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Jan
C. Semenza
___________________________________________________________
Education
Ph.D. 1991 Cell and Molecular Biology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology,
Switzerland; carried out at Medical Research Council, Laboratory of
Molecular Biology, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
M.P.H. 1994 Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health,
University of California at Berkeley.
M.S. 1987 Molecular Genetics, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology,
Switzerland.
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Employment
Associate Professor of Public Health, School of Community Health, Portland
State University, Portland, Oregon. 2000-present.
Clinical Associate Professor of Public Health and Preventive Medicine,
Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, Oregon. 2000-present.
WHO Short Term Consultant for Polio and Measles Eradication Initiatives
at EMRO, Alexandria, Egypt; EURO, Copenhagen, Denmark; and PAHO, Haiti.
1998-2001.
Assistant Professor of Environmental Epidemiology, Epidemiology Division,
Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine. 1997-1999.
Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) Officer, National Center for Environmental
Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
1995-1997.
Assistant Research Toxicologist and Lecturer, School of Public Health,
University of California at Berkeley. 1994-1995.
Postdoctoral Researcher, Toxicology, as above; funded by National Institute
of Environmental Health Sciences Superfund traineeship. 1993-1994.
Postdoctoral Fellow, European Community Science Plan, Medical Research
Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
1991-1992.
___________________________________________________________
Dissertations
The Sorting Receptor for Soluble ER Proteins. ETH Dissertation No.9533.
1991; Prof. Theo Koller.
Study of the NodABC Upstream Regulatory Region of Bradirhizobium japonicum.
ETH Diplomarbeit. 1987; Prof. Hauke Hennecke.
___________________________________________________________
Refereed Publications
or Other Creative Achievements
Chapters
Semenza, J.C. Case Study on Diarrhoea and Environmental Interventions.
In: Handbook on Children's Environmental Health. Editor Jamie Bartram;
WHO Task Force for the Protection of Children's Environmental Health.
Geneva, World Health Organization (solicited).
Articles
22. Dwight, R.H. Semenza J.C., Baker D.B., and Olson B.H. Linking urban
runoff with coastal water quality in Orange County, California. Water
Environment Research (2002) 74(1):82-90.
21. Speer, S., Semenza J.C., Kurosaki T, and Anton-Culver, H. Risk factors
for acute myeloid leukemia and multiple myeloma: a combination of geographic
information system and case control studies. Journal of Environmental
Health (2002) 64(7):9-16.
20f. Semenza, J.C., Ziogas A., Largent J., Peel D., and Anton-Culver
H. Gene-Environment Interactions in Kidney Cancer. American Journal
of Epidemiology (2001) 153 (9): 851-859. (see editorial comments)
19. Semenza J.C. Acute renal failure during heat waves. American Journal
of Preventive Medicine (1999) 17(1): 97. (commentary)
18e. Semenza, J.C., McCullough, J., Flanders, D.W., McGeehin M.A., Lumpkin
JR. Excess hospital admissions during the 1995 heat wave in Chicago,
American Journal of Preventive Medicine (1999) 16(4): 269-277. (see
editorial comments)
17. Semenza, J.C. Are electronic emergency department data predictive
of heat related mortality? Journal of Medical Systems (1999) 23(5):419-21,
423-4. (letter to the editor).
16. Semenza, J.C., Roberts, L., Henderson, A., Bogan, J. and Rubin,
C.H. Water distribution system and diarrheal disease transmission: A
case study in Uzbekistan. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and
Hygiene, (1998) 59(6):941-946.
15. Semenza, J.C. Preventing hypothermia-related death. Journal of the
American Medical Association (JAMA) (1997) 278 (2): 115-116. (letter
to the editor)
14. Semenza J.C., Tolbert P.E., Rubin C.H., Guillette L.J.Jr. and Jackson
R.R. Reproductive toxins and alligator abnormalities at Lake Apopka,
Florida. Environmental Health Perspectives (1997) 105(10):1030-1032.
