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1994.02.23 : New Director for NIOSH

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                        CDC Press Office
Wednesday, Feb. 23, 1994                     (404) 639-3286

     HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala announced today that Dr. Linda
Rosenstock will be appointed director of the National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), part of the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

     As director of NIOSH, Dr. Rosenstock will lead the federal
health agency responsible for promoting health and preventing
disease and injury among the nation's 120 million workers. 

     NIOSH was created by an Act of Congress in 1970, together with
the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA).  NIOSH
has research and public health mandates and serves as a scientific
partner to OSHA and the Mine Safety and Health Administration, the
Department of Labor agencies responsible for regulating the safety
and health of working conditions.

     Secretary Shalala said of Dr. Rosenstock, "She is a
world-class scientist in occupational health, a teacher and mentor
in occupational medicine, and a physician with 13 years of
experience devoted to treating workers with occupational
conditions.  At the same time, she has demonstrated impressive
vision and leadership in promoting safer working conditions on
national and international fronts."

     "Occupational health and safety are major priorities of the
Public Health Service and we are fortunate in having such an 
outstanding selection as Dr. Rosenstock to oversee the efforts of
the Public Health Service in this area," said Dr. Philip R. Lee,
assistant secretary for health and director of the nation's Public
Health Service.

     CDC Director David Satcher, M.D., said, "She is eminently
suited to lead NIOSH in its mission of improving the safety and
health of our workforce as we approach the 21st century.  Among the
challenges facing Dr. Rosenstock are increasing the visibility of
occupational safety and health and working more closely with
important partners, including industry, labor and other federal
agencies.  To enhance our efforts to meet these challenges, Dr.
Rosenstock and the NIOSH central headquarters will be located in
the PHS/CDC offices in Washington, D.C."

     Dr. Rosenstock, well-known as a scientist, professor and
practicing physician in occupational and internal medicine, is
currently professor of medicine and environmental health and
director of the Occupational and Environmental Medicine Program at
the University of Washington.

     At the University of Washington, Dr. Rosenstock conducted
research and published extensively on occupational diseases,
including asbestos-related disease and effects of exposure to
pesticides and other neurotoxins.  She has written two occupational
medicine textbooks and founded one of the first hospital-based,
university-affiliated occupational medicine clinics in the country.

     Her national responsibilities include chairing the United Auto
Workers/General Motors Occupational Health Advisory Board and
serving as a member of the Brotherhood of Teamsters Medical 
Advisory Committee.  She has also served on several Institute of 
Medicine committees that brought national attention to the shortage
of occupational medicine physicians and the inadequacy of
occupational health training in medical schools.

     Dr. Rosenstock has been active internationally in teaching and
research in occupational health.  She has served as an advisor to
the World Health Organization, taught in many developing countries,
and is currently engaged in pesticides health effects studies in
Latin America.

     Dr. Rosenstock was born Dec. 20, 1950, in New York City.  She
received her M.D. and master's degree in public health in 1977 from
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and School of Hygiene
and Public Health.  She completed her medicine and preventive
medicine residencies at the University of Washington and is board-
certified in both internal and occupational medicine.  Dr. 
Rosenstock is expected to assume the NIOSH director's position in
mid-April.