Harvard TH Chan Education and Research Center for Occupational Safety and Health

Project Summary The Harvard Education and Research Center’s primary objective is the training of leaders in occupational health and safety specialties. The ERC comprises several academic and research cores: industrial (occupational) hygiene, occupational medicine, occupational epidemiology, and targeted research training. Through a combination of practical and research-oriented coursework and field experiences, graduate students at the Center examine current problems relating to the workplace and learn methods and approaches for establishing health and safe work environments. Our goal is to prepare our students and trainees to be national and international leaders for improved understanding and prevention of work-related disease through research and practice. The Master’s program in Occupational (Industrial) Hygiene includes didactic and internship placements, allowing rapid entry to industry. Physicians training in the Occupational and Environmental Medicine Master of Public Health and Residency programs are educated and trained for clinical practice OHS management and leadership, and academia. The HSPH ERC offers a variety of doctoral preparation in Occupational Epidemiology, Occupational Hygiene, and Targeted Research Training, with curriculum tracks that cover the gamut of OHS disciplines. The Occupational Epidemiology Program Area confers doctoral degrees in population aspects of occupational health and safety. In addition, our Targeted Research Training Core aims to groom the future generation of faculty and professional trainers with doctoral and post-doctoral tracks. Further, the Targeted Research Program aims to provide trainees with interdisciplinary research education and experience in cutting-edge research projects designed to address NORA priorities and research-to-practice (r2p). The Pilot Project Research Training Program also makes awards in the region to support graduate trainees in occupational health and safety in research responsive to NORA priorities. Finally, the programs in Continuing Education and Outreach are dynamic and creative efforts at serving the occupational safety and health needs of New England and providing an integrative force to link the community. The Continuing Education Program, in collaboration with the Center and the School’s Office of Continuing Professional Education, offers an impressive slate of courses that meet regional and national needs. The Outreach Program has been successful in impacting the curriculum of other schools of higher education within the region, establishing a network of professionals in New England who are interested in occupational safety and health.