OccPod: the official ACOEM podcast

Epizode

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  OccPod – Episode 70, Substance Use Disorder in the Workplace 20.07.2026 33min

  Thank you for joining ACOEM for another episode of OccPod. In this timely conversation, host Dr. Ismail Nabeel is joined by Dr. Dominik Dabrowski to discuss substance use disorder in the workplace. Dr. Nabeel is a Professor in the Department of Environmental Medicine and the Department of Artificial Intelligence and Human Health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Dr. Dabrowski is the Medical Director at the Naval Nuclear Laboratory, with a background in both occupational and addiction medicine — he completed his occupational medicine residency at HealthPartners and an addiction medicine fellowship at Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care, and most recently served as an attending physician at Mount Sinai Health System.In this episode, Drs. Nabeel and Dabrowski discuss emerging synthetic opioids – including fentanyl analogs, xylazine, and Medetomidine – and what occupational medicine physicians, MROs, and DOT providers need to know about detection, treatment, and the evolving landscape of substance use in the workplace.
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  OccPod – Episode 69, A Journey Through Leadership and Change with Dr. Andrew Kim (Special Fifth Anniversary Episode) 26.01.2026 35min

  Thank you for joining us for another episode of OccPod,ACOEM’s official podcast. In this episode, Dr. Nabeel is joined by. Andrew Kim, a former Navy officer and Army colonel, who is now shaping the future of healthcare in the rugged landscapes of Anchorage, Alaska, as an occupational and environmental health physician with Providence Alaska Medical Center. Learn more about Dr. Kim here: https://www.army.mil/article/273285/usamrdcs_col_andrew_kim_retires_after_two_decade_career_in_military_medicineLooking to make your own career change in medicine? VisitOEM Explore at http://acoem.org/careers, where ACOEM members have free access to a map-based career exploration platform that includes job postings in occupational and environmental medicine.
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  OccPod – Episode 68, AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment 29.12.2025 30min

  Welcome back to OccPod! This episode features a conversation with someone who has helped shape how physicians across the country understand and apply impairment ratings, Dr. Douglas Martin.Dr. Martin is a Past President of ACOEM and is a board-certified Family Medicine physician specializing in Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Dr. Martin’s areas of expertise include workers’ compensation injuries, aviation and commercial driver evaluations, fitness-for-duty determinations, independent medical exams, and file reviews. He also serves as co-chair of the AMA Guides Editorial Panel, leading national efforts to modernize and standardize impairment rating.Our host is Dr. Ismail Nabeel, professor in the Department of Environmental Medicine and the Department of Artificial Intelligence and Human Health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Dr. Nabeel is an ACOEM Fellow and serves on the ACOEM Board of Directors.In this episode, Dr. Martin breaks down the long and sometimes surprising history of impairment and disability, explains how the AMA Guides have evolved, and shares what’s new in the 2024 digital updates – especially the major changes to the musculoskeletal chapters. He also reflects on artificial intelligence, transparency in guideline development, and what these updates mean for physicians, patients, and the future of equitable compensation.
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  OccPod - Episode 67, Mysteries in Occupational and Environmental Medicine: The Radium Girls 24.11.2025 15min

  Thank you for joining us for another episode of OccPod, ACOEM’s official podcast. This is the first episode of our new series, “Mysteries in Occupational and Environmental Medicine,” where we use artificial intelligence to bring historical moments to life and reflect on theirimpact today. In this episode, Dr. Nabeel is joined by “Grace Fryer,” one of the Radium Girls whose courage and persistence helped spark lasting change in workplace safety. Her story reminds us how far we’ve come—and how important it is to keep protecting the health and safety of every worker.More information on the Radium Girls can be found here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radium_GirlsTo learn more about ACOEM and our work advancing occupational and environmental health, visit acoem.org.
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  OccPod - Episode 66, Happiness and its Impact on Health 03.07.2025 25min

