Written by David Shapiro

COLLEGE STATION, TX - The Society for Total Worker Health™ hosted a regional meeting in partnership with Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas on October 22, 2024, called, “Linking Academia and Industry to Elevate the Total Worker Health^® Approach.” This event gathered experts, researchers, and industry leaders to explore cutting-edge solutions and practices to enhance worker well-being and safety across various challenging industries.

Addressing Fatigue, Psychosocial Risks, and an Aging Workforce

In the morning workshops focused on pressing workforce issues, David Gimeno, PhD, from the University of Texas San Antonio School of Public Health delivered a comprehensive session on psychosocial risk factors impacting worker health. Gimeno emphasized the importance of practical, implementable interventions, such as supportive management practices, flexible scheduling, and job redesign, to mitigate risks and improve mental health outcomes. Gimeno also highlighted the need for integrated approaches that consider work and non-work factors to foster holistic well-being​.

David Douphrate, PhD, of Texas A&M led a workshop on worker fatigue, presenting it as a multifaceted challenge with physical, cognitive, and economic impacts. His insights on the connections between sleep, shift work, and health outcomes were research-informed and immediately actionable. Douphrate noted that fatigue management strategies—such as strategic break scheduling and flexible work arrangements—can substantially reduce associated risks​, providing practical solutions for immediate implementation.

Kristina Lounsberry from the Industrial Strength Work Rehabilatation Center focused on the needs of an aging workforce. She advocated for ergonomic modifications and job design tailored to older workers’ abilities. Lounsberry also addressed generational diversity, suggesting that workplaces should consider a variety of tailored solutions that cater to employees of all ages​.

Emerging Trends and Technologies for Total Worker Health

Following the morning workshops, the event transitioned to exploring emerging TWH trends and technologies. Mark Benden, PhD, from Texas A&M, introduced applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in occupational health, showcasing tools for ergonomic risk assessment that non-specialists can deploy to achieve consistent, data-driven safety evaluations. Richard Hannah, PhD, from the Houston Area Safety Council highlighted innovative safety training approaches, including “translanguaging.” This approach involves using a combination of languages to enhance understanding and engagement for multilingual learners, thereby improving safety knowledge and practices. 

Health Promotion and Inclusive Design for Diverse Workplaces

David Shapiro from the Centers for Health, Work & Environment addressed health promotion for hard-to-reach worker populations in the agriculture and oil and gas sectors. Shapiro presented flexible, inclusive solutions for promoting health across varied settings, including telehealth options for remote workers and culturally tailored interventions for historically minoritized employees. James D. Rethaber, PhD, concluded the day with a panel on generational diversity, emphasizing the need for inclusive workplace design that accommodates diverse age groups and preferences.

A Call to Action for Total Worker Health

In his closing remarks, Douphrate reiterated, “The value of Total Worker Health lies in creating workplaces that support not just productivity but overall worker well-being.” The 2024 Regional Meeting underscored the Society for Total Worker Health’s commitment to bridging research and practice, highlighting innovative approaches to support worker safety and health in increasingly complex work environments.

AURORA, CO – The Society for Total Worker Health™ is pleased to announce the election of key leaders to its Board of Directors. The officers were announced at the association’s Annual Member Meeting, held virtually on Monday, October 30. Elections were held for the offices of President, President-Elect, Secretary and Treasurer.

Lili Tenney, DrPH, MPH, has been elected as the Society’s first President to serve a one-year term. She co-directs the Center for Health, Work & Environment, a Center for Excellence for Total Worker Health^® at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and is an assistant professor at the Colorado School of Public Health. “Over the past three years, I have helped lead the ideation and development of the Society and am proud to be a part of the start-up phase - including serving as founding interim President-Elect over the past year. I look forward to expanding on the shared vision we must advance the field and profession of Total Worker Health (TWH). I believe we are at the forefront of how businesses, large and small, can create equitable, safe, and healthy environments for all people to thrive.”

Christina Banks, PhD, has been elected as President-Elect to serve a one-year term. She is the director of outreach for the California Labor Laboratory at the University of California, San Francisco, director of the Interdisciplinary Center for Healthy Workplaces, and senior lecturer for the Haas School of Business at University of California, Berkeley. “I would like to help lead the Society to prominence as the leading health-related professional organization that builds cadres of TWH professionals who, through their education, skill development, and leadership, change how organizations and society in general support worker health, safety, and well-being. My vision is to help create a highly respected and high impact profession through the efforts and guidance of the Society.”

Newly-elected Secretary Matt Law, DrPH, CSP, REHS/RS, works as the manager of customer growth strategy in safety for W.W. Grainger, Inc. and a United States Navy Reserve Environmental Health Officer currently serving as vice chair of the Alliance for Central Florida Safety. His aims are to direct efforts to merge the systemic thinking of both occupational safety and health and public health approaches, ensuring the inclusion of ideas, models, and data that progress our respective professions to better practice in improving the lives of workers. He believes the Society has the responsibility to continually bring evidence-based best practices to the forefront for both public health leaders and occupational safety and health professionals to improve total worker health at all affectual levels. He will serve a two-year term.

David Shapiro, BA, MPH(c), senior manager, programs and partnerships at the Center for Health, Work & Environment has been elected Treasurer. He has served as the interim treasurer since the Society launched and is dedicated to ensuring our organization’s financial strength. “I’m excited about this role and establishing lasting success for the Society. One key goal within the next year is to establish the Society as a nonprofit organization.” 

Society Advisory Panel Members include Robert K. McLellan, MD, MPH (Chair); Suzanne Nobrega, MS; Erika Sabbath, ScD; Diane Rohlman, PhD, MA; Anjali Rameshbabu, PhD; Natalie Schwatka, PhD, MS; Elizabeth Fisher, CHES; Cristina Banks, PhD; John Staley, PhD, MSEH; Meghan Davis, PhD; Emily Ahonen, PhD; Deborah Nelson, PhD; Christopher J. L. Cunningham, PhD; Rosandra Daywalker, MD; Kimberly A. Olszewski, DNP, CRNP, BC, COHN-S/CM, FAAOHN, FAAN; Ivo Iavicoli, MD, PhD; Chia-Chia Chang, MBA, MPH.

The Society’s new leadership is preceded by founding interim president, Lee Newman, MD, MA; founding interim president-elect, Lili Tenney; interim secretary, Mwangi Ndonga; and interim treasurer, David Shapiro.

 

About the Society for Total Worker Health

The Society for Total Worker Health™, founded in 2022 as a 501c3 (application pending), unites members with a shared passion: advancing worker health, safety, and well-being. The Society’s mission is to serve as a hub, a community, for sharing new and innovative ideas to expand Total Worker Health^® research, training, education, dissemination, and real-world solutions. The Center for Health, Work & Environment serves as the fiscal and program partner for the Society, supported by a Center of Excellence for Total Worker Health^® Cooperative Agreement U19OH011227, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. For more information, e-mail contact@twhsociety.org.

 

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