Environmental Health is powerfully represented in the College of Health Sciences at Trident University. Trident University is answering current needs and future prospective growth in the environmental science and health arena. Trident University has developed a BSHS and a Graduate Certificate with a concentration in Environmental Health Sciences. The professors at Trident University are highly accomplished professionals, with Environmental Health background and expertise.
Trident University professor, Dr. Frank Gomez has served as a nationally-recognized subject matter expert in food safety, community noise control, and health effects of housing, as well as for numerous national professional certification/licensure examinations for many years.
With a PhD in Environmental Health Science and Policy, Trident University professor, Dr. David Turbow has collaborated with the regulatory community and non-governmental agencies as a scientist and policy analyst to help facilitate their water pollution prevention planning efforts.
Trident University professor, Dr. Heidi Sato, who holds a PhD in Health Sciences from Trident University, has worked as an epidemiologist for Los Angeles County Environmental Health Division and the Acute Communicable Disease Control Unit, and has served as an expert witness for high-profile foodborne disease outbreaks.
Trident University professor, Dr. Rania Sabty-Daily, who holds a PhD in Environmental Health Sciences, has worked in the private sector and consulting and has researched environmental hazards and children’s health and has published work in occupational health and exposure assessment.
The air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, as well as the homes we live in, and the places we work at – all aspects of our natural and manmade environment – have an impact on our health. Interactions between humans and the environment can give rise to a variety of diseases and health conditions, from asthma or cancer to breaking news, such as outbreaks of West Nile Virus, Bio-/agro-terrorism (intentional tainting of food), E-coli in bags of spinach or lead in children’s toys.
Environmental health is a unique field of study because of its science background and the diversity of subject matter areas covered that are required to be mastered by the practicing professionals in this field. Trident University students examine applicable laws and regulations and also gain a wealth of information on cutting edge technologies used to remediate pollution of air, water, and soil. Knowledge of areas such as food safety, water and wastewater protection and management, solid waste management, vector control, community and occupational noise control, epidemiology, housing, and radiation control are all subjects that environmental health specialists work with on a daily basis.
Trident University courses are developed to complement a student’s science-based background so that they may become a desired person for employment in this field. These courses provide the students at Trident University with knowledge and the skills that they will need as practitioners in the field. The environmental health programs at Trident University also offer students a broad, in-depth, and “hands-on” perspective on issues facing environmental health. Trident University’s courses offer students “virtual” hands-on experience in the world of the environmental health specialist.
For example, in Trident University’s, Food Protection Course, Trident University students are given the opportunity to conduct a virtual environmental health investigation of a restaurant. Students at Trident University learn how to assess validity of a foodborne illness complaint, conduct a virtual inspection at a restaurant, identify factors that may have contributed to the foodborne illness, and identify corrective actions for food code violations. Trident University’s, Vector Control Course, provides the student at Trident University the opportunity to learn about a variety of vector borne diseases and how to implement vector control programs.
In Trident University programs, Trident University students explore the human health impacts of environmental contamination, as well as preventative measures available to keep those problems from reoccurring and they apply critical thinking skills to address real world environmental health issues. For example, the type of public health action that is occurring in Haiti with respect to food, water, and resources came about as a multi-organizational emergency response to an unpreventable natural disaster. Many Trident University students are being deployed to aid in the relief efforts.
Graduates of Trident University’s environmental health programs will be well-versed and prepared to address the many important challenges ahead of them in their service to country and community. Trident University students will be prepared to become future leaders in tackling real world environmental health issues by enhancing strategic visioning and direction-setting skills through critical thinking and analysis.