CHE-Penn Projects

The purpose of CHE-Penn is to promote discourse on current Pennsylvania related environmental health issues and develop creative ways to bring its three main constituencies together around an environmental health agenda, including scientists and health professionals, health affected groups and environmental organizations.
Current focus areas include:

  • Supporting the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation of Pittsburgh with a project to develop and expand its work connecting breast cancer prevention to the search for environmental links in collaboration with the Center for Environmental Oncology at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute. The jointly produced website, "www.ReducingRisk.org" will be unveiled at the May 14, 2006, Race for the Cure in Pittsburgh.
  • Working with a wide range of organizations on air pollution issues. Of central importance is promoting awareness of the dangers of mercury in the environment. A second piece is working with the Campaign for Healthy Air (CHA), a collaborative group keeping track of the changes to the Clean Air Act, especially regarding PM2.5. The convenors are GASP, and Clean Water Action, and other groups active with CHA include: PennFuture, CHEC, Healthy Children Project and the Sierra Club.
  • Working with hospital administrators in the Pittsburgh area and Health Care Without Harm on hospital greening.
  • Building CHE-Penn and promoting CHE national through programming and partnerships.

The goals for CHE-Penn over the next year include

  • Foster leadership and participation in CHE-Penn, growing the group across the Commonwealth and creating stable partnerships in the environmental health community.
  • Involve scientists and health professionals in the work of CHE-Penn that also offers a venue to promote their research and clinical work. (a.k.a. Science Advisory Committee)
  • Support working groups on broad issues such as Green Healthcare and Environmental Health Policy that can involve a cross-section of CHE-Penn partners
  • Collaborate on delivery of a credible series of public health programming and resources on environmental health topics – accessible to a broad range of citizens, including rural counties as well as urban centers.