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Veterinarians in Environmental Health: Opportunities for Veterinarians at the Environmental Protection Agency
Citation:
HILBORN, E. D. Veterinarians in Environmental Health: Opportunities for Veterinarians at the Environmental Protection Agency. Presented at 14th Annual North Carolina Veterinary Conference, Raleigh, NC, November 06, 2009.
Impact/Purpose:
Veterinarians comprise a small proportion of all EPA employees; however, veterinarians work in a variety of positions within the Agency and are unique in possessing a broad scientific perspective which they effectively utilize in multiple scientific disciplines and applications.
Description:
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was created in 1970 partially in response to widespread public concern about environmental degradation. The EPA mission is to protect human health and the environment and the Agency is tasked with enforcing our nation's environmental laws. Important regulatory authority is granted through laws such as: the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (Superfund), the Toxic Substances Control Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the Food Quality Protection Act. EPA also makes important scientific contributions to public and environmental health, toxicology, exposure science and engineering through its Office ofResearch and Development. EPA has over 18,000 employees, over half of whom are engineers, scientists, and analysts. EPA also employs legal, economic, information management, communication and computer specialists. Veterinarians comprise a small proportion of all EPA employees; however, veterinarians work in a variety of positions within the Agency and are unique in possessing a broad scientific perspective which they effectively utilize in multiple scientific disciplines and applications. Veterinarians at EPA possess expertise in multiple specialties; they have disparate backgrounds, and a variety of graduate training and work experiences. Consistent with many of the Agency's core science needs, the largest group of veterinarians at EPA has board certification, training or experience in toxicology.' However, veterinarians are hired into the Agency with board certification, training or experience in: laboratory animal medicine, pathology, internal medicine, preventive medicine, microbiology, wildlife and zoological medicine, aquatic animal medicine and other areas of specialization. Veterinarians play an increasingly integral role in helping EPA meet the complex environmental challenges of the 21st century, which to address effectively, require a broad perspective and a multidisciplinary approach. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the individual author and do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency