Rebecca Parkin, PhD, MPH

Rebecca Tyrrell Parkin (formerly Zagraniski) is Associate Dean for Research and Public Health Practice and a Professor in both the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.

• Phone: (202) 994-4569
• Fax: (202) 994-3773
• Email: parkinr@gwu.edu

In a career focused on putting cutting-edge science to work improving human health and the environment, Professor Parkin pursues two passions - conducting research and making science relevant and useful to communities. "My commitment to prevention and population approaches, and my fascination with learning from others' views and knowledge, are what drew me into public health," she says. "Once I discovered the field and all that it offered, there was no question that I had found my professional home."

As Associate Dean for Research and Public Health Practice, Dr. Parkin holds a position that is unique among schools of public health, one that highlights SPHHS's commitment to evidence-based work with public health agencies and communities. Dr. Parkin also maintains a half-time teaching and research schedule, bringing her extensive field and research experiences into the classroom to illustrate fundamental public health principles, theories and issues. Prior to joining the School, Dr. Parkin was Assistant Commissioner of Occupational and Environmental Health in the New Jersey Department of Health, one of the top three state-level positions in the public health arena.

Education

Bachelor of Arts (Sociology), Cornell University, 1970
Master of Public Heath (Environmental Health), Yale University, 1977
Doctor of Philosophy (Epidemiology), Yale University, 1982
Post-doctoral Fellowship, Yale University, National Cancer Institute (1982-83)
Mid-career Fellow in Science, Technology, and Policy, Princeton University (1993-94)

Teaching

PubH 407-Advanced Topics-Principles of Environmental Health Risk Science, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health
PubH 224-Problem-Solving in Environmental and Occupational Health, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health (pending for the 2006-2007 Academic Year)
Strategic Environmental Health Risk Communication, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health

Research

Dr. Parkin's main research interests are environmental health risk perception and communication, environmental epidemiology, microbial risk assessment, drinking water contaminants, risk management and community-based research.

Community Service

The theme of service -- to the public, to students, to professional organizations and to communities -- runs through Dr. Parkin's career. In the field, she has worked with citizens wrestling with challenging environmental health issues, applying lessons learned in that capacity to her service on numerous boards and committees. Dr. Parkin has provided expertise primarily to the National Research Council, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Institute of Medicine, focusing her attention on drinking water contaminants, airborne particulates, microbial risk assessment, water conservation, and immunization safety, among other issues. As well, she has been the American Public Health Association's liaison to the National Advisory Committee on Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention. In the post-9/11 environment, Professor Parkin has served on the U.S. GAO's expert panel on wastewater security; the Oak Ridge Affiliated Universities' Weapons of Mass Destruction Interagency Event Team; and the Arlington, Virginia Division of Public Health's Emergency Preparedness Planning Committee.

Departments

• Environmental and Occupational Health
• Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Institutes & Centers

• Center for Risk Science and Public Health

Research Activities

• Advancing risk assessment for water quality issues

Community Activities

• Project Public Health Ready
• Infrastructure Advisory Team, Department of Homeland Security

