YOUR ASSOCIATION
NEHA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Ikenna Orji University of Nebraska Medical Center
What is one thing that most people do not know about you that you would be willing to share? Watching movies makes me relax. I know this might sound awk- ward, but when I am heavily stressed and tense, I watch a movie series on a streaming platform, which helps calm my nerves. What accomplishment are you most proud of? Fatherhood. Raising a family while studying full-time comes with numerous challenges. The experience, however, has been gratify- ing and is one I can easily say has been my proudest moment. Who do you look up to and why? While I look up to every public health and emergency response professional who works tirelessly to ensure our safety, I would single out the firefighters who spend hours battling huge forest fires and ensure that many of us still have a roof over our heads. They perform a selfless duty that few are prepared to under- take, and sometimes, they make the ultimate sacrifice. Their relentless courage and strength are an inspiration and worthy of emulation. Is there a resource you frequently use for your work that you would recommend for other environmental health professionals? I have used books such as Environmental Health: From Global to Local by Howard Frumkin and Risk Assessment for Environmental Health by Mark Robson and William Toscano for recent environ- mental health projects I have been involved. Government websites such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Centers for Dis- ease Control and Prevention, and the ocial NEHA website have been valuable in sourcing daily up-to-date, relevant environmental health information. Elsevier and PubMed literature databases are my favorite when conducting a review. EndNote has been a fantastic resource for me and has many cool features, including downloading references with PDF attachments to your customized library. The in-text cita- tion feature lets you import references directly into your scientific writing. EndNote can also provide guidance on the appropriate journal to publish your scientific writing. What was the best professional advice given to you? Investing in self-development can be a very expensive and time- consuming experience. Most of the time, however, it is worthwhile and self-rewarding. We thank Ikenna Orji for sharing with us!
The National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) is shin- ing a spotlight on the people within our membership through this feature in the Journal . This month we are pleased to introduce you to Ikenna Orji, a graduate research assistant and full-time doctoral student at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He has been in the environmental health profession for 10 years. Orji assists in setting up, conducting, and monitoring experi- ments; analyzing data using appropriate statistical software; and writing reports, research papers, and funding proposals. He per- forms other tasks related to specific functions or programs assigned and assists faculty members in research, data collection, and cre- ative activities for a designated research area. Further, he developed a work plan based on the research objectives. Orji is also pursuing a doctoral degree in environmental health, occupational health, and toxicology from the Department of Environmental, Agricultural, and Occupational Health within the College of Public Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska. Why did you join NEHA and what aspects of membership have you found most valuable to your career? I joined NEHA to improve my professional net worth and gain more insight into environmental health legislation in the U.S. Having practiced primarily outside of the U.S., a membership with NEHA provides a platform to be integrated into a community of environ- mental health practitioners who are passionate and well-informed regarding emerging public health issues. One cannot aord to miss this unique opportunity to interact, learn, and be mentored by these experienced environmental health professionals. Why did you choose the environmental health field? Honestly, the environmental health field had never been my first option while I was an undergraduate student. During my fourth year, however, I was required to take some courses in toxicology and environmental health, which included completing a study on a rural community whose farmlands had been inundated by an oil spill. This experience completely changed my perception and imbibed a sense of responsibility. A career in environmental health would enable me to contribute to more sustainable interventions that pro- mote environmental protection thereby improving human health. If you weren’t an environmental health professional, what other profession would you like to work in? Global health. Please describe any hobbies, activities, or causes you are passionate about. In my free time, I love watching movies, playing soccer, and play- ing chess.
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Volume 87 • Number 1
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