Heather Young, PhD, MPH, CHES

Heather A. Young is an Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.

• Phone: (202) 994-6518
• Fax: (202) 994-0082
• Email: bschay@gwumc.edu

Professor Young brings a sophisticated knowledge of technology to her work as co-director for the epidemiology track at the School and as consultant to the University's Biostatistics Center Medical Center Unit, where she provides statistical support to researchers in the areas of data management, database design/programming, creation of case report forms and data analysis. She also seeks innovative ways to use technology to deliver lectures and course content. Since joining the School's faculty in 1999, Dr. Young has helped to develop courses on pesticides and cancer, and on advanced applied biostatistics. At the George Washington University Medical Center, she serves on the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and the Academic Freedom and Ethics Committee.

Education

Master of Public Health (Epidemiology), The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, 1998
Doctor of Philosophy (Epidemiology), The George Washington University, 2002

Teaching

PubH 249-Use of Statistical Packages: Data Management and Data Analysis, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
PubH 209-Advanced SAS, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
PubH 209-Pesticides and Cancer, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
PubH 260-Advanced Data Analysis for Public Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
PubH 247-Design of Health Studies, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Research

Dr. Young's main research interests are focused on reproductive cancers, the reproductive effects of pesticide exposures and occupational and environmental exposure assessment. Her dissertation research evaluated the role of common triazine herbicides in the etiology of ovarian cancer in the Central Valley of California. Dr. Young is also interested in the health of military populations and has studied Gulf War veterans and Gulf War Related Illness.

Community Service

Professor Young has served as an ad-hoc committee member on the EPA Scientific Advisory Panel, evaluating the evidence concerning prostate cancer and atrazine. She is currently a consultant for the Institute of Medicine's study of the long-term health effects of participating in Project SHAD in the 1960s, when the Department of Defense was studying the capacity to detect chemical and biological warfare agents onboard ships.

Departments

• Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Institutes & Centers

• Biostatistics Center Medical Center Unit

Research Activities

• Cancer Patterns in Gulf War Era Veterans
• Clinical Management of Atypical Lobular Lesions of the Breast
• Clinical Trial of Acupuncture in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• District of Columbia Citywide Patient Navigation Research Study
• Evaluation of Army Chemical Corps Study
• Evaluation of Population Based Data at the DC Department of Health and Analysis of Disparities in Cancer Rates within DC
• National Health Survey of Gulf War Veterans and Their Families and Evaluation of Cancer Risks in Gulf War and Bosnia Era Veterans
• Partnerships for Training: Evaluation of Regional Education Systems for Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants
• Pilot Study for Establishment of an Inflammatory Breast Cancer Registry
• Racial and Socioeconomic Disparities in Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment
• A Safety, Efficacy, Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo Controlled, Crossover Trial of Lamictal in the Treatment of Post-Herpetic Neuralgia
• Study of Putative Neurological Syndrome in Gulf War Era Veterans
• Study of Risk Factors for Aggressive Breast Cancer