Publications

• Identifying microbial and chemical contaminants for regulatory purposes: Lessons learned in the United States.
  Parkin R. Identifying microbial and chemical contaminants for regulatory purposes: Lessons learned in the United States. In: Water Conservation, Reuse, and Recycling: Proceedings of an Iranian-American Workshop. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 2005; pp. 199-216. Also available on CD-ROM.
• Strategic risk communication: The challenge of emerging drinking water contaminants.
  Parkin R. Strategic risk communication: The challenge of emerging drinking water contaminants. Risk Policy Report. 2005;7 (12):14-16.
• Risk communications framework and handbook.
  Parkin R. Contributor to several chapters In: Health Canada. Risk communications framework and handbook. Ottawa (Canada): Health Canada. In press 2005.
• Children's susceptibility to chemicals: A review by developmental stage.
  Makri A, Goviea M, Balbus J, Parkin R. Children's susceptibility to chemicals: A review by developmental stage. J Toxicol Environ Health 2004;7 (Part B):417-35.
• Communications with research participants and communities: Foundations for best practices.
  Parkin R. Communications with research participants and communities: Foundations for best practices. J Expo Anal Environ Epidemiol 2004;14 (7):516-23. Published online 2004 Aug 18. Available from: URL: www.nature.com/jea.
• Addressing susceptibility in microbial pathogen risk assessment.
  Parkin R. Addressing susceptibility in microbial pathogen risk assessment. Hum Ecol Risk Assess 2004;10 (1):135-49.
• Cryptosporidiosis susceptibility and risk: A case study.
  Makri A, Modarres R, Parkin R. Cryptosporidiosis susceptibility and risk: A case study. Risk Anal 2004;24 (1):209-20.
• Defining susceptibility for microbial risk assessment.
  Balbus J, Parkin R, Makri A, Ragain L, Embrey M, Hauchman F. Defining susceptibility for microbial risk assessment. Final report. Washington: Environmental Protection Agency (US), Office of Water; 2002 Apr.
• Defining susceptibility for microbial risk assessment: Results of a workshop.
  Balbus J, Parkin R, Makri A, Ragain L, Embrey M, Hauchman F. Defining susceptibility for microbial risk assessment: Results of a workshop. Risk Anal 2004;24 (1):197-208.
• Risk communication for emerging contaminants.
  Parkin R, Ragain L, Embrey M, Peters C, Butte G, Thorne S. Risk communication for emerging contaminants. Denver: American Water Works Association Research Foundation; 2004.
• Confronting the nation's water problems: The role of research.
  Parkin R, contributor, Committee on Assessment of Water Resources Research, (US). In: Confronting the nation's water problems: The role of research. Washington: National Academy Press; 2004.
• Vaccines and autism.
  Parkin R, contributor, Immunization Safety Review Committee, Institute of Medicine (US). In: Stratton K, McCormick M, editors. Vaccines and autism. Washington: National Academy Press; 2004.
• Research priorities for airborne particulate matter: III.
  Parkin R, contributor, Committee on Research Priorities for Airborne Particulate Matter, National Research Council (US). In: Research priorities for airborne particulate matter: III. Early Research Progress. Washington: National Academy Press; 2001.
• Research priorities for airborne particulate matter: IV.
  Parkin R, contributor, Committee on Research Priorities for Airborne Particulate Matter, National Research Council (US). In: Research priorities for airborne particulate matter: IV. Continuing research progress. Washington: National Academy Press; 2004.
• Analysis of diarrheal disease hospitalization rates in the United States
  Parkin R, Facciolo K. Analysis of diarrheal disease hospitalization rates in the United States, 1991-2000. Final report. Washington: Environmental Protection Agency (US), Office of Water; 2003 Dec.
• Drinking water exposures within a susceptible subpopulation: People living with HIV/AIDS in the Washington, DC area.
  Parkin R, Ragain L, Thorne S, Butte G, Kovacs D, Thomson M. Drinking water exposures within a susceptible subpopulation: People living with HIV/AIDS in the Washington, DC area. Final report. Washington: Environmental Protection Agency (US), Office of Water; 2003 Sep.
• Pediatric susceptibility to arsenic in drinking water.
  Hu H, Parkin R. Pediatric susceptibility to arsenic in drinking water. Final report. Washington: Environmental Protection Agency (US), Office of Water; 2003 May.
• Building a toolbox for risk communicators.
  Embrey MA, Parkin RT, Harding AK. Building a toolbox for risk communicators. Final report. Washington: Environmental Protection Agency (US), Office of Water; 2003 May.
• Assessing the health education needs of residents in the area of Oak Ridge Reservation, Tennessee.
  Parkin RT, Ragain L, Guidotti T, Paranzino G. Assessing the health education needs of residents in the area of Oak Ridge Reservation, Tennessee. Final report. Washington: Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics; 2003 May.
• Serologically confirmed prior Campylobacter jejuni infection and Guillain-Barré Syndrome: Summary report of a meta-analysis and cost estimate.
  Parkin R, Hawkshead J. Serologically confirmed prior Campylobacter jejuni infection and Guillain-Barré Syndrome: Summary report of a meta-analysis and cost estimate. Final report. Washington: Environmental Protection Agency (US), Office of Water; 2003 Mar.
• Water-related health risk communication: Lessons learned and emerging issues.
  Parkin RT, Embrey MA, Hunter PR. Water-related health risk communication: Lessons learned and emerging issues. J Am Water Works Assoc 2003;95 (7):58-66.
• Risk-based approach to evaluate the public health benefit of additional water treatment.
  Soller JA, Oliveri AW, Crook J, Cooper RC, Tchobanoglous G, Parkin R, et al. Risk-based approach to evaluate the public health benefit of additional water treatment. Environ Sci Technol 2003;37:1882-91.
