INTRODUCTION
The Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene was established in 1993. This is the first graduate institute majoring in occupational medicine and industrial hygiene in Taiwan. The mission of the Institute is to advance the health of all people in occupational and community settings in Taiwan, Asia and around the world through teaching, research and services in occupational and environmental health. Faculty members in the institute investigate causes, risks, mechanisms, biomarkers, and prevention measures of environmentally and occupationally related health issues, provide advanced education programs of occupational health with master and doctoral degrees, and provide scientifically based public health services to the public, governments, industries, and the labors. Research approaches range from the molecular to the epidemiologic, in physical scales of nano- to macro-, and by multiple disciplines of physical, chemical, biological, sociobehavioral sciences and ergonomics. In most occasions, we have tried to tackle important public health problems that require integrated contributions of many advanced specialties.The institute’s faculty, research staff, and students reflect the multidisciplinary nature of the field and include chemists, engineers, epidemiologists, ergonomics, physicians, molecular biologists, exposure assessors, and risk assessors.
Teaching and research activities of the department are carried out through the following concentrations:
(1) occupational medicine
(2) industrial hygiene
(3) occupational and environmental epidemiology
(4) exposure and risk assessment
(5) environmental toxicology and genomics
(6) aerosol technology
(7) ergonomics
(8) quality of life and cost-effectiveness.
This institute collaborates closely with the College of Medicine and the National Taiwan University Hospital, especially the Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Internal Medicine, Dermatology, and Toxicology, for the promotion of environmental and Occupational Health domestically and internationally.
ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES:
We have a regular case conference in late afternoon of every Friday. Experts from different fields are invited to share their current research interests. In addition, students are assigned to present their thesis proposal and progress in the meeting. Topics include: case report of environmental and occupational disease, aerosol technology, hazardous wastes, biomarker, indoor air quality, safety and health policy etc. Our main goal is to cooperate with faculty of the Institute of Environmental Health and Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine of the National Taiwan University Hospital and share the most updated knowledge and technology of occupational and environmental health with people of developing countries in Asia.
Mission and Goals:
1.Increase the number of courses taught in English.
2.Develop a health risk program.
3.Enhance research in the emerging occupational and environmental health issues.
4.Advance international collaboration in occupational and environmental healthIntegrate teaching in occupational health.