Publications

• When are "hemorrhoids" really hemorrhoids? A prospective study.
  Orkin BA, Young HA. When are "hemorrhoids" really hemorrhoids? A prospective study. Dis Col Rectum. In press.
• Is testicular cancer related to Gulf War deployment? Evidence from a pilot population-based study of Gulf War era veterans and cancer registries.
  Levine PH, Young HA, Simmens SJ, Rentz, D, Kofie V, Mahan CM, Kang HK. Is testicular cancer related to Gulf War deployment? Evidence from a pilot population-based study of gulf war era veterans and cancer. Mil Med. 2005; 170(2):149-153.
• Patterns of health care seeking of Persian Gulf War Registry members prior to deployment.
  Miller RN, Costigan D, Young HA, Kang HK, Dalager N, Mathes R, et al. Patterns of health care seeking of Persian Gulf War Registry members prior to deployment. Mil Med. In press.
• Comparison of penethyl and 6-phenylhexyl isothiocynate induced-toxicity in rat esophagheal cell lines with and without glutathione depletion/supplementation.
  Hudson TS, Stoner GD, Morse MA, Young HA, Mallery SR. Comparison of penethyl and 6-phenylhexyl isothiocynate induced-toxicity in rat esophagheal cell lines with and without glutathione depletion/supplementation. Toxicol Lett 2004;155 (3):427-36.
• Differences in pulsatile ocular blood flow among three classifications of diabetic retinopathy.
  Savage HI, Hendrix JW, Peterson DC, Young HA, Wilkinson, CP. Differences in pulsatile ocular blood flow among three classifications of diabetic retinopathy. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2004 Dec;45 (12):4504-9.
• Perineal talc exposure and epithelial ovarian cancer risk in the Central Valley of California.
  Mills PK, Riordan DG, Cress RD, Young HA. Perineal talc exposure and epithelial ovarian cancer risk in the Central Valley of California. Int J Cancer 2004 Nov 10; 112 (3):458-64.
• Use of a crop and job specific exposure matrix for estimating cumulative exposure to triazine herbicides among female agricultural workers in the Central Valley of California.
  Young HA, Mills PK, Riordan D, Cress R. Use of a crop and job specific exposure matrix for estimating cumulative exposure to triazine herbicides among female agricultural workers in the Central Valley of California. Occup Environ Med 2004 Nov; 61 (11):945-51.
• Thrombosed external hemorrhoids: Outcome after conservative or surgical management.
  Greenspon J, Williams SB, Young HA, Orkin BA. Thrombosed external hemorrhoids: Outcome after conservative or surgical management. Dis Col Rectum 2004 Sept;47 (9):1493-8.
• Relationship of body mass index, race, age, education, and income to self-reported health-related quality of life in middle-aged women.
  Stegon NR, Johnson-Taylor WL, Cleary SD, Young HA. Relationship of body mass index, race, age, education, and income to self-reported health-related quality of life in middle-aged women. Clin Ther 2003;25 (Suppl D):34.
• Factor analysis of fatiguing syndrome in Gulf War Era veterans: implications for etiology and pathogenesis.
  Young HA, Simmens SJ, Kang HK, Mahan CM, Levine PH. Factor analysis of fatiguing syndrome in Gulf War Era veterans: implications for etiology and pathogenesis. J Occup Environ Med 2003 Dec;45 (12):1268-73.
• Alkyl- and acyl-substituted vinylstannanes: synthesis and reactivity in electrophilic substitution reactions.
  Cochran JC, Prindle V, Young HA, Kumar MH, Tom S, Petraco NDK, et al. Alkyl- and acyl-substituted vinylstannanes: synthesis and reactivity in electrophilic substitution reactions. Syn React Inorg Metal-Organic Chem 2002;32 (5):885-902.
• Clinical courses of canine hookworm infections following three different oral doses of third-stage infective larvae of Ancylostoma caninum.
  Hotez PJ, Bin Z, Jin Q, Bethony J, Hawdon JM, Young HA, et al. Clinical courses of canine hookworm infections following three different oral doses of third-stage infective larvae of Ancylostoma caninum. Comp Parasitol 2002;69:72-80.
• Evidence for a deployment related Gulf War Syndrome by factor analysis.
  Kang HK, Mahan CM, Lee K, Murphy F, Simmens SJ, Young HA, Levine PH. Evidence for a deployment related Gulf War Syndrome by factor analysis. Arch Environ Health 2002 Jan-Feb;57 (1):61-8.
• A controlled trial of acupuncture for carpal tunnel syndrome.
  Weinstein A, Pan J, Richardson P, Norton D, Young HA, Rochon J. A controlled trial of acupuncture for carpal tunnel syndrome. Alt Ther Health Med 2001; 7:S35.
• Care of HIV-infected pregnant women in maternal-fetal medicine programs.
  Sklar PA, Bathgate SL, Young HA, Parenti DM. Care of HIV-infected pregnant women in maternal-fetal medicine programs. Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol 2001;9 (2):81-7.
