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$2.3 Million Grant to Train the Next Generation of Occupational and Environmental Medicine Physicians |
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September 24, 2013, Volume 60, No. 6 |
The Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) of the US Department of Health and Human Services has awarded the Occupational and Environmental Medicine (OEM) Residency Program at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania a $2.3 million grant over the next five years to help train the next generation of OEM physicians.
“The Occupational and Environmental Medicine Residency program at Penn helps address a national need: the shortage of residency trained Occupational and Environmental Medicine physicians in the United States,” said Dr. Judith McKenzie, associate professor of emergency medicine and OEM Residency Program Director. “This funding will provide critical support in helping us to continue to train OEM physicians, with specific aims to further diversify the workforce and help alleviate the national shortage.”
OEM physicians are devoted to the conservation and restoration of the health of the workforce and promotion of worker health, productivity and well being. They diagnose, treat and prevent occupational and environmental injury and disease, are experts in work fitness and disability evaluations, and in hazard recognition, evaluation and control. OEM specialists are also versed in toxicology, disaster preparedness and emergency management. These physicians work in various settings such as corporations, government and academia.
Since the program’s inception in 1997, Penn has graduated 99 OEM residents. Dr. McKenzie hopes to be able to train 30 more residents over the next five years.
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Almanac -
September 24, 2013, Volume 60, No. 6 |
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