Meet Environmental Health Professionals

Fan Robinson
DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES,
INDIAN HEALTH SERVICES
ASSISTANT AREA DIRECTOR, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND ENGINEERING
PLACE OF WORK: GOVERNMENT AGENCY

1. What school did you graduate from?
I received my degree in environmental management at Northeastern State University, Tahlequah.

2. Why did you choose to pursue a career in environmental health and why do you continue working in the environmental health field?
I choose to work in the environmental health field because I wanted to make a difference every day. I am passionate about environmental health and it gives me great joy to be able to see the positive lifestyle changes in communities inspired by our initiatives and education of the public.

3. How does this career impact environmental health?
We serve each of the 43 tribes in Oklahoma, Kansas and one in Texas, by providing a comprehensive environmental health program including; food service, injury prevention, institutional programs, x-ray units, waste water treatment, OSHA inspections.

4. What do you do?
I provide overall direction and management of comprehensive environmental health programs. I manage both people and programs to assure that our services can be provided to the communities we support.

5. What would you tell students considering this career path?
It takes a special kind of person to work with the federal government. Jobs in the private sector certainly pay more so you must have a passion for the people you serve.

6. Does your ethnicity have any impact on your work?
I am full blooded Cherokee. I think that being Native American helps in my line of work but it is not mandatory. There are many fantastic IHS employees that are not Native American and they are well respected by the community because of their positive attitude and their respectful nature.