13. Semenza, J.C. and Weasel, L.H. Molecular epidemiology in environmental
health: Tumor supressor gene p53 as a biomarker. Environmental Health
Perspectives (1997) 105, Supplement 1:155-163.
12. Semenza, J.C. Preventing hypothermia-related deaths. Journal of
the American Medical Association (JAMA) (1996) 278(2):115-116. (letter
to the editor)
11. Semenza, J.C. Deaths in the Chicago heat wave. New England Journal
of Medicine (1996) 335:1848-1849. (letter to the editor)
10. CDC. Hypothermia-related deaths - Vermont, October 1994-February
1996. (1996). Mortality and Morbidity Weekly Report (MMWR) 45:1093-1095;
reprinted in Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) (1996)
277(4):283-284.
9c,d. Semenza, J.C., Rubin, H.C., Falter, K.H., Selanikio, J.D., Flanders,
D.W. and Wilhelm, J.L. Risk factors for heat-related mortality during
the July 1995 heat wave in Chicago. New England Journal of Medicine
(1996) 335(2):84-90. (see editorial comments)
8. CDC. Heat-wave related mortality - Milwaukee, Wisconsin, July 1995.
Mortality and Morbidity Weekly Report (MMWR) (1996) 45:505-507; reprinted
in Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) (1996)276:275.
7. Jean, J., Zehn L., Semenza, J.C., Beach, B. and Smith, M.T. Tetrasomy
8 detected by interphase cytogenetics in a child with acute lymphocytic
leukemia. Cancer Genetics and Cytogenetics (1996) 92:135-140.
6. CDC. Heat-related mortality - Chicago, July 1995. Mortality and Morbidity
Weekly Report (MMWR) (1995) 44:577-579; reprinted in Journal of the
American Medical Association (JAMA) (1996) 274:602.
5. Semenza, J.C. and Pelham, H.R.B. Changing the specificity of the
sorting receptor for luminal endoplasmic reticulum proteins. Journal
Molecular Biology (1992) 224:1-5
4. Semenza, J.C. and Pelham, H.R.B. A yeast homologue of a proteasome
subunit. DNA Sequence- Journal (1991) 1:219.
3a,b. Semenza, J.C., Hardwick, K.G., Dean, N. and Pelham, H.R.B. ERD2,
a yeast gene required for the receptor-mediated retrieval of luminal
ER proteins from the secretory pathway. Cell (1990) 61:1349-1357. (see
editorial comments)
2. Hardwick, K.G., Lewis, M.J., Semenza, J., Dean, N. and Pelham, H.R.B.
ERD1, a yeast gene required for the retention of luminal endoplasmic
reticulum proteins, affects glycoprotein processing in the Golgi apparatus.
EMBO Journal (1990) 9:623-630.
1. Gottfert, M., Lamb, L.W., Gasser, R., Semenza, J. and Hennecke, H.
Mutational analysis of the Bradyrhizobium japonicum common nod genes
and further nod box-linked genomic DNA regions. Molecular and General
Genetics (1989) 215(3):407-415.
Accompanying Editorial
Comments
f Smoking and kidney cancer: bad news and worse news. (2001) Oncology
Week in Review II(18):3
e Kilbourne E. M (1999). The spectrum of illness during heat waves.
American Journal of Preventive Medicine 16(4):359-360.
d Kellermann, A.L. and Todd, K.H.(1996). Killing Heat. New England Journal
of Medicine 335:126-127
c Heat wave claimed solitary, sick people. (1996) Science News 150:
63.
b Warren, G. and Simons, K. (1990). Membranes: Editorial Overview. Current
Opinion in Cell Biology: 2:603.
