Meet Environmental Health Professionals

Capt. Joe Maloney SENIOR PROGRAM COORDINATOR
PLACE OF WORK: GOVERNMENT AGENCY

1. Why did you choose to pursue a career in environmental health?
When I was an undergraduate a retired public health official talked to my class about the environmental health program. The degree is so diverse and I knew that there would be many opportunities open to me within the field.

2. Why do you continue to work in the environmental health field?
The diversity of the work involved keeps my work so interesting. It has taken me all over the country, from Fairbanks, AK where I worked with native Alaskans to provide basic health services, to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where I worked as a supervisor for a public health system. Now I am working in Atlanta, GA for the CDC. The challenges are complex and I like trying to solve the puzzles that are a part of my work.

3. What advice would you give students considering enrolling in an accredited environmental health program?
Make sure that the program you are enrolling in is accredited. This extra qualification will set you apart from other people aiming for the same position you want.

4. What characteristic do you think would make someone successful in the environmental health field?
To be successful in environmental health you must have a true calling to make a difference in the world you live in. You must have a drive to be successful as in anything else, but you must also be open to other points of view and willing to listen. If you want to make a difference in people’s lives, this is a good career for you.

5. What do you do? Can you describe your main duties? In other words, what makes your job interesting, unique or important?
I have worked with communities to help them understand and cope with the aftermath of coming into contact with toxic substances. I also conducted programs to educate physicians in the diagnosis of illnesses resulting from exposure to toxic substances.

6. Where did you graduate from?
I graduated from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio.

7. How does this career influence environmental health?
I am working for the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion and my particular division works to eliminate health disparities racial and cultural communities. We do this through legislation by trying to influence policy. For instance, we often help to initiate community health centers for underprivileged areas of the community. In a very real way, this career keeps less fortunate people from getting sick and helps them seek medical attention when they do.

8. What would you tell students considering this career path?
This career is very flexible. It allows you to go in so many different ways, anything from toxicology to teaching to emergency preparedness. For these reasons this is a great way to go if you are interested in public and/or environmental health.

9. What would the world be like without people like you doing your particular job?
Without people doing these jobs the world would go down the toilet! There would not be nearly so much environmental awareness as there is now. People would not know the extent of the seriousness of global warming or the effect it is having on the world. We are constantly working to keep this public consciousness up.