• HIV-positive patients with anal carcinoma have poorer treatment tolerance and outcomes than HIV-negative patients.
  Kim JH, Sarani B, Orkin BA, Young HA, White J, Tannebaum I, et al. HIV-positive patients with anal carcinoma have poorer treatment tolerance and outcomes than HIV-negative patients. Dis Col Rectum 2001 Oct;44 (10):1496-502.
• 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 synthetic analogs inhibit spontaneous metastases in a 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced colon carcinogenesis model.
  Young H, Rochon J, Uskokovic M, Shchepotin IB. 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 synthetic analogs inhibit spontaneous metastases in a 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced colon carcinogenesis model. Int J of Onc 2000 Jun;16 (6):1249-54.
• 1, 25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 synthetic analogs inhibit spontaneous metastases in a 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced colon carcinogenesis model.
  Evans SR, Shchepotin EI, Young HA, et al. 1, 25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 synthetic analogs inhibit spontaneous metastases in a 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced colon carcinogenesis model. International Journal of Oncology. 2000; 16: 1249-1254.
• A controlled trial of acupuncture for carpal tunnel syndrome.
  Weinstein A, Pan J, Richardson P, Norton D, Young HA, Rochon J. A controlled trial of acupuncture for carpal tunnel syndrome. Alt Ther Health Med 2001; 7: S35.
• HIV-positive patients with anal carcinoma have poorer treatment tolerance and outcomes Than HIV-negative patients.
  Kim JH, Sarani B, Orkin BA, Young HA, White J, Tannebaum I, Stein S, Bennett B. HIV-positive patients with anal carcinoma have poorer treatment tolerance and outcomes Than HIV-negative patients. Diseases of the Colon and Rectum. 2001; 44: 1496-1502.
• Care of HIV-infected pregnant women in maternal-fetal medicine programs.
  Sklar PA, Bathgate SL, Young HA, Parenti DM. Care of HIV-infected pregnant women in maternal-fetal medicine programs. Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2001; 9: 81-87.
• Clinical courses of canine hookworm infections following three different oral doses of third-stage infective larvae of Ancylostoma caninum.
  Hotez PJ, Bin Z, Jin Q, Bethony J, Hawdon JM, Young HA, Simmens SJ, Hitzelberg R, Zook BC. Clinical courses of canine hookworm infections following three different oral doses of third-stage infective larvae of Ancylostoma caninum. Comparative Parisitology, 2002; 69: 72-80.
• Alkyl- and acyl-substituted vinylstannanes: synthesis and reactivity in electrophilic substitution reactions.
  Cochran JC, Prindle V, Young HA, Kumar MH, Tom S, Petraco NDK, Mohoro C, Kelley B. Alkyl- and acyl-substituted vinylstannanes: synthesis and reactivity in electrophilic substitution reactions. Synthesis and Reactivity in Inorganic and Metal-Organic Chemistry 2002; 32(5): 885-902.
• Relationship of body mass index, race, age, education, and income to self-reported health-related quality of life in middle-aged women.
  Stegon NR*, Johnson-Taylor WL, Cleary SD, Young HA. Relationship of body mass index, race, age, education, and income to self-reported health-related quality of life in middle-aged women. Clinical Therapeutics 2003; 25 Suppl D:D48-49. *GWU Special Project Student
• Factor Analysis of fatiguing syndrome in Gulf War era veterans: implications for etiology and pathogenesis.
  Young HA, Simmens SJ, Kang HK, Mahan CM, Levine PH. Factor Analysis of fatiguing syndrome in Gulf War era veterans: implications for etiology and pathogenesis. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2003; 45(12): 1268-1273.
• Thrombosed external hemorrhoids: outcome after conservative or surgical management.
  Greenspon J, Williams SB, Young HA, Orkin BA. Thrombosed external hemorrhoids: outcome after conservative or surgical management. Diseases of the Colon and Rectum. 2004; 47 (9): 1493-14988.
• Use of a crop and job specific exposure matrix for estimating cumulative exposure to triazine herbicides among female agricultural workers in the Central Valley of California.
  Young HA, Mills PK, Riordan D, Cress R. Use of a crop and job specific exposure matrix for estimating cumulative exposure to triazine herbicides among female agricultural workers in the Central Valley of California. Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2004; 61(11): 945-951.
• Perineal talc exposure and epithelial ovarian cancer risk in the Central Valley of California.
