Prof. Arthur L. Frank, Chair of the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at the School of Public Health, was recently appointed by the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services to serve on the Board of Scientific Counselors of the National Center for Environmental Health/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through 2012.
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) serves the public by using the best science, taking responsive public health actions, and providing trusted health information to prevent harmful exposures and diseases related to toxic substances.
ATSDR is charged with performing assessments, surveillance and maintaining registries, research, information dissemination and education concerning the effect on public health of hazardous substances in the environment.
Dr. Frank’s major research activities have included the study of occupational lung diseases such as asbestosis and silicosis, occupational cancers, especially those related to asbestos exposure, and has worked in the area of agricultural safety and health. As a commissioned officer in the Public Health Service, he conducted research at the National Cancer Institute.
Dr. Frank received his MD degree from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and his PhD in biomedical sciences from the City University of New York. He was trained in both internal medicine and occupational medicine and holds board certification in both fields.