Director's Message

Over the last several decades, workplaces in the U.S. have undergone remarkable changes, including dramatic improvements in worker safety, health, and well-being. Across the country, the efforts of federal, state, and municipal governments, coupled with that of employers, safety and health professionals, unions, professional associations, and researchers, have had a dramatic effect on workplace safety. 

For over 30 years, workers in Oregon have benefited from the state's investment in the Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences. At the Institute, we leverage state and federal support to study the workforce's safety and health challenges. We also deploy that research to develop, evaluate, and implement practical workplace solutions that reduce worker illnesses, injuries, and fatalities and improve overall worker health and well-being. 

Our researchers are nationally recognized experts who take a holistic approach to occupational health and safety. At the Institute, we are unique in examining occupational health through the lens of basic, clinical, and applied science. We focus on themes relevant to workers across industries, including sleep and circadian functions, chemical and environmental stressors exposure, workplace safety, and supportive workplace practices. 

Collaborations inform and enable our research and are critical to translating research findings into real-world applications that improve workplace health and safety. With collaboration and outreach core to our mission, we empower workers and employers to improve workplace health and safety. 

At the Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences, we are pioneering the pathway to improved worker health and well-being through research, innovation, collaboration, and translating knowledge and discovery into practice.

Steven A. Shea, Professor and Director, Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences, OHSU

Steven A. Shea, Ph.D. 
Director 
Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences 
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