  Mills PK, Riordan DG, Cress RD, Young HA. Perineal talc exposure and epithelial ovarian cancer risk in the Central Valley of California. International Journal of Cancer. 2004; 112(3):458-464.
• Clinical courses of canine hookworm infections following three different oral doses of third-stage infective larvae of Ancylostoma caninum.
  Savage HI, Hendrix JW, Peterson DC, Young HA, Wilkinson, CP. Differences in pulsatile ocular blood flow among three classifications of diabetic retinopathy. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. 2004; 45(12):4504-4509.
• Comparison of phenethyl and 6-phenylhexyl isothiocynate induced-toxicity in rat esophagheal cell lines with and without glutathione depletion/supplementation.
  Hudson TS, Stoner GD, Morse MA, Young HA, Mallery SR. Comparison of phenethyl and 6-phenylhexyl isothiocynate induced-toxicity in rat esophagheal cell lines with and without glutathione depletion/supplementation. Toxicology Letters. 2004; 155(3): 427-436.
• Is testicular cancer related to Gulf War deployment: evidence from a pilot population-based study of Gulf War era veterans and cancer?
  Levine PH, Young HA, Simmens SJ, Kofie V, Rentz ED, Mahan CM, Kang HK. Is testicular cancer related to Gulf War deployment: evidence from a pilot population-based study of Gulf War era veterans and cancer? Military Medicine. 2005; 170 (2): 149-153.
• Small bowel obstruction: conservative versus surgical management.
  Williams SB, Greenspon J, Young HA, Orkin BA. Small bowel obstruction: conservative versus surgical management. Diseases of the Colon and Rectum. 2005; 48(6): 1140-1146.
• Elderly African American and Caucasian men attending a rheumatology clinic are infrequently screened for osteoporosis.
  Richards JS, Young HA, DeSagun R, Kerr GS. Elderly African American and Caucasian men attending a rheumatology clinic are infrequently screened for osteoporosis. Journal of the National Medical Association. 2005; 97(5): 714-718.
• Trends in inflammatory breast carcinoma incidence and survival: the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program at the National Cancer Institute.
  Hance KW*, Anderson WF, Devesa SS, Young HA, Levine PH. Trends in inflammatory breast carcinoma incidence and survival: the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program at the National Cancer Institute. Journal of the National Cancer Institute. 2005; 97(13): 966-975. *GWU Special Project Student
• Improving the case definition of inflammatory breast cancer.
  Levine PH, Cartin BJ, Lowe JA, Siegel DA, Young HA. Improving the case definition of inflammatory breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2005; 94(1): S89.
• Triazine herbicides and epithelial ovarian cancer risk in Central California.
  Young HA, Mills PK, Riordan D, Cress R. Triazine herbicides and epithelial ovarian cancer risk in Central California. Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine. 2005; 47 (11): 1148-1156.
• Patterns of health care seeking of Persian Gulf War registry members prior to deployment.
  Miller RN, Costigan D, Young HA, Kang HK, Dlager N, Mathes R, Crawford H, Page WF, Thaul S. Patterns of health care seeking of Persian Gulf War registry members prior to deployment. Military Medicine. 2006; 171 (5): 370-375.
• Earlier age of onset: another dimension in cancer disparity.
  Karami S*, Young HA, Henson DE. Earlier age of onset: another dimension in cancer disparity. Cancer Detection and Prevention. 2007; 31(1): 29-34. *GWU Special Project Student
• Inhibition of prostate cancer growth by resveratrol and muscadine grape skin extract through distinct mechanisms
  Hudson TS, Hartle D, Hurstings S, Nunez N, Perkin S, Young HA, Araney P, Green JE. Inhibition of prostate cancer growth by resveratrol and muscadine grape skin extract through distinct mechanisms. Cancer Research. (in press)
• A clinical evaluation of Gulf War veterans with a possible deployment-related neurological syndrome and Gulf War era controls.
  Levine PH, Richardson PK, Zolfaghari L, Cleary SD, Potolicchio S, Geist CE, Young HA, Simmens S, Schessel D, Williams K, Mahan CM, Kang HK. A clinical evaluation of Gulf War veterans with a possible deployment-related neurological syndrome and Gulf War era controls. Archives of Occupational & Environmental Medicine. (in press)
• Risk for fathering children with birth defects among Army Chemical Corps Vietnam veterans who sprayed defoliant in Vietnam.
  Young HA, Kang HK, Dalager NA, Castel A, Needham LL, Patterson Jr DG, Turner WE, Matanoski G. Risk for fathering children with birth defects among Army Chemical Corps Vietnam veterans who sprayed defoliant in Vietnam. Organohalogen Compounds. (in press)