The First Annual NW Environmental Health Conference: Bridging Research, Care, and Policy
Individuals from the OHSU School of Nursing, in collaboration with Multnomah County Environmental Health Services (MCEHS), the Oregon Environmental Council (OEC), the Oregon Center for Environmental Health (OCEH), the National College of Natural Medicine (NCNM), the Oregon Student Nurses Association (OSNA), and Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR), are organizing the first annual NW Environmental Health Forum to be held on February 6th and 7th, 2009.
We are pleased to announce the call for proposals for the first annual Northwest Environmental Health Conference: [PDF] Bridging Research, Care and Policy. The deadline for proposal submission is November 10, 2008. Selected presentations will be notified by December 1, 2008.
Individuals from the OHSU School of Nursing, in collaboration with Multnomah County Environmental Health Services (MCEHS), the Oregon Environmental Council (OEC), the Oregon Center for Environmental Health (OCEH), the National College of Natural Medicine (NCNM), the Oregon Student Nurses Association (OSNA), and Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR), are organizing the first annual NW Environmental Health Conference to be held on February 6th and 7th, 2009.This conference will bring together leading scientists, researchers and healthcare professionals in the field of environmental health and will focus on stimulating robust dialogue regarding the impact of the environment on health and healthcare practices.Most importantly, this conference will strive to promote a paradigm shift in the healthcare professionals’ approach and integration of environmental health concerns in their daily practices with clients.
- Day 1 will cover the emerging science of environmental health, new approaches to patient care and facilities management, and policy issues surrounding environmental health for current healthcare professionals.
- Day 2 will address the growing need for the education of students about environmental health topics at the global, community, and individual level.
The general publics’ and healthcare professionals’ awareness of the emerging field of environmental health is growing as evidenced by support of environmental health legislation throughout the country.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have estimated that 16% of all preventable deaths in the United States can be attributed to environmental factors.Researchers at the World Health Organization (WHO) estimate that environmental factors may cause up to 33% of diseases worldwide.The Institute of Medicine, more than a decade ago, recommended that public health departments identify, understand and control environmental problems as health hazards.In order to address the needs of the public and educate healthcare professionals about the impact of the environment on health, it is critical that forums addressing environmental health concerns are developed and supported.
Furthermore, as collaboration among healthcare professionals is paramount to continued improvements in the care of ill individuals and populations, it is critical to facilitate dialogue between healthcare professionals, as well as students in healthcare fields.A conference with specific directives to review current basic research and emerging science, to introduce tools, resources and best-practice models already in practice, and to educate and stimulate healthcare professionals to become involved in environmental health policy change, would achieve these collaborative goals.
