About
OHWC Faculty and Staff

Started in 2011, OHWC is a Total Worker Health® Center of Excellence funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH; Grant: NIOSH U19OH0101). OHWC is housed within OHSU's Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences at Richard Jones Hall.
We conduct research, outreach, and education to improve worker well-being using the Total Worker Health® approach. Close on the heels of our 10th anniversary, OHWC became renewed for another 5-year cycle! Read our blog on this.
OHWC’s mission is to improve worker well-being by helping organizations prioritize physical and psychosocial safety at the workplace, design safe and healthy work, and develop positive work experiences.
Our theme in 2021-2026 cycle is Total Worker Health® intervention effectiveness, translation, and outreach to advance safe and healthy work design. Visit our Total Worker Health page to learn more.
We adopt an enhanced focus on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and believe this is the bedrock of any effort to ensure worker safety, health, and well-being. As a Total Worker Health Center, OHWC commits to practicing a DEI-informed approach in all aspects of our work – research planning and operations, resource development and dissemination, and partnership building and outreach. Learn more about DEI-focused efforts at OHWC and our home Institute, the Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences.
OHWC’s major focuses:
- Conduct research on Total Worker Health-based organizational approaches for worker safety, health, and well-being.
- Create and disseminate educational and evidence-based resources that organizations can implement.
- Increase capacity for learning and applying Total Worker Health by creating educational opportunities for academic and practitioner groups.
- Develop stakeholder partnerships and collaborative opportunities for moving TWH-based practices into action.
Read about our Center Accomplishments.

OHWC's program structure
OHWC is partnered with the following institutions through shared activities:
- We are housed within the Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences at OHSU.
- Portland State University
- University of Washington
- University of Florida
Read about OHWC’s people.
OHWC is also partnered with an External Advisory Committee comprised of members from diverse backgrounds and perspectives, and who input to our planned activities and directions. Learn about our EAC members.
- Leslie Hammer (Center Co-Director): hammerl@ohsu.edu
- Ryan Olson (Center Co-Director): olsonry@ohsu.edu
- Anjali Rameshbabu (Center Manager): rameshba@ohsu.edu
- Anjali Rameshbabu (Outreach lead for Institute): rameshba@ohsu.edu
- Katia-Costa-Black (lead TWH Outreach) costabla@ohsu.edu

Listen to our podcast.
Connect with us
Download our one-pagers below to learn more about our work and impact.