  Thank you for joining us for another episode of OccPod, ACOEM’s official podcast. In this episode, Dr. Nabeel is joined by Dr. Yohama Caraballo-Arias, an occupational physician and an internationally recognized expert in workplace health and well-being. She is currently a visiting researcher and professor at theUniversity of Bologna, Italy, and recently published her book, “The 7 secrets to happiness at work: Neuroscience for Healthy, Productive and Happy Work Life,” available on Amazon.English: https://www.amazon.com/secrets-happiness-work-Neuroscience-Productive/dp/B0F5NTML1TSpanish: https://www.amazon.com/Los-secretos-felicidad-trabajo-Neurociencia-ebook/dp/B0C6R78J9J?ref_=ast_author_dp&th=1&psc=1Dr. Caraballo-Arias’ research on happiness can be foundhere:  https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Yohama-Caraballo-Ariashttps://scholar.google.com/citations?user=i6djJOIAAAAJ&hl=es
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  OccPod - Episode 64, Public Health Challenges from the LA Wildfires 07.03.2025 21min

  Thank you for joining us for another episode of OccPod,ACOEM’s official podcast. In this episode, Dr. Nabeel is joined by Dr. Mani Berenji to discuss the public health effects of the LA wildfires, which burned from January 7 to 31, 2025. Dr. Berenji discusses her personal experience, both as an occupational and environmental medicine physician in LA and as an Angeleno, and advises on the short- and long-term hazards of the wildfires and site cleanup. Dr. Berenji recommends this webinar for clinicians, “VirtualGrand Rounds: Southern California Wildfire Response - What Clinicians Need to Know,” available here:https://www.cmadocs.org/store/info/productcd/CME25_0129_VGROUNDS/t/virtual-grand-rounds-Southern-California-Wildfire-Response-What-Clinicians-Need-to-KnowSee links below for more public health resources in responseto the Southern California Wildfires.California Medical Association’s Wildfire Resources: https://www.cmadocs.org/wildfires U.S. Small Business Association’s Disaster Assistance: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistanceLA County’s Public Health Fire Safety and Health Information:http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/wildfire/LA County DPH Health Advisory (January 13, 2025)http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/eprd/lahan/alerts/LAHANFire011325.pdfDepartment of Health Care Services (DHCS) SouthernCalifornia Wildfire Response:https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/Southern-California-Wildfire-Response/Pages/default.aspxCoalition for Clean Air Wildfire Smoke and Safety Resourceshttps://www.ccair.org/wildfire-and-smoke-safety-resources/Protecting yourself during fire cleanup:https://laist.com/news/climate-environment/cleaning-up-after-the-la-wildfires-is-dangerous-heres-how-to-protect-yourself?utm_campaign=5947416-crisis-communications
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  OccPod – Episode 63, Private Practice in OEM 10.12.2024 17min

  Thank you for joining us for another episode of OccPod, ACOEM's official podcast. In this episode, Erin and Dr. Nabeel are joined by Dr. Maria Starchook-Moore to discuss recent initiatives by ACOEM's Private Practice Section. Dr. Starchook-Moore discusses her personal experience as an occupational and environmental medicine physician and outlines the goals of the Private Practice Section, which aim to share information on starting a practice through podcasts, webinars, and mentorship. An important note for our listeners – OccPod will be going on an editorial hiatus until further notice. Now is the perfect time to go back and revisit the full catalog of OccPod episodes!
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  OccPod – Episode 62, The American Occupational Health Conference 05.10.2024 32min

  Thank you for joining us for another episode of OccPod, the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine's official podcast. In this episode, Erin and Dr. Nabeel are joined by Dr. David Caretto for a conversation about planning a successful medical conference. For over 100 years, ACOEM's annual conference has been the American Occupational Health Conference, or AOHC. Planning a successful conference means weaving together education, experience, and the best and brightest in occupational and environmental medicine, or OEM. Dr. Caretto currently serves as Regional Medical Director of Employee Services at Sutter Health – he also served as the Program Chair for AOHC 2024, which was held in Orlando, Florida earlier this year. As always, thank you for listening and don't forget to subscribe!
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  OccPod – Episode 61, The OEM Pipeline 21.08.2024 31min

