2022 John P. Wyatt, M.D. Environment & Health Symposium

The 2022 John P. Wyatt, M.D. Environment & Health Symposium honors the legacy of Dr. John Wyatt whose pioneering environmental clinical research will be honored on Earth Day, April 22, 2022.  The 2022 Symposium is a Kentucky-wide symposium focusing on climate-related disasters and health. Universities and agencies from across the Commonwealth have joined forces to address the health impacts of disasters and climate change. 

This year we are honored to have Dr. Aubrey K. Miller, MD, MPH, the Senior Medical Advisor to the Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), presenting the keynote address "Applied Science to Address the Health Impacts of Disasters and Climate Change: Challenges and Opportunities." 

April 22, 2022, 8:30 am - 3 pm
Rosenberg College of Law Grand Courtroom
(Note: Zoom option is available: https://uky.zoom.us/j/86400621614)

Applied Science to Address the Health Impacts of Disasters and Climate Change: Challenges and Opportunities. 

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Aubrey K. Miller, Senior Medical Advisor to the Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)

This discussion will highlight the complex scientific challenges and exciting new opportunities to perform and translate data collection and health research to address disasters and our changing climate.  

Dr. Aubrey K. Miller, MD, MPH, retired Captain USPHS, is board certified in Occupational and Environmental Medicine.  He is currently the Senior Medical Advisor to the Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), where he supervises a portfolio of programs involving global environmental health and climate change, disaster research, and environmental toxics, as well as legislative, policy, strategic planning, and coordination of environmental health issues and activities among U.S. federal agencies, congress, academia, and other stakeholders.  His experiences include numerous public health investigations and research studies involving a wide range of occupational and environmental health issues.  He has contributed to the leadership and management of numerous disaster responses including the Libby, Montana, Public Health Emergency involving widespread asbestos contamination, Katrina and other major hurricanes, the World Trade Center and anthrax attacks, the Gulf Oil Spill, and the H1N1 influenza, Ebola, Zika, and COVID-19 infectious outbreaks.  He currently Co-Chairs the new NIH Climate Change and Health Initiative to develop needed research, capacity building, and training in the US and globally. He also directs the NIH Public Health Emergency and Disaster Research Response (DR2) Program which focuses on improving national and international disaster research capabilities through enhancing policies, infrastructure, training, and integration of stakeholders, especially academia and impacted communities.  He received a BS in biology, BA in political science, and MPH in environmental and occupational health at the University of Illinois, and his MD at Rush Medical College.  His 30+ year career includes service as a CDC Epidemiology Intelligence Service (EIS) officer and senior medical officer positions with CDC/NIOSH, the HHS Office of the Secretary, EPA, and FDA.

Abstracts for this year's Poster Session have now closed. 

Public Health & Climate-related Disasters in the Commonwealth. Panelists will discuss the public health impacts of disasters in KY, such as the recent flooding and tornados.  (Zoom: https://uky.zoom.us/j/86400621614) 

Natasha DeJarnett, PhD, MPH, BCES, Assistant Professor of Environmental Medicine, University of Louisville

Dr. DeJarnett will moderate the panel session.
 

Megan Schargarodski, State Climatologist and interim director of the Kentucky Climate Center

Ms. Schargarodski will present an overview of climate change in Kentucky and mitigation strategies to respond to these changes.
 

Nicholas Newman, DO, MS, FAAP, Medical Director, Pediatric Environmental Health and Lead Clinic, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital

Dr. Newman will discuss the impacts of climate health, particularly children.
 

Jon Allen, Lee County Emergency Management Director

Mr. Allen will discuss the recent response to flooding in Lee County, Kentucky.
 

Steve Cunanan, CEO of the Kentucky Region of the American Red Cross

Mr. Cunanan will share the response of the Red Cross to recent tornados in Western Kentucky.

This year's Wyatt Symposium breakout sessions are centered around the themes of:

• Floods

• Tornados

• Compounding Environmental Disasters and Health
   

Co-sponsors for the Wyatt Symposium:

• UK Office of the Vice President for Research

• UK Center for Appalachian Research in Environmental Sciences (UK-CARES)

• UK Superfund Research Center

• UK Center for Applied Research Energy

• Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute (KWRRI) 

• Global Health Initiatives

• Kentucky Geological Survey

• UK Office of Sustainability

• Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS)

• Tracy Farmer Institute for Sustainability and the Environment

• UL Center for Integrative Environmental Health Sciences

• UL Cristina Lee Brown Envirome Institute