a Warren, G (1990) Salvage receptors: two of a kind? Cell 62:1-2
Completed works
13. Semenza J.C. (2001). Trip Report: Visit to Departement Sanitaire
du Plateau Central, June 19-27, 2001. Report submitted to PAHO, WHO,
Washington, USA
12. Semenza J.C. (2001). Trip Report: Visit to Departement Sanitaire
Nord Est, June 12-17, 2001. Report submitted to PAHO, WHO, Washington,
USA
11. Semenza J.C. (2001). Trip Report: Visit to Departement Sanitaire
Nord Est, May 29 to June 9, 2001. Report submitted to PAHO, WHO, Washington,
USA
10. Semenza J.C. (2001). Trip Report: Visit to Cap Haïtien, May
14 to 26, 2001. Report submitted to PAHO, WHO, Washington, USA
9. EMRO (1999). Measles Outbreak in the Netherlands. CD News 20:20
8. Semenza J.C. (1999). Trip Report: Visit of EMRO Alexandria, December
15, 1998 to January, 1999. Report submitted to, CDC, Polio Eradication
Initiative, Atlanta, GA
7. Jafari H. and Semenza J.C. (1999). Trip Report: Visit of Khartoum,
5-10 January, 1999. Report submitted to EMRO, WHO, Alexandria, Egypt
6. Anton-Culver H., Culver B.D., Delfino R., Le H., Semenza J.C., Taylor
T.H., Ziogas A. (1998). The environmental health effects study; Report
submitted to the OCWD
5. McCullough J., Semenza J.C., Kiezak S., Rubin C., Mcgeehin M. (1998).
Brain Cancer Cluster Investigation in Johnson, Iowa, and Washington
Counties: Iowa, 1993-1996. Report submitted to the Iowa Department of
Public Health.
4. Semenza, J.C., Roberts, L., Henderson, A., Rubin, C.H., Bogan, J.
and McGeehin, M. (1997). Debugging the system: Water policy implications
from a randomized intervention trial in Uzbekistan. In: Program of the
46th Annual EpidemicIntelligence Service Conference, April 14-18, 1997,
CDC, Atlanta GA.
3. Semenza, J.C., Roberts, L., Henderson, A.K., Rubin, C.H., Bogan,
J. (1996). Prevention of diarrheal diseases through the use of home
chlorination: A randomized intervention study in Nukus, Uzbekistan.
Report submitted to USAID, Tashkent.
2. Semenza, J.C., Rubin, C.H., Falter, K.H., Selanikio, J.D., Flanders,
D.W., Wilhelm J.L. (1996). The hot zone: Risk factors for heat-related
mortality, Chicago 1995. In: Program of the 45th Annual Epidemic Intelligence
Service Conference, April 22-26, 1996, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, Atlanta GA.
1. Semenza, J.C., Falter, K.H., Rubin, C.H., McGeehin, M.A. (1995).
Risk factors for heat-related mortality: Results from a case-control
study: Chicago, July 1995. Report submitted to the Chicago Department
of Public Health.
Other: Published
Abstracts
10. Semenza, J.C., Ziogas A., Largent J., Peel D., and Anton-Culver
H. NAT2, Smoking and Risk for Renal Cell Carcinoma. Proceedings Clinical
Nephrology (2001) A24
9. Semenza, J.C., Ziogas A., Largent J., Peel D., and Anton-Culver H.
Smoking and Kidney Cancer Risk. Proceedings American Association of
Public Health (2000) 5242:598
8. Semenza, J.C. Health Disparities: Susceptibility to Environmental
Exposures. Proceedings American Association of Public Health (2000)
5018
7. Semenza, J.C. Bioterrorism: Public Paranoia or Public Health Threat?
Proceedings American Association of Public Health (2000) 3146
6. Semenza, J.C., Roberts, L., Henderson, A., Rubin, C.H., Bogan, J.
and McGeehin, M. Debugging the System: Water policy implications from
a randomized intervention trial in Uzbekistan. Proceedings American
Association of Public Health (1997) 1168:77
5. Semenza, J.C., Roberts, L., Henderson, A., Rubin, C.H., Bogan, J.
and McGeehin, M. Water policy implications from a randomized intervention
trial in Uzbekistan. American Journal of Epidemiology (1997) 145(11):167.
4. Semenza, J.C., Rubin, C.H., Falter, K.H., Selanikio, J.D., Flanders,
D.W., Wilhelm J.L. The hot zone: Risk factors for heat-related mortality,
Chicago 1995. American Journal of Epidemiology (1996) 143 (11):171.