• Incorporating susceptible subpopulations in microbial risk assessment: Pediatric exposures to enteroviruses in river water.
  Parkin R, Soller J, Oliveri A. Incorporating susceptible subpopulations in microbial risk assessment: Pediatric exposures to enteroviruses in river water. J Expo Anal Environ Epidemiol 2003;13:161-8.
• Influenza vaccines and neurological complications.
  Parkin R, contributor, Immunization Safety Review Committee, Institute of Medicine (US). In: Stratton K, Almario D, Wizemann T, McCormick M, editors. Influenza vaccines and neurological complications. Washington: National Academy Press; 2003.
• Vaccinations and sudden unexpected death in infancy.
  Parkin R, contributor, Immunization Safety Review Committee, Institute of Medicine (US). In: Stratton K, Almario D, McCormick M, editors. Vaccinations and sudden unexpected death in infancy. Washington: National Academy Press; 2003.
• SV-40 contamination of polio vaccine and cancer.
  Parkin R, contributor, Immunization Safety Review Committee, Institute of Medicine (US). In: Stratton K, Almario D, McCormick M, editors. SV-40 contamination of polio vaccine and cancer. Washington: National Academy Press; 2003.
• Cryptosporidiosis risk in New York City: A case study of incorporating susceptibility into microbial risk assessment.
  Makri A, Modarres R, Parkin R. Cryptosporidiosis risk in New York City: A case study of incorporating susceptibility into microbial risk assessment. Final report. Washington: Environmental Protection Agency (US), Office of Water; 2002 Oct.
• Water-related health risk communication: Lessons learned and emerging issues.
  Parkin RT, Embrey MA, Hunter PR. Water-related health risk communication: Lessons learned and emerging issues. Final report. Washington: Environmental Protection Agency (US), Office of Water; 2002 Apr.
• Handbook of CCL microbes in drinking water.
  Embrey M, Parkin R, Balbus J. Handbook of CCL microbes in drinking water. Denver: American Water Works Association; 2002.
• Hepatitis B vaccine and demyelinating neurological disorders.
  Parkin R, contributor, Immunization Safety Review Committee, Institute of Medicine (US). In: Stratton K, Donna Almario, McCormick M, editors. Hepatitis B vaccine and demyelinating neurological disorders. Washington: National Academy Press; 2002.
• Multiple vaccinations and immune dysfunction.
  Parkin R, contributor, Immunization Safety Review Committee, Institute of Medicine (US). In: Stratton K, Gable A, McCormick M, editors. Multiple vaccinations and immune dysfunction. Washington: National Academy Press; 2002.
• Anthrax vaccine risk/benefit communication initiative. Phase one: Developing the expert model.
  Parkin RT, Embrey M, Butte G, Thorne S, Fischhoff B. Anthrax vaccine risk/benefit communication initiative. Phase one: Developing the expert model. Final Report. Washington: Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense (US); 2001 May 31: Contract No.: V101 (93) P-1684.
• Sensitive subpopulations' exposure to enteroviruses in recreational waters.
  Parkin, RT. Sensitive subpopulations' exposure to enteroviruses in recreational waters. Final report for the City of Stockton, CA. Oakland (CA): EOA, Inc.; 2001 Oct.
• Thimerosal and neurodevelopmental disorders.
  Parkin R, contributor, Immunization Safety Review Committee, Institute of Medicine (US). In: Stratton K, Gable A, McCormick M, editors. Thimerosal and neurodevelopmental disorders. Washington: National Academy Press; 2001.
• Envisioning the agenda for water resources research in the twenty-first century.
  Parkin R, contributor, Water Science and Technology Board, National Research Council (US). In: Envisioning the agenda for water resources research in the twenty-first century. Washington: National Academy Press; 2001.
• Immunization safety review: Measles-mumps-rubella vaccine and autism.
  Parkin R, contributor, Immunization Safety Review Committee, Institute of Medicine (US). In: Stratton K, Gable A, Shetty P, McCormick M, editors. Immunization safety review: Measles-mumps-rubella vaccine and autism. Washington: National Academy Press; 2001.
• Classifying drinking water contaminants for regulatory consideration.
  Parkin R, contributor, Committee on Drinking Water Contaminants, National Research Council (US). In: Classifying drinking water contaminants for regulatory consideration. Washington: National Academy Press; 2001.
• Susceptibility in microbial risk assessment: Definitions and research needs.
  Balbus J, Parkin R, Embrey M. Susceptibility in microbial risk assessment: Definitions and research needs. Environ Health Perspect 2000;108 (9):901-5.
• Variations in concepts of susceptibility in risk assessment.
  Parkin RT, Balbus JM. Variations in concepts of susceptibility in risk assessment. Risk Anal 2000;20 (5):603-11.
• Social factors of susceptibility in risk assessment: Application to microbial pathogens.
  Balbus J, Parkin R. Social factors of susceptibility in risk assessment: Application to microbial pathogens. Risk Policy Report 2000;7 (6):36-8.
• Mortality of a residential cohort exposed to radon from contaminated soil.
  Klotz JB, Petix JR, Zagraniski RT. Mortality of a residential cohort exposed to radon from contaminated soil. Am J Epidemiol 1989;129 (6):1179-86.
• Occupational risk factors for laryngeal carcinoma: Connecticut, 1975-1980.
  Zagraniski RT, Kelsey JL, Walter SD. Occupational risk factors for laryngeal carcinoma: Connecticut, 1975-1980. Am J Epidemiol 1986;124 (1):67-76.
• Ambient sulfates, photochemical oxidants and acute adverse health effects: An epidemiologic study.
  Zagraniski RT, Leaderer BP, Stolwijk JAJ. Ambient sulfates, photochemical oxidants and acute adverse health effects: An epidemiologic study. Environ Res 1979;19 (2):306-20.