ronmental health profession, and they are wholeheartedly dedicated to growing the next generation of environmental health leaders! Here are a few such spotlights: • The Academy cosponsors and contributes to the NEHA/AAS Scholarships to sup- port eligible undergraduate and graduate students in their academic studies and to encourage early commitment by students to pursue a career in environmental health. • Thanks to the expansive disciplines repre- sented by our membership body, the Acad- emy o ers formal and informal mentoring to showcase the numerous environmental health paths available. • The Academy o ers an impressive array of career and professional development opportunities, from peer networking to leadership opportunities. • A diversity, equity, and inclusion commit- tee was created by the Academy to ensure our organization continues to evolve and meet the needs of our environmental health practitioners. Since 2022, the Acad- emy’s board has welcomed a more diverse group of decision makers. The Academy is dedicated to encouraging and supporting a membership body that truly reflects the needs of the profession. With these core values in mind, the Acad- emy is at a crossroads with several modern- ization e orts underway. It is important as we undertake these e orts that we not only meet the needs of today’s professionals but also plan for the future. Learning from the Tin Man, we know that meeting the needs of the profession requires compassion, empathy, and leading with heart. If you are wondering how the Academy can serve you, here is a bit about the membership process. Membership is comprised of two types of certifications: diplomate and diplo- mate laureate. These distinctions are awarded to professionals in the field of environmental health who have completed specialized train- ing, are considered experts, or have been des- ignated by having special skills in their field. The requirements to be a diplomate include
holding bachelor’s and master’s degrees in environmental health or a related field, being a Registered Environmental Health Specialist/ Registered Sanitarian (REHS/RS), having at least 7 years of field experience, and having authored at least one paper on an environmen- tal health topic (American Academy of Sani- tarians, n.d.). Why wouldn’t you want to take your career to the next level and be designated as a diplomate? Obtaining these standards sets the bar for environmental health professionals and establishes their competence in the field, which in turn allows them to serve as men- tors to others starting out in the field and to provide a di erent perspective to those pro- fessionals who have been practicing for years. Having field experience also ensures techni- cal competence in at least one given area in the field. This experience is critical for learn- ing how to practice book knowledge and adds to the body of wisdom that can advance science and allows for contributions in the form of technical assistance and reviews from peers. Environmental health professionals have never been stretched so thin in terms of workforce numbers and expectations. Wouldn’t it be refreshing to have a diverse organization provide mentoring and o er special knowledge on an array of environ- mental health topics to our fellow diplomates to help solve complex problems? It could be the lifeline if you will that so many of us des- perately need as we try to do less with more due to the fact that the very definition of environmental health seems to keep expand- ing every time a “new” issue pops up. Will you join us as we cultivate the stra- tegic future of the Academy one brick at a time? Here is what you can do: • Connect with the Academy! We want to hear from you. If you will be attending the NEHA 2024 Annual Educational Confer- ence & Exhibition, join us for a special ses- sion to discuss and frame our next steps. Stay tuned for more details. While attend- ing, be on the lookout for attendees wear- ing AAS ribbons on name tags. The Acad-
emy members would love to meet you and discuss opportunities! • Share your thoughts remotely by emailing CDR Otto at J.Otto.AAS@gmail.com. » Tell us why you became an environmen- tal health professional? What does it mean to you? » What areas should the Academy focus on? Examples include specific technical areas or topics, mentoring, scholarships, or something else. » What organizations should the Academy partner with? » For Academy members, why did you join? » If you are not a member, why not? Acknowledgements: Thank you to Vince Radke, Michéle Samarya-Timm, Eric Bradley, James J. Balsamo, Jr., and Wendy Fanaselle for their contributions to this column. Corresponding Author: CDR Jessica Otto, Board of Directors, American Academy of Sanitarians. Email: J.Otto.AAS@gmail.com. References American Academy of Sanitarians. (n.d.). Membership application . https://sanitarians. org/Membership-Application Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). UNCOVER EH infographic on key find- ings . https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs/uncover- eh/infographic-key-findings.html Community Commons. (n.d.). Seven vital conditions for health and well-being . https:// www.communitycommons.org/collections/ Seven-Vital-Conditions-for-Health-and- Well-Being Zemel, F.I. (2015). What is a diplomate, and what does it do? Journal of Environmental Health , 78 (1), 34–35.
Did You Know?
Check out our new online store of NEHA-branded items at https://neha.checkoutstores.com. Show o your pride in your association and support students as a portion of the sales will go to the NEHA/AAS Scholarship Fund.
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December 2023 • Journal of Environmental Health
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