Dear Maricela,

There are moments in history in which working toward the greater good seems like a standard far removed from humanity. And then, we bear witness locally and internationally when voices are raised in unison calling for the proper course of action, warming our hearts, and fueling our determination to stand on the right side of history.

At the Center, we are proud to work with and nurture the next generation of environmental health messengers and advocates. In this newsletter, we celebrate the determination of those who dedicate their lives to the greater good. We invite you to meet our Summer Environmental Health Sciences Practicum students, Center staff, community partners, and civil servants who choose to be in the business of the greater good.

Cheers and Happy Summer!

Meet our EHS Summer Practicum

Students who will work on

the Arsenic & Rice Study

Mufei Guo is a candidate at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health,

Environmental Health Sciences Department, certificate on Molecular

Epidemiology.

He graduated from Imperial College London in 2023 with a Bachelor

of Science degree in biological science. He has experiences in the bioengineering lab of the Cornell University, and the National University of Defense Technology of China in the previous years.

Chia-Yi (Julia) Lin is an MPH candidate at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, focusing on Molecular Epidemiology.

She has a background in Clinical Medicine and Environmental Health Science. Julia’s experience includes working as an intern physician and student researcher at Renji Hospital of Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

She is passionate about investigating the correlation between environmental pollution and health outcomes. She actively advocates for public health initiatives, participates in clinical research, and raises funds for cancer research by joining the Velocity Ride Event.

In her free time, she loves swimming and enjoying the sunshine at Central Park.

Zihan Zhao is an MPH candidate at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, specializing in Epidemiology with a certificate in Biostatistics. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Biological Science from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Zihan has gained extensive research experience, including work at Duke University’s Department of Pathology and UCLA’s Anesthesiology Department. His research has focused on prostate cancer, DNA and protein synthesis, and wearable device interoperability in healthcare. He has a lovely 4-year-old adopted cat called Mac.



Staff Spotlight

Catherine Tobón

Protecting children's health

has always been my passion

On right, Catherine Tobón, Research Coordinator, Sibling & Fair Start Studies

I started working at the Center in 2009 as a research assistant when the Sibling Study was launched. I helped enroll the first participants and carried out various tasks such as recruiting, prenatal visits, and being at the women’s side while giving birth. Working closely with mothers during childbirth formed strong connections, and now the children I helped bring into the study are 15 and 16 years old. I still work and manage the sibling cohort, allowing me to stay connected. I also coordinate the Fair Start Study, work on follow-up visits, assist with IRB submission, conduct neurodevelopment assessments, and help families access services through the Department of Education.

Our focus on early intervention needs and supporting mothers has helped build trust and loyalty with the families we serve. I find it incredibly rewarding to assist families in navigating the educational and health systems, especially when it comes to challenges like dyslexia and ADHD. Drawing from my family's experiences, I aim to better understand and support families in similar situations. While we are not social workers; it's hard to turn down people seeking help. It is very gratifying to assist families with their social service needs.

My love for working with children began in high school when I worked as a camp counselor, then in college, I had an internship with Sesame Street Workshop in the research and education department. This is when my research career path began. After this experience, I worked with NYU’s Child Study which focused on Asthma working across the five boroughs, gaining more knowledge about environmental factors that worsen asthma. When the study ended, I was fortunate to have come across a listing to work on the Sibling Study at the Center. That’s when it all began. I've grown up at the Center professionally and personally, getting married and starting a family.

As a mother, I pay close attention to the Center’s research findings. This knowledge helps me prioritize my family's health and well-being. For example, I breastfed both children, and I am very attentive to BPA exposure and reducing plastic, I even used cloth diapers for some time. I make sure we eat fresh, use Hepa filters, and keep the house clean as I am very aware of PBDEs and their association with attention deficit disorders. Little things can add up and help reduce exposure.

The work is incredibly fulfilling, but there are challenges, especially recruiting during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, our established trust with families allowed us to reengage. Despite the challenges, I am proud to be part of a large research consortium called ECHO, Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes, which works to protect children’s health. This information helps me protect my kids and many others. 

Congratulations to CCCEH Staff

Anabel Cole and Boris Cortes

As the COVID-19 pandemic spread so did health misinformation, this experience has demanded that scientists, public health professionals, health agencies and their respective work force hone and develop communication skills.

This school year, Dr. Julie Herbstman, Director of the Center for Children's Environmental Health partnered with the Columbia School of Journalism, Duy Lihn, Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor of Professional Practice to develop the course The Scientists and the Storyteller. The semester course was made available to both Columbia public health and journalism students to learn to communicate scientific studies simply and accurately to the general public.

This May, Dr. Herbstman and Keren Blankfled, MS from CU School of Journalism adapted the curriculum to reach a wider audience of health and research professionals. They conducted the two day training, The Scientists and the Storyteller Workshop through the Columbia University's SHARP Training Program. Attendees included undergrads, graduate students, post-grads, clinicians, faculty members, individuals from for profit and non-profit agencies, including one person joining the in-person workshop from as far as the great state of Alaska.

We understand that to protect the public's interest and health there are important evidence based story's to tell. As scientists, health professionals and journalists we need to be equipped with the writing and storytelling skills to communicate science based facts effectively and counter health misinformation. We understand the problem and we are taking action!

NYS Attorney General's (AG) Office in collaboration with CBOs and the Center for Children's Environmental Health is working to raise awareness on the use of illegal and dangerous pesticides sold on NYC streets. Assistant Attorney General Channing Winster-Jones, Dr. David Evans, Professor of Emeritus of Clinical Sociomedical Sciences and former CCCEH COTC Director, and Francisca Montana, AG office social justice coordinator presented the problem, the dangers, the work underway, and solutions at the Dominican Medical Providers Symposium held on May 19th.

The team of Community Educators and Advocates, Jaqueline Tesman, Cloth, Brenda Reyes, Catholic Charities, Jessica Mates and Amelia Grant-Alfieri with the AG Office and Maricela Ureño, CCCEH COTC Program Coordinator whirled around the symposium meeting engaging medical providers and room collecting contacts. Forty-nine medical providers signed up to help.

The next step is to train the medical providers and their clinical team to help disseminate this information to their clients. Stay tuned for more outreach work in the coming weeks as we plan and implement Pesticide Awareness Week.

Dr. David Evans

"For the Love of Community Work"

COTC Team Outreach on May 18th

Announcements

Help us create a world in which every child has a healthy start.

The Center’s research is powering action to reduce the impacts of climate change, air pollution, and toxic chemicals on children and families.

Your support is yielding both immediate and long-term benefits to children’s health today and in the future. Your gift will protect the gains that we have achieved together.

We hope you will make a tax-free gift donation to the Center in order to continue this important work. 

With Gratitude

Julie Herbstman, PhD

Director, Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health

Frederica P. Perera, DrPH, PhD

Director of Translational Research and Founding Director

Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health



Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health

mailman.columbia.edu/ccceh