigator, was featured in an engaging interview on Minnesota Public Radio News (January 29, 2025): Can microplastics harm us?. MPR News guest host Euan Kerr talks with Zeke and others about where plastic is showing up, how it might be getting there and how researchers are trying to tease out links between microplastics and human health.

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].

• 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. 
• 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. 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 – Spring Assembly, Saturday March 29, 2025

The Chicago Occupational & Environmental Medical Society (COEMS) invites CSOEMA members and other OEM professionals to attend our regional occupational and environmental medicine networking meeting in Chicago on Saturday, March 29, 2025 for the Spring Assembly to foster collaboration, networking, medical education, and professional development among local practitioners in the field. This event continues the tradition of the former Medical Directors Club of Chicago, which historically brought together occupational medicine physicians from the Chicago area for monthly luncheons for over thirty-five years. Spend a Saturday morning with us for education, CME lectures, networking, and fellowship. 

• RSVP here to let us know your interest in attending. 
• Visit the COEMS website for program details.
• This event is co-sponsored by CSOEMA and the UIC Great Lakes Center for Occupational Health and Safety (GLC-OHS).

For questions and more information, send email to: [email protected].

Residents Corner

We congratulate the Class of 2025 Senior Residents (PGY-3) in the Central States region in Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN (Health Partners) and Chicago, IL (UIC) as they complete their final year of OEM residency and prepare for their future careers in the field.

HealthPartners OEM Residency

UIC OEM Residency

The ten states represented by the Central States Occupational and Environmental Medicine Association are home to two Occupational and Environmental Medicine residency programs. The HealthPartners Occupational Medicine Residency Program is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and the University of Illinois at Chicago Occupational Medicine Residency Program is located in Chicago, Illinois. These programs aim to develop and train preventive medicine physicians in Public Health and Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Please contact the residency program directors for more information or visit the websites below.

Kim Hargis, MD, MPH Program Director, Occupational Medicine Residency Program University of Illinois at Chicago  835 S. Wolcott, MC 684 Chicago, Illinois 60612 [email protected] Phone: 312-996-6765 | Fax: 312-413-8485 https://glcohs.uic.edu/residency/

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/

Milestones – In Memoriam

Larry Alan Lindesmith, M.D., 86, of Onalaska, WI, was called to heaven from his home on Thursday, January 16th after a life committed to medicine, service, and family. He was born July 27, 1938 to Imogene (Young) and Lyle Lindesmith. Larry graduated from Englewood High School, Colorado, and earned his B.A. from the University of Colorado Boulder in 1959. He attended Bowman Gray School of Medicine at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC and from 1963-1967 completed his residencies in Internal Medicine and Pulmonary Medicine at the University of Chicago and University of Colorado Medical Center. Larry served in the US Army Reserves Medical Corp for ten years; for two years, Major Lindesmith was assistant chief of the Pulmonary and Infectious Disease Service at Madigan General Army Hospital in Tacoma, WA. 

In 1969, Larry was recruited by Gundersen Health Systems in La Crosse, Wisconsin, to practice pulmonary medicine and to teach medical residents. He was thankful to find river bluffs after growing up with Colorado mountains. In partnership with Dr. Ed Winga, they established the Critical Care Pulmonary Department. Larry developed the Pulmonary Physiology Laboratory and Blood Gas Laboratories as well as the Sleep Disorders Clinic and Laboratory. Alongside Robert Ustby, MSN, and others, they created the Occupational Health Department in 1978. He served in varied leadership roles, including on the Gundersen Clinic Board of Directors. Larry was a fellow and chairman of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM). He dedicated over three decades to Pulmonary and Occupational Medicine until his retirement in 2002. He was employed by John Deere and Logistics Health until 2013, still attending to occupational and lung health. Larry, aka “Doc,” quit smoking in 1973 (yes, as a pulmonologist and an asthmatic), and contributed to a decades-long movement against indoor smoking and secondhand smoke. Larry was continually proud to work with outstanding medical and education professionals, including residents, at Gundersen/Lutheran “who worked together for the best outcome of patients.”

Larry is survived by his wife of 51 years, Diane (Bakken) Lindesmith of Onalaska, WI, a constant source of love and support throughout his life. She added a twinkle to his eyes and a spring to his step. Larry and Diane, RN, PNP, met at Gundersen and were married in 1973. They raised three children in a life of faith and service, including a working family trip in 1992 with Medical Clinics on Wheels in Ternopil, Ukraine. Larry also served on school and community boards, including at Luther High School and the Greater La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce. 

