Your Donation Helps!
Thank you for considering a contribution to our Occupational and Environmental Health (OEH). This internationally-recognized Center is structured to enhance the health and safety of businesses, workers and to foster a healthy environment. It is like many other School of Medicine organizations in that it receives approximately 7% of its operating budget from higher education support by the state of Utah. Another 33% of support comes from a grant from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in recognition of the quality and effectiveness of OEH’s education, research, and service programs. That means 60% of its financial needs must be met by gifts from donors, by other grants, by contributions from the Utah Workers Compensation Fund and other Worker’s Compensation Insurers, through direct funding by the Utah legislature, and from other groups that recognize the impact of RMCOEH’s graduates on reducing workplace injuries and illnesses. Donations enable us to continue current programs and also support our efforts to increase the number of our graduates that will provide important benefits to so many.
Many of our faculty provide contributions, and we invite you join them. In particular, the family of former Occupational Medicine Director, Richard E. Johns, MD, MPH established a scholarship in his name that provides tuition and other support to student recipients. Similarly, the immediate past Director, Royce Moser, Jr., MD, MPH, Professor Emeritus established the Royce and Lois Moser student scholarship to assist students working to obtain their degrees. The Jeff Lee Memorial Fund awards student scholarships in Industrial Hygiene. Awards from these three scholarships go directly to students to help them meet the expenses of their education programs. You may contribute to these named scholarships or to the general OEH fund that supports our education and research activities. Of course, all donations are tax deductible
Background of Occupational & Environmental Health
OEH was established in 1977 to meet the need for an interdisciplinary occupational and environmental health and safety program in the Mountain West. Its mission is to protect the worker and the environment through interdisciplinary education, research, and service. Faculty include specialists in Industrial Hygiene, Occupational Injury Prevention, Occupational Medicine, and Ergonomics & Safety. Members conduct master and PhD education programs in these five disciplines and also in control and removal of hazardous waste. OEH has had over 700 academic graduates, and approximately 50% of these individuals remain in the Mountain West. In addition to the graduate education programs, faculty provide continuing education and outreach programs for over 5,000 health and safety professionals each year, enabling these specialists to apply the latest advances in occupational and environmental health and safety to help prevent illnesses and injuries at work and in environments.
During the most recent fiscal year, OEH also provided direct support to over 7,000 businesses! This support includes a program where faculty and students work with a specific business to help the company resolve a health or safety concern. Thus, OEH students receive practical training in how to assess, analyze, quantify, problem solve, and communicate solutions to employers and workers; this practical training naturally facilitates faster and more successful integration into employment settings for the OEH’s graduates who are ready to evaluate and address a businesses’ OSH challenges.
Once established, the Center was rapidly recognized for the quality of its faculty and programs. OEH continues to enjoy its national designation as a NIOSH-sponsored Education and Research Center. During both of the two most recent evaluations by NIOSH, the Rocky Mountain Center received the highest scores of any of the eight other prestigious universities’ competing centers. In essence our Center is a “National Treasure for Occupational Health and Safety”. We are pleased you are considering joining us in our efforts to bring better health and safety to individuals, families, and businesses.