3. Semenza, J.C., Lewis, M.J., Hardwick, K.G., Dean, N., Sweet, D.J.,
and Pelham, H.R.B. The sorting receptor for soluble ER proteins. USGEB
Meeting: Experientia (1991) 47:121.
2. Semenza, J.C., Hardwick, K.G., Lewis, M.J., Dean, N., and Pelham,
H.R.B. ERD2, an essential yeast gene required for the retention of luminal
ER proteins. USGEB Meeting: Experientia (1990) 46:362.
1. Pelham, H.R.B, Dean, N., Hardwick, K.G., Lewis, M.J., Semenza, J.C.,
and Sweet, D.J. Genes required for retrieval of resident ER proteins
from the Golgi. USGEB Meeting: Experientia (1990) 46:S2-1.
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Non-Refereed Publications
or Other Creative Achievements
Articles
Amazon Mission; Providing needed medical assistance in the Amazon basin.
PSU Magazine (2001) 15(2): 12-14.
Presentations at
Professional Meetings
Oct 2001 Gene-Environment Interactions in Kidney Cancer; Biology Department,
Portland State University, Oregon.
April 2001 NAT2 and NQO1 Variants and Risk for Renal Cell Carcinoma;
Clinical Nephrology Meeting, Orlando, Florida.
Feb 2001 Rapid Case Ascertainment; Oregon Cancer Registrar Association,
Portland OR
Jan 2001 The Oregon Health Survey; Northwest Health Foundation Grantee
Meeting, Portland, Oregon.
Nov 2000 Genetic Kidney Cancer Susceptibility; Legacy Cancer Center,
Portland OR
June 2000 Epidemiologal Experiences; International Public Health Forum
on the Amazon River Population; Manaus, Brazil.
May 2000 Genetic Kidney Cancer Susceptibility; Western Regional Epidemiology
Network. Ashland, OR.
Nov 1999 Heat-related Illness: A Hidden Danger; Annual Meeting, American
Public Health Association, Chicago, Illinois.
April 1999 Environmental Health in the Developed and Developing World;
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland.
Nov 1998 Epidemiology of Endocrine Disrupters; NSF Workshop on Mechanisms
of Developmental Disruption in Amphibians, San Diego, CA.
March 1998 Ecologic Assessment of Health Impacts from Recharged Water
in Orange County; SARWQH Study, Orange County Water District.
Oct 1998 Phase I of Environmental Health Effects Study; Scientific Advisory
Board, UCI
Nov 1997 Debugging the System: Water policy implications from a randomized
intervention trial in Uzbekistan; Annual Meeting, American Public Health
Association, Indianapolis, Indiana.
May 1997 Age and other risk factors in the epidemiology of heat-related
illness and death. American College of Sports Medicine; 44th annual
meeting. Denver, Colorado
April 1997 Water policy implications from an epidemiologic investigation
in Uzbekistan; Orange County Water District, Health and Regulatory Department.
April 1997 The Hot Zone: Risk factors for Heat-Related Mortality and
Morbidity during the July 1996 Heat Wave in Chicago; Epidemiology Division,
University of California at Irvine.
April 1997 Debugging the System: Water Policy Implications from a Randomized
Intervention Trial in Uzbekistan; 46th Annual Epidemic Intelligence
Service Conference, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta,
GA.
March 1997 Active Diarrheal Surveillance during a Randomized Intervention
Trial; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Grand Rounds, Atlanta,
GA.
April 1996 The Hot Zone: Risk factors for Heat-Related Mortality Chicago
1995; 45th Annual Epidemic Intelligence Service Conference, Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.
Nov 1996 Risk factors for Heat-Related Mortality Chicago 1995; Annual
Meeting, American Public Health Association, New York, New York.
Aug 1996 Biomarkers in Environmental Health; Environmental Epidemiology
Course, Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Dec 1991 A Seven Trans-membrane Receptor Sorts Soluble ER Proteins;
Max Planck Institute, Martinried, Munich, Germany.
