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Session Evaluation

AOHC 2026 Concurrent Sessions

Public Health, Surveillance, and Disease Prevention

102 - Preserving NIOSH: Why Its Programs Matter to Occupational Medicine

Sunday, April 19, 2026
9:45 AM - 10:45 AM CT
Location: Sheraton Ballroom V
Claim 1.0 CME

All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.


Disclosure(s):

Stella E. Hines, MD, MSPH, FACOEM: No financial relationships to disclose
Alya Khan, MD, MS, FACOEM: No financial relationships to disclose
Margaret Sietsema, MS, PhD, CIH: 3M: Employee (Ongoing)
Robert J. Harrison, MD, MPH: No financial relationships to disclose
Robert M. Bourgeois, MD, MPH, FACOEM: No financial relationships to disclose
Session Description: This session will explore the indispensable role of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in equipping occupational medicine providers with the tools they need to provide occupational medical care and expertise. Through a focused review of select NIOSH programs—both current and discontinued—experts will highlight their legal mandates, real-world impact, and the tools they provide to clinicians and industry.

Throughout the session, participants will be prompted to consider the critical question: “If not NIOSH, who?” If NIOSH is not allowed or able to carry out its work, the problems it addresses—such as respirator approval, occupational disease surveillance, and spirometry technician certification—will still exist. Who will fill that void?

The session will conclude with a call to action, outlining ACOEM’s advocacy efforts and how ACOEM members can help preserve this vital infrastructure.

Educational Gaps: Many OEM physicians know of NIOSH but may not grasp its full impact on daily practice—from respirator approvals to research shaping safety standards. This session highlights NIOSH’s essential role, risks of reduced capacity, and offers strategies to strengthen advocacy and engagement.

Is this session being sponsored by an ACOEM Section or Component?: The Federal/Military Special interest Section has endorsed this proposal.

Has this session previously been presented?: No.

The AOHC 2026 theme is Healthy workers. Healthy world: Our proposed session directly supports the "Healthy workers. Healthy world." theme by demonstrating that a healthy workforce is the cornerstone of a healthy global society. The session will highlight how NIOSH's programs, from certifying personal protective equipment to conducting disease surveillance, are critical for worker safety and their downstream effects if lost. Preserving this vital public health infrastructure is a crucial step toward ensuring a healthier world for everyone.

Learning Objectives:

  • Identify key NIOSH programs and their contributions to occupational health.
  • Understand how NIOSH tools are used in clinical and industrial settings.
  • Evaluate the consequences of losing NIOSH’s capacity to act—and who, if anyone, could replace it, and recognize the importance of advocacy in preserving occupational health infrastructure.