Marc B. Schenker, MD, MPH, who has devoted his career to improving the well-being of farmers and farmworkers, is the Journal of Agromedicine 2019 “Leader in the Field.”
“Marc has always been ahead of the curve, always focused on the changing nature of the agricultural workplace,” said Matthew Keifer, MD, MPH, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Agromedicine.
Dr. Schenker is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Public Health Sciences and Medicine at the University of California, Davis. He is Founding Director of the Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, the NIOSH-funded Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety, and the Migration and Health Research Center.
“Prior to coming to UC Davis, I had no real interest or experience with occupational health of agricultural workers, but when I arrived it was clear that it would be a priority, since I was at the number one agricultural university in the world,” Dr. Schenker said.
He has studied the diverse illnesses and injuries in agriculture including respiratory, reproductive, and dermatologic diseases, cancer, traumatic injuries and fatalities, pesticide toxicity and musculoskeletal disorders.
“After coming to Davis, I initially did some research on pesticide exposure among applicators, but it took a while to gain a foothold working with farmers and farmworkers,” Dr. Schenker said. “My agricultural health research efforts were catalyzed by becoming the founding director of one of the first two NIOSH Ag Health and Safety Centers in 1990, and continued as I led the Western Center until my retirement in 2017.”
He has worked with numerous agricultural populations, including farm owners and managers, farmworkers and their families.
“Marc has been an important force as a researcher and clinician to improving the health and safety of immigrant workers,” said Amy K. Liebman, MPA, MA, Director of Environmental and Occupational Health at Migrant Clinician’s Network (MCN). “His contribution to the field has made an impact.”
Dr. Schenker has focused attention of occupational health researchers and epidemiologists on the global health disparities affecting immigrants, with particular attention to the occupational health outcomes among immigrant farmworkers. Some of his recent projects include a study to evaluate workplace interventions to reduce obesity and diabetes among Latino agricultural workers, with a particular focus on the unique potential to achieve this goal via culturally-appropriate providers such as promotoras.
His career in research provided the foundation for, “Migration and Health: A Research Methods Handbook (2014),” which he co-edited with his wife, Xóchitl Castañeda, and Alfonso Rodriguez-Lainz. This pathbreaking handbook is the first to engage with the many unique issues that arise in the study of migrant communities. By providing information and practical tools, the book filled existing gaps in research methods and enhanced opportunities to address the health and social disparities migrant populations face in the United States and around the world.
Dr. Schenker received his BS from UC Berkeley, his MD from UC San Francisco, and his MPH from Harvard University. Dr. Schenker is Board Certified in Internal Medicine (Pulmonary Disease) and Preventive Medicine (Occupational Medicine). Before coming to UC Davis in 1983, Dr. Schenker was Instructor of Medicine at Harvard from 1980 to 1983. His career at UC Davis has included serving for 12 years as the Founding Chair of the Department of Public Health Sciences and for 3 years as Associate Vice-Provost for Outreach and Engagement. Dr. Schenker’s academic career has included publication of over 200 peer-reviewed publications and six textbooks. He is the recipient of numerous awards including two Fulbright Fellowships, the Harvard School of Public Health Alumni Award of Merit, the UC Davis Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research, and the UC San Francisco Medical Alumni of the Year award.
NOTE: The Journal of Agromedicine announces its Leader in the Field in the first issue of each volume. The recognition goes to an individual who has made significant contributions in agricultural safety and health practice, policy, and research. Previous honorees: Dr. James Dosman, University of Saskatchewan (2008); Kelley Donham, University of Iowa (2009); Cheryl Tevis, Successful Farming magazine (2010); Dr. George Conway, NIOSH (2011); William Field, Purdue University (2012); Art Kerschner Jr., US Department of Labor (2013); Tom Harkin, US Senator, Iowa (2014); Dr. John May, Bassett Healthcare, New York (2015); Kevin Keaney, US Environmental Protection Agency (2016); William J. Nelson, CHS Foundation (2017); and Dennis Murphy, Penn State University (2018).
To submit names for “Leader in the Field” consideration, e-mail to [email protected],or phone Managing Editor Scott Heiberger at 1–800-662–6900 and press 7. Nominees can be a health practitioner, public health specialist, researcher, educator, or other professional whose work has had demonstrable positive impact on the safety and health of those who work in the agriculture industry, or on the safety and health of those whose communities are affected by agricultural practices. Honorees will be determined by members of the Journal’s editorial board.