Nov 1991 The Sorting Receptor for Soluble ER Proteins; University of
Zurich, Biochemistry Department, Switzerland.
Nov 1991 Retrieval of Resident ER Proteins; Instituto di Ricerca Medica
San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.
Nov 1991 Genes Required for Retrieval of Soluble ER Proteins; University
of Geneva, Biochemistry Department, Switzerland.
Nov 1991 Retention of Luminal ER Proteins; University of Basel Biozentrum,
Biochemistry Department, Switzerland.
Oct 1991 Erd2, an Essential Yeast Gene Required for the Retention of
Luminal ER Proteins; University of Wales, Biochemistry Department, Aberystwyth,
UK.
July 1991 Sorting of Soluble ER Proteins; Gordon Conference, Putney,
VT.
June 1991 Cloning by Complementation: A Gene Required for the Retention
of Luminal ER Proteins; Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge,
MA.
June 1991 Sorting of Soluble ER Proteins; New York University, Cell
Biology Department, New York, NY.
June 1991 Sorting of Soluble ER Proteins; Sloan-Kettering Institute,
Biochemistry Department, New York, NY.
Sept 1990 Genes Required for ER Sorting; European Cell Biology Organization
Meeting, Florence, Italy.
June 1990 A Genetic Approach to ER Sorting in Yeast; ETH Zurich, Cell
Biology Department, Switzerland.
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Honors, Grants, and Fellowships
Awards and Fellowships
2001 Recognition for Humanitarian Work in Brazil, Her Majesty Silvia
Queen of Sweden.
2000 International Health Forum Award, Vision 2000, Ariau Towers, Brazil.
1997 Shepard Award Nominee, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
Atlanta, GA.
1997 Schnitker Award Nominee, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
Atlanta, GA.
1996 Certificate of Commendation, Office of the Medical Examiner, Cook
County IL.
1996 Langmuir Prize Nominee, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
Atlanta, GA.
1995 Epidemic Intelligence Service Fellowship, National Center for Environmental
Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.
1994 Toxic Substance Research Program Fellowship School of Public Health,
University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California.
1993 National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Superfund Traineeship,
School of Public Health, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley
California.
1990 European Community Science Plan Fellowship, Brussels.
1990 Swiss National Research Foundation Fellowship, Switzerland.
1989 Student Fellowship, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Switzerland.
1989 Roche Research Foundation Fellowship, Switzerland.
Funded Grants
10. Determinants of the Spatial Distribution of Leukemia in Oregon.
Medical Research Foundation, OHSU ($ 25,000; 2001). PI: Jan C. Semenza,
PSU
9. Social Determinants of Leukemia Incidence in Oregon. College of Urban
and Public Affairs, PSU ($ 12,000; 2001). PI: Jan C. Semenza, PSU
8. Genetic Susceptibility to Kidney Cancer: A Pilot Study. American
Cancer Society ($ 24,665). PI: Jan C. Semenza, PSU
7. Gene-Environment Interactions in Renal Cancer. National Kidney Foundation
(Competitive Renewal: $ 25,000; 2000). PI: Jan C. Semenza, PSU
6. The Oregon Health Survey. Northwest Health Foundation ($ 57,627;
2000). PI: Jan C. Semenza, PSU
5. Estrogen and Breast Cancer Susceptibility: A Pilot Study. NCI Seed
Grant through Oregon Cancer Center ($ 25,000; 2000). PI: Jan C. Semenza,
PSU
4. Breast Cancer and Diet. Innovative Cancer Control Initiatives in
Cancer Centers ($ 25,000; 1999). PI: Jan C. Semenza, UCI
3. Gene-Environment Interactions in Renal Cancer. National Kidney Foundation
($ 25,000; 1999). PI: Jan C. Semenza, UCI
2. Genetic Interactions in Renal Cancer. American Cancer Society, Institutional
Research Grant; ($ 12,000; 1998) PI: Jan C. Semenza, UCI
1. Evaluation of Health Impacts of Multiple Toxic Air Pollutants in
a Southern California Community. California Air Resources Board. ($
250,000; 1998). PI: Ralph J. Delfino; Co-PI: Jan C. Semenza, UCI
______________________________________________________________
Ongoing Research Projects and Other Creative Achievements
GIS Mapping of Leukemia in Oregon
This project aims to determine the spatio-temporal distribution of leukemia
in Oregon and correlate
the occurrence of leukemia to environmental exposures. Geographic Information
System (GIS) will be used to map out leukemia cases along with other
potential risk factors for leukemia such as demographic, occupational
and societal factors. This method is designed to reveal potential leukemia
clusters in the state, but also highlight associations with specific
risk factors that could have contributed to unusual clustering of leukemia
cases.