Larry’s greatest blessings included his five children and their families, to whom he modeled his love for education, leadership, and service: Robert (Amy) Lindesmith, recently moved from Midland, MI, to Belleville, WI, with Sarah (Adam) Johnson and Erica Lindesmith; three families in the Minneapolis area: Lisa Lindesmith, DVM, (Toni Pangborn); Abigail (Jason) Rombalski, PhD, with Teraysa and Elijah Rombalski; Nathan (Francesca) Lindesmith with Jada, Mahya, Nathan, and Benjamin Lindesmith; and David (Julie) Lindesmith of Daytona Beach, FL with Kayla Funk and Garrett Wasley. His grandchildren loved him. They affectionately recalled how happy Papa was singing, spending time with them, sitting, listening, and talking, patient and wise, contemplating what others were saying: “As a Lindesmith it’s hard for us to sit and listen, but Papa has mastered it.” He never needed much to make him happy. He was true to himself and put all his trust in God, making others around him want to be better in their faith. He was always kind, accepting, and supportive, and he loved to laugh at their shenanigans. 

Larry loved music, photography, and spending time in nature. He was a voracious reader, especially of uncommonly told histories. He cherished his cousins, nieces, and nephew, and traced stories of his ancestry to share with others. He enjoyed brunch meetings with other retired docs, Bible study at his church, and time outdoors in Birchwood, Wisconsin, including guys fishing weekend. We remember Larry for his dedication to life-long learning, medical and working communities, and his philanthropy, service, and leadership in civic and faith life. We admire him for his expertise and actively advocating to improve every sector of his life. Larry was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Kay Minnis, of Colorado.  Read Larry’s full obituary here.

Do you have a Milestone announcement to share?  Let us know about your
birth, marriage, anniversary, promotion, or other life milestone by sending an email to: [email protected].

CSOEMA T-Shirts & Other SWAG

Order your CSOEMA T-shirts and other SWAG! (SWAG = Souvenirs, Wearables, and Gifts) Here’s your chance to own a wearable, functional, and collectible piece of CSOEMA SWAG!  The CSOEMA Store is open!  CSOEMA-branded items are available conveniently online to everyone. The CSOEMA Store offers clothing, drinkware, tote bags, and more. Items are available for purchase and shipping directly to your door. New designs and items will be added regularly.  Shop the online CSOEMA Store today! To access the online store, visit: https://www.bonfire.com/store/csoema/ 

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

Job Posting

Medical Director Occupational Health – Northwestern Medicine, Chicago, IL

Description

• Provides Medical leadership for the service or department in the area of expertise, assisting with establishing standards of care and developing programs to improve clinical outcomes and quality of service.
• Responsible for advancing the goals of NM with regard to quality, safety, patient satisfaction, operations, and other key performance indicators, as well as financial targets within the service area. These goals will be reviewed annually by the Medical Director’s Manager.
• Responsible for attending requested and required hospital meetings, including regularly scheduled meetings with other administrative leaders in their area.
• Collaborates and communicates effectively with other administrative leaders, as well as all team members, to assure consistency across the department.

Required:

• Current Illinois medical license in good standing
• Shall be qualified by training, experience, interest, demonstrated current ability, and board certification in the clinical area covered by the department.
• Must be knowledgeable about working with an adult population ranging from adolescent to geriatric, including patients with communication barriers, sensory impairment, and physical limitations, including but not limited to developmental, mobility, vision or hearing impairments
• Must be able to identify appropriate measures and accommodations to meet the needs of the patient in their age category.
• Must be able to communicate and interact effectively with patients and family members to resolve issues.
• Possess strong interpersonal skills, excellent clinical judgment, and quality assessment skills.

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Medical Director – Medcor

Are you or someone you know a skilled and dynamic Occupational Health Physician Leader? We’re excited to announce an exceptional opportunity to join Medcor as a Physician Medical Director at a Global Fortune 500 Company in the Quad Cities area of Illinois. This prestigious role is ideal for a forward-thinking physician who thrives in a fast-paced environment and enjoys balancing clinical excellence with leadership, education, and client collaboration.

As Medical Director, you’ll play a pivotal role in delivering a wide range of services, including:

• Patient Care: Diagnose and treat work-related and non-work-related illnesses and injuries, conduct regulatory exams, and provide preventive and urgent care.
• Leadership & Collaboration: Direct the medical practice of PAs and NPs, provide guidance and educational support, and ensure seamless teamwork.
• Program Oversight: Manage medical surveillance programs, perform fit-for-duty evaluations, and stabilize patients needing advanced care.

This role offers a unique blend of responsibilities, with 80% of your time devoted to direct patient care and 20% to administrative leadership, making it perfect for a physician who values variety and impact.

We’re seeking candidates with: A valid and unrestricted medical license in Illinois and Iowa, Board certification in Occupational Medicine, Family Medicine, or a related field, A commitment to exceptional patient care, teamwork, and customer service.

If this opportunity excites you or you know someone who fits the bill, please share your CV or pass along this information. Together, let’s shape the future of occupational health at one of the world’s leading organizations.

Contact:

Michael L Bledsoe, MD, MS

VP of Clinical Affairs / Associate Medical Director

Medcor, Inc
[email protected]
815-307-1341

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Francine Katz, DO, MPH, FACOEM, President
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