Public health

Current Projects

Environmental Workforce Characteristics in the Rural Public Health Sector
Research center: West Virginia Rural Health Research Center
Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topic: Public health
Environmental risks to rural populations are understudied relative to urban areas despite increasing recognition that rural populations are potentially exposed to these risks from agricultural, mining, industrial or other sources. This project analyzes the environmental workforce characteristics of the rural public health sector to inform policy relative to coordination of rural environmental health services.

Multidisciplinary Environmental Health Provider Competencies Expected Completion
Research center: West Virginia Rural Health Research Center
Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topic: Public health
This study will develop, from existing single discipline standards, a competency guide that will address competencies that are essential for providing environmentally conscious care. The study will then systematically evaluate content validity, completeness and clarity of the competencies.

Toxics Release Inventory Sites and Population Health across Rural and Urban Areas
Research center: West Virginia Rural Health Research Center
Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topic: Public health
Previous research has identified higher mortality rates in rural areas in association with exposure to pollution sources. This study conducts mortality outcome analyses specific to discharges from Toxics Release Inventory sites across the spectrum of rural to urban settings.