Health of Agricultural Populations (HAP)

Now in its second decade, the Southeast Center for Agricultural Health and Injury Prevention is one of a select number of agricultural research centers nationwide funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (CDC/NIOSH). The Center is directed by Robert H. McKnight, MPH, ScD, Professor of Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health in the University of Kentucky's College of Public Health.

Led by Dr. McKnight and including senior instructors from nursing, medicine, industrial hygiene, agricultural engineering and other key disciplines, the Health of Agricultural Populations (HAP) emphasis area aims to help students develop an in-depth understanding of agricultural health and safety issues within the student’s chosen discipline, with an emphasis on the application of theoretical, analytical, and management principles to rural farming populations. The HAP emphasis also aims to help students:

• Understand the economic, social, and business variables that affect populations in fishing, forestry, and agriculture.

• Identify occupational and life-style related health risks for various population segments, including farm children, older workers, farm women, minorities, persons with disabilities, hired farm workers, loggers, and fishers.

• Appreciate the benefits of working to identify and address issues in health and injury prevention as part of larger, trans-disciplinary teams that may include farmers, Extension agents, teachers, nurses, physicians, engineers, and other stakeholders.

• Envision and apply research-to-practice initiatives that will benefit agricultural populations and promote public health.

• The knowledge and skills acquired in agricultural population-based safety and health will enable graduates to attain public health leadership roles in agricultural and rural settings, particularly in the areas of needs assessment, policy development, and translation of research to practice.

Funding opportunities

Limited funding is available to support capstone projects, dissertations, and practicum experiences for MPH, DrPH, and PhD (Gerontology) students. Funds are also available to qualified applicants for data collection and for travel to professional meetings. A separate training program grant (TPG) funded by NIOSH provides substantial tuition support for competitively selected doctoral candidates and/or MPH trainees. Qualified students may apply for this NIOSH traineeship, which provides additional funding (stipend and possible tuition support up to $10,000 per year).

In addition to classroom instruction and relevant field experiences, graduate students have been able to attend important scientific conferences and seminars related to agricultural occupational safety and health. These include, for example, international symposia of the Canadian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety in Agriculture (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada); meetings of the National Rural Health Association, the National Institute for Farm Safety, and the International Commission on Occupational Health (varied locations); and the Annual Meeting and Exposition of the American Public Health Association (varied locations).

To Apply Contact:

Robert H. McKnight, MPH, ScD
Director, Southeast Center for Agricultural Health and Injury Prevention
Professor, Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health
University of Kentucky
College of Public Health
Suite 102, 1141, Red Mile Rd.
Lexington, KY 40504-9842
Phone: 859-323-6836
Email:rmcknig@uky.edu