Gene-Environment
Interactions in Renal Cancer
This pilot study will enroll cancer patients and controls in a study
designed to determine medical and genetic risk factors for kidney cancer.
Further expansion of this study will allow the investigation of specific
gene-environment interactions in kidney cancer. This pilot study will
demonstrate the feasibility of using the Oregon Cancer State Registry
as a tool for analytic epidemiologic studies. Furthermore, it will initiate
the selection of a control population that can be used for case control
studies of other cancer types.
Estrogen and Breast
Cancer Susceptibility
We will explore a polymorphic gene whose gene product is involved in
the metabolism of estrogen. NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1) converts
reactive quinone derivatives including estrogen metabolites to less
toxic hydroxy metabolites. NQO1 has been found to be polymorphic in
the population with allele frequencies ranging from 10% to 50%. It has
been documented that the polymorphic variant of NQO1 has reduced enzymatic
activity and we hypothesize that individuals with such a polymorphism
might be at increased risk for breast cancer due to subsequent reduced
detoxification activity. We will genotype 30 breast cancer patients,
as well as 60 population-based control individuals without breast cancer.
Case subjects will be identified through the Oregon State Cancer Registry
and control subjects will be randomly selected from Oregon residents
using random digit dialing.
The Oregon Health
Survey
This project aims to build an infrastructure in Oregon for establishing
research on cancer prevention and etiology. The project is designed
to complement the recently initiated Oregon State Cancer Registry and
to enhance its usefulness by identifying and characterizing a complementary
cancer-free control population. In order to establish such a control
population we will enroll 300 cancer-free Oregon residents in a health
survey and collect detailed demographic and epidemiological information
on them. Study participants will also be requested to donate biological
samples such as blood or cheek cells that will be used for laboratory
analysis and allow cancer researchers to identify genetic risk factors
for cancer.
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Other Teaching, Mentoring and Curricular Achievements
Film and Health (PHE 410) Portland State University, University Studies.
Winter 2001
Epidemiology Survey (PHE510) Portland State University; Spring 2000;
Winter 2001.
Concepts in Environmental Health (PHE 580) Portland State University;
Winter and Spring 2000; Winter 2001.
Epidemiology of Women's Health, UC Irvine, Department of Medicine; Egyptian
Fellows 1998-1999.
Cancer Epidemiology (SE275F) UC Irvine, Department of Medicine; Fall
1998.
Environmental Health; Principles of Epidemiology (HS400/500) CA State
University, Long Beach Spring 1998.
Epidemiology and Biostatistics (SE226), UC Irvine, Department of Medicine;
Spring 1998/99.
Environmental Epidemiology (SE275E), UC Irvine, Department of Medicine;
Fall 1997.
Epidemiology of Women's Health, UC Irvine, Department of Medicine; Egyptian
Fellows 1997-1998.
PD-II Epidemiology Content Area for Medical Students, UC Irvine, Department
of Medicine; 1997-1998.
Environmental Epidemiology for Ministers of Health from Uzbekistan,
Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan, Taschkent 12-23 August, 1996.
Biomarkers in Epidemiology and Toxicology (PH295{3}), UC Berkeley, School
of Public Health; Fall 1994.
