The following is the text of an email sent on April 17, 2023
Dear SPH-B Faculty, Staff, and Postdoctoral Fellows:
We are thrilled to announce that Patricia Silveyra, Ph.D., will be the Chair of the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health (EOH), effective July 1, 2023. The Anthony D. Pantaleoni Eminent Scholar, Dr. Silveyra has been serving as Interim Chair for the EOH Department since August 2022, and we are incredibly grateful for her contributions in the past year. She also holds an appointment as Adjunct Faculty within the IU School of Medicine Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep & Occupational Medicine. Dr. Silveyra is an accomplished researcher, dedicated professor, and collaborative colleague, and we are fortunate for her continued leadership in the growth and success of the EOH department.
Dr. Silveyra joined SPH-B in 2021 after having held academic appointments at The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, where she completed her post-doctoral training; was Assistant and Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Humanities; and served as Interim Director of Diversity and Inclusion in Education between 2015-2016. In 2018, she became the Beerstecher-Blackwell Distinguished Term Scholar and Director of the Biobehavioral Laboratory in the School of Nursing at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Dr. Silveyra's ground-breaking research features an interdisciplinary focus on physiology, endocrinology, and molecular immunology, to investigate mechanisms mediating sex differences in lung inflammation and lung disease. Her work has advanced scientific understanding on the effects of sex, gonadal hormones, and environmental exposures on pulmonary health. She has authored three books and eight book chapters, and has contributed to more than 60 peer-reviewed articles. In addition to her significant research contributions, Dr. Silveyra is a dedicated advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in education, and she has served on numerous boards, including the Board on Higher Education and Workforce (BHEW) of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, the Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS), and Graduate Women in Science (GWIS).
"I am excited for the opportunity to continue to lead the department in its endeavors. We have an energetic and diverse group of scholars who are addressing the most pressing environmental and occupational issues of today. Critical issues such as air and water pollution, climate change, vector-borne diseases, antibiotic resistance, and occupational hazards. I look forward to continuing to grow our research portfolio and serve our students and communities with new and innovative educational programs." – Dr. Silveyra
Dr. Silveyra is consistently recognized by her peers and students for her scientific vision and insights, as well as her mentorship and commitment to community service. We are profoundly grateful that she will be leading the EOH department during a time of great expansion as the department continues to advance novel, interdisciplinary research and thought leadership that can meaningfully improve public health, while also supporting a positive, diverse, and collaborative environment – all of which are the hallmark of IU School of Public Health-Bloomington.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Silveyra as our new EOH Chair!
Sincerely,
David B. Allison, Ph.D.
Dean, Distinguished Professor, Provost Professor
Hsien-Chang Lin, Ph.D.
Interim Associate Dean for Faculty Recruitment
Associate Professor