  Thank you for joining us for another episode of OccPod. In this episode, Erin and Dr. Nabeel are joined by Dr. Matt Hamm to discuss his journey in occupational and environmental medicine, and developments in expanding opportunities for residents interested in OEM. Dr. Hamm is the Medical Director of the Exposure Response Call Center at the Occupational and Environmental Network (OEHN) and a consultant in occupational health. He leads ACOEM's OEM Pipeline Task Force and recently completed a residency in occupational and environmental medicine at Harvard. Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss a new episode of OccPod!
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  OccPod – Episode 60, Aging at Work and Fitness for Duty 18.07.2024 25min

  Thank you for joining us for another episode of OccPod. In this episode, Erin and Dr. Nabeel are joined by Dr. Camille Napier to discuss aging in the workplace and fitness for duty. Dr. Napier is a board-certified physician, educator, and administrator with over twenty years of experience in occupational and internal medicine disease management, wellness promotion, communicable disease surveillance, and quality improvement. Dr. Napier serves as the lead physician in Employee Health Services at Mount Sinai – she also serves as Assistant Professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
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  OccPod – Episode 59, Artificial Intelligence in OEM 13.05.2024 19min

  Everywhere you look, it seems as though Artificial Intelligence (or AI) is at the forefront of public discourse. In this episode of OccPod, Erin and Dr. Nabeel are joined by Dr. Zaira Chaudhry for a conversation about AI in occupational and environmental medicine. Dr. Chaudhry is a board-certified Occupational Medicine physician and a PhD student at West Virginia University’s College of Engineering whose research focuses on the human factors related to AI integration in clinical OEM practice. She is also a member of ACOEM’s Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning/Virtual Reality in OEM Practice Workgroup and currently serves on ACOEM’s Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee as well as the Council on External Relations and Communications. Thank you for joining us for another episode of OccPod!
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  OccPod – Episode 58, ACOEM's Presidential Line 25.03.2024 39min

  On this episode of OccPod, Erin and Dr. Nabeel talk with the incoming Presidential Line of ACOEM. We welcome our guests, Drs. Tanisha Taylor, Laura Gillis, and Jill Rosenthal.  Dr. Tanisha Taylor is Senior Medical Director for RWJBH Employee Health and Wellness, New Jersey. Dr. Taylor received her MD from New York Medical and her MPH from Yale University. Dr. Taylor is the current President-Elect of ACOEM. She joined the College in 2005, and served as Young Physician Director from 2013 – 2016, after which she was a Director on the Board for several years. She has been active on the American Occupational Health Conference Planning Committees and currently serves on the Council on Governmental Affairs and chairs the Vaccine Workgroup. Dr. Gillis is currently the Chief Medical Officer at Union Pacific Railroad.  Her previous positions include serving as a US Naval Flight Surgeon, a private practice physician and business owner, the US Federal Maritime Surgeon, and a Medical Director at BNSF Railway. Dr. Gillis is currently ACOEM’s Vice President.  She has held multiple roles in ACOEM, including Chair of the Council on Membership Engagement, Chair of the Transportation Section, and has been member of the ACOEM Board of Directors since 2019. Dr. Jill Rosenthal is the Chief Medical Officer at Zenith Insurance, a Fairfax Financial Company.  She is also an Affiliate Assistant Professor at the University of South Florida Occupational Medicine Residency Program and the past Chairperson of the Florida Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Foundation Board. Dr. Rosenthal has served as the Medical Director for General Motors, Evanston-Northwestern Hospital’s Employee Health Department, and two Johnson and Johnson companies.  She is the current Treasurer and incoming Vice President of ACOEM and chairs ACOEM’s Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion committee.  In May, Dr. Taylor will be installed as ACOEM President, Dr. Gillis ascends to President Elect, and Dr. Rosenthal becomes ACOEM’s Vice President.  Please join us at the 108th American Occupational Health Conference – AOHC – May 19-22, at Lowes Royal Pacific Resort in Orlando, FL, where our incoming leaders take office! Learn more about the conference and register today at acoem.org/aohc. 
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  OccPod – Episode 57, Updates to Respiratory Virus Guidance 14.03.2024 18min