Chemical Carcinogenesis (PH271C), UC Berkeley, School of Public Health;
Spring 1994
Student Advisor for:
Scott Rigdon, National Polio Immunization in Haiti, MPH Internship,
June-July 2001
Hang Zhou, Multivariate Modeling, PSU 2001
Yves Vimegnon, Development of Questionnaire for Epidemiologic Research,
PSU 2000
Brian Altonen, Ecology of Leukemia in Oregon, PSU, 2000 to present
Ryan H. Dwight; Coastal water quality study: A social-epidemiological
analysis of Orange County's coastal water quality. School of Social
Ecology, UCI; 1997 to present.
______________________________________________________________
Other Community Outreach Achievements
Polio National Immunization; May 2001 to July 2001
• Attendance at international consultants meeting in Port au Prince,
Haiti; short-term consultant for PAHO, WHO for planning, organization
and execution of the polio vaccination campaign to interrupt the circulation
of the Sabin-derived polio type-1 virus in Haiti (PSU Magazine, in press).
• Activities included logistical support, vaccine and supply delivery,
cold chain establishment, community outreach, social mobilization, scheduling
of school immunizations, teacher training and monitoring of vaccination
coverage.
Health Mission in the Amazon; June 2000
• Conducted cross-sectional survey of health status of population
along the Amazon River. Assessment of ophthalmologic needs in a population
served by a medical ship (PSU Magazine, 2001; 15:12-14).
• Presentation at international public health conference in Manaus,
Brazil.
Measles Surveillance; June 1999 to July 1999
• Measles outbreak assessment in the Netherlands affecting 160
children from a reformist church primary school, a community that objects
to vaccination leading to an accumulation of sufficient susceptible
subjects for an outbreak of this size to occur (CD News No. 20, 1999).
• Attendance at international measles consultants meeting in Geneva,
in June 1999 and short-term consultant at EURO, WHO in Copenhagen for
measles control and elimination initiative in Europe.
Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) Surveillance; Dec 1998
to Feb 1999
• Short-term consultant at EMRO, WHO in Alexandria, Egypt in 1998
for polio eradication initiative with a focus on AFP surveillance. Evaluation
of certification activities in different member states and communication
with national committees for certification of poliomyelitis eradication
to assure progress towards polio elimination.
• Reviewed AFP surveillance data in Khartoum, Sudan and appraised
performance of surveillance system and extent of virus circulation in
Sudan. Assessment of preparations for NID implementation and EpiInfo
database for case tracking.
Infectious Disease Transmission during Recreational Water
Use; April to June 1998 and 1999
• Supervised cross-sectional survey of exposed and unexposed surfers
from Orange County and Santa Cruz and assessed the infectious disease
burden in these two populations in order to determine the impact of
environmental pollution on health. Identification of two-fold increased
risk of infectious diseases in surfers of Orange County, where pollution
of coastal waters is of major public health concern.
Water Contamination and Cancer; Aug 1998 to July 1999
• Epidemiologic study of the health consequences related to reclaimed
and recharged water in Southern California. Ecologic and case control
studies to assess cancer risk from consumption of reclaimed and recharged
water.
Active Diarrheal Surveillance; June to Aug 1996
• Implementation of epidemiologic field investigation in Uzbekistan,
where gastrointestinal diseases are endemic, with the goal of evaluating
the human health impact of the ecological disaster of the Aral Sea in
Central Asia in 1996.
• Randomized intervention trial combined with active surveillance
and evaluation of microbiological drinking water quality in order to
determine diarrheal disease transmission, and environmental source of
contamination in water distribution system (Semenza et al., 1998).
Brain Cancer Cluster; Jan 1996
• Design and execution of case control study of environmental and
occupational risk factors for brain cancer in Iowa. Subjects interviewed
about their pesticide, radiation, and electromagnetic field exposures
and compared to randomly selected controls.
Heat-related morbidity; July 1995
• Analysis of all inpatient hospital discharge diagnoses during
the 1995 heat wave in Chicago to determine the underlying chronic diseases
resulting in hospitalization.
• Identification of excess admissions during the heat wave week
for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, renal diseases, and nervous system
disorders as well as patient admissions with emphysema and epilepsy
(Semenza et al., 1999). These findings lend themselves to directed public
health interventions to prevent heat-related morbidity in the future.
