Member Profile: Collaborative on Health and the Environment (CHE)

Posted by Emily Glenn on June 15th, 2015 Posted in: News from Network Members

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This member organization profile was contributed by Elise Miller, MEd, Director of the Collaborative on Health and the Environment.

Please tell us about CHE’s work.

The Collaborative on Health and the Environment (CHE) works to strengthen the science dialogue on environmental factors impacting human health. CHE does this by bringing attention to emerging environmental health research and catalyzing collaborative, prevention-oriented initiatives towards upstream solutions and interventions. Founded in 2002 as a program of Commonweal, CHE is an international partnership of almost 5,000 individuals and organizations in 79 countries and all 50 US states, including scientists, health professionals, health-affected groups, nongovernmental organizations and other concerned citizens, committed to improving human health across the lifespan.

Which parts of the Pacific Northwest Region does CHE serve?

CHE serves all parts of the Pacific Northwest — anyone who is interested in environmental health science and its implications for human health.

Tell us about a recent accomplishment at CHE.

 A Story of Health multimedia eBook, published in early 2015, explores how our environments interact with our genes to influence health across the lifespan. Described as “brilliant,” “innovative,” and “fun to use” by physicians, researchers and advocates, the peer-reviewed, 150-page eBook is told through the lives of fictional characters with asthma, developmental disabilities and leukemia (the first three case studies released to date). The eBook features the latest scientific research about disease origin and helpful facts about disease prevention. Colorful illustrations, graphics and videos enhance each page. Links to a wide range of additional resources and hundreds of scientific papers enrich each story. A Story of Health offers free continuing education credits through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/ Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Over a period of three years, the Collaborative on Health and the Environment (CHE) developed A Story of Health with ATSDR, the University of California, San Francisco, Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit (UCSF PEHSU), the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, California EPA (OEHHA), and the Science and Environmental Health Network (SEHN).

Amelia’s story in A Story of Health.

 

What do you do most enjoy about your field of work?

Working with highly

talented colleagues in different fields of expertise who are committed to improving public health across the lifespan and through primary prevention.

What National Library of Medicine resource have you used recently?

Environmental Health & Toxicology from the Division of Specialized Information Resources.

Post a question to the PNR community:

What initiatives currently exist that use a systems approach to reducing chronic disease and disability by incorporating both social and environmental determinants of health (including exposures to toxic chemicals) into public health initiatives and interventions?

CHE staff. (Click to enlarge.)