Dr. Eyal Oren, Ph.D.

San Diego State University

Why do you want to serve as a leader of the College?
I have been an active member and Fellow of ACE since 2014, and am excited about the possibility of serving on the Board of Directors. I have worked in various capacities for the college, primarily as member and vice-chair of the Publications Committee, where I increased the emphasis on teaching-related submissions (along with the Education Committee) and have led in and participated in annual meeting abstract and poster reviews. As a member of the ACE Board of Directors, I would emphasize opportunities for epidemiology teaching and education, incorporating greater use of technology (through podcasts, virtual meetings and more local events) and in bringing more cutting-edging applied epidemiologic practice, as well as new methods to emerging and recent trainees.  I would also like to invite a broader umbrella of practicing epidemiologists and bring to the forefront issues that are pragmatic to the practice: for example, disaster preparedeness, climate change, and allergies/exposure science themes that have received scant attention to date.

What are your qualifications and experiences that will help you in service as a leader?
As someone who has bridged the worlds of academic and public health practice, I feel uniquely qualified to serve on the Board of Directors. After receiving my doctoral degree in epidemiology from the University of Washington, I started my post-graduate career as an infectious disease epidemiologist in at King County Public Health. At this large local public health jurisdiction, I had the opportunity to tackle both practical issues of infrastructure and staffing, and to integrate academic research into the practice environment. I transitioned to the role of Assistant Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Arizona, where I spent a number of years working in both respiratory disease and broader infections on the border and in underserved rural areas. I am currently an Associate Professor in the Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at San Diego State University. The focus of my research has shifted largely to respiratory health issues (tobacco, asthma, lung cancer), and the links between social, environmental, and spatial etiologies, as well as how these apply to both health inequalities and disparities.  I have directed several large studies, co-authored more than 80 publications, and passionately and actively engage in teaching epidemiology to graduate and undergraduate students. I have served on several editorial boards for peer-reviewed journals, on NIH study sections and am a member of a number of other epidemiologic and medical societies including SER, CSTE, ATS and ASPO.