Heat-related mortality; July 1995
• Lead investigator of CDC response to the 1995 heat wave in Chicago.
Design, conduct, and analysis of case control study to identify risk
factors of heat-related mortality.
• Survey of city residents with a team of 80 interviewers collecting
information concerning medical, behavioral, and societal risk factors.
Results published with an editorial in NEJM (Semenza et al., 1996).
• Evaluation of surveillance system established by the Medical
Examiner for heat-related deaths.
______________________________________________________________
Scholarly Works
in Progress
Articles
Semenza, J.C., Ziogas, A., Largent, J., Anton-Culver, H. Differential
Risk for Renal Cell Carcinoma by Sex due to Myeloperoxidase Variants
(in preparation).
Dwight, R.H. Fernandez, L.M., Semenza J.C., Baker D.B., and Olson B.H.
Estimated health costs for illnesses associated with recreational contact
with marine waters contaminated by urban runoff (submitted).
Semenza, J.C., Delfino,R.J., Ziogas, A., Anton-Culver, H. Breast Cancer
Risk and Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase Polymorphism (submitted)
Dwight, R.H. Semenza J.C., Baker D.B., and Olson B.H. Health effects
associated with recreational coastal water use in urban vs. rural California
during El Nino and La Nina Winters. (submitted).
______________________________________________________________
Significant Professional
Development Activities
National Grant Review
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
______________________________________________________________
Reviewer for Peer-Reviewed
Journals
American Journal of Public Health
American Journal of Preventive Medicine
International Journal of Epidemiology
Environmental Health Perspectives
Clinical Chemistry
Journal of the American Medical Women's Association
______________________________________________________________
Governance and Other Professionally Related Services
Board Membership
Oregon State Cancer Registry, OR Department of Human Resources (Advisory
board member)
Oregon Center for Environmental Health (Board member)
______________________________________________________________
Governance Activities
for the University, College, Department
• Human Subject Research Review Committee member, PSU 2001.
• Curriculum Committee member, PSU 2001.
• OR Masters of Public Health Program, MPH Symposium Coordination
Committee member, 2000/01.
• OR Masters of Public Health Program, Core Course Coordination
Committee member, 2000/01.
• OR Masters of Public Health Program, Recruitment to MPH degree
Sub-committee member, 2000/01.
• Chair, Search Committee for assistant/associate professor at
School of Community Health, PSU 2000/01.
• Search Committee member for assistant professor at School of
Community Health, PSU 2000.
• Library Committee member, College of Urban and Public Affairs,
PSU 2000/01.
• Ph.D. qualifying exam for R. H. Dwight, with committee members
Drs. Betty Olson (Chair), Dean Baker, Mark Baldassare, and Oladele Ogunseitan.
1997.
• Faculty interviewer for medical student applicants, UCI College
of Medicine, 1998.
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Professionally-related
Service
Session organizer
• National Science Foundation-sponsored workshop on mechanisms
of developmental disruption in amphibians; Epidemiology of endocrine
disrupters; Nov 1998. San Diego, CA.
• American Association of Public Health meeting in Boston Nov 2000;
Health Disparities: Susceptibility to Environmental Exposures (Environment
Session: #5018) Nov 2000.
• American Association of Public Health meeting in Boston Nov 2000;
Bioterrorism: Pubic Paranoia or Public Health Threat? (Socialist Caucus:
#3146) Nov 2000.
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Membership in Professional
Societies
• Society for Epidemiologic Research
• Oregon Cancer Center, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland
• American Association of University Professors
• American Association for Public Health
• Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, Irvine
• Swiss Association for Experimental Biology
______________________________________________________________
Certification
2001 Certification for Human Subjects Assurance Training Online at Portland
State University.
2001 Certification for Human Subjects Research Training by Oregon Health
Sciences University.
1999 Certification for Human Subjects Research Training by University
of California at Irvine.
1993 Certificate in Conflict Mediation, Training in Peace and Conflict
Studies, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California.
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