  Thank you for joining us for another episode of OccPod, ACOEM's official podcast. In this episode, Erin and Dr. Nabeel discuss updated guidance from the CDC for respiratory viruses, including COVID-19. This coincides with the fourth anniversary of the pandemic's declaration around the globe. Dr. Nabeel is an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Siani. He is a Fellow of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, serves on the ACOEM Board of Directors, and chairs ACOEM's Council on OEM Science. 
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  OccPod – Episode 56, COVID-19 Updates and Measles Outbreaks 07.03.2024 27min

  Thank you for joining us for another episode of OccPod. In this episode, Erin and Dr. Nabeel are joined by Dr. Amy Behrman for a conversation about COVID-19 and outbreaks of Measles, and how workers can protect themselves. Dr. Behrman is the Medical Director of Occupational Medicine Services and Professor of Emergency Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Behrman serves on the National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit which is dedicated to improving vaccine use as recommended by the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
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  OccPod – Episode 55, Flood Zone Workers 08.01.2024 27min

  Thank you for joining us for another episode of OccPod, ACOEM's official podcast. In this episode, Erin and Dr. Nabeel are joined by Dr. Brett Perkison and Ms. Cynthia Hernandez for a conversation about flood zone workers who respond to climate-related natural disasters. Ms. Hernandez is the National Training Director for the Resilience Force, an organization that serves as a voice for workers who respond to climate disasters in the United States, many of whom are immigrants. She began her career as a researcher and instructor at Florida International University’s Center for Labor Research & Studies, investigating the intersection of labor and immigration. Dr. Perkison is an assistant professor at the University of Texas School of Public Health in Houston, TX, and is the program director for the Occupational and Environmental Medicine residency program in Houston.  He is board certified in both family medicine and occupational and environmental medicine and is a Fellow of ACOEM.  One of his main research interests is improving the health and safety of construction workers grappling with the aftermath of natural disasters.
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  OccPod – Episode 54, Blast Off! Space Travel and Supersonic Transport 23.10.2023 32min

  Thank you for joining us for another episode of OccPod, ACOEM's official podcast. In this episode, Erin and Dr. Nabeel are joined by Dr. Vincent Michaud for a conversation that is truly out of this world – aerospace medicine and supersonic transport. Dr. Michaud is the Deputy Chief Health and Medical Officer at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC. He is responsible for the oversight of all NASA health and medical activities including medical aspects of all national and international NASA missions.  Dr. Michaud earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas and completed residencies in Aerospace Medicine and Occupational Medicine at the United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine at Brooks Air Force Base, Texas. He is a Fellow of the Aerospace Medical Association and is certified by the American Board of Preventive Medicine. Don't forget to subscribe to OccPod so you never miss a new episode!
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  OccPod – Episode 53, Vaccinations in the Workplace 27.09.2023 23min

  Thank you for joining for another episode of OccPod. In this episode, Erin and Dr. Nabeel are joined by Dr. Judith Green McKenzie for a discussion on vaccines, particularly her experiences with the rapid delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine to employees. Dr. McKenzie is a Medical Officer at the Occupational Safety &Health Administration and Professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, where she was Inaugural OEM Division Chief & OEM Residency Program Director. She also served as Professor of Medicine & OEM Division Director at Johns Hopkins Medicine and as Executive Director for Health, Safety and Environment for Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Health System.
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  OccPod – Episode 52, Heat Stress and Worker Health 09.09.2023 22min

  Thank you for joining us for another episode of OccPod. In this episode, Erin and Dr. Nabeel are joined by guests Drs. Robert Bourgeois and Brett Perkison to discuss the relationship between heat stress and worker health. Dr. Bourgeois is the Medical Director of the Bourgeois Medical Clinic, an occupational medicine practice in Morgan City, Louisiana. He helped to design the Heat Stress plan for the Deepwater Horizon response. Dr. Perkison is the Associate Medical Director at the University of Texas Health Science Center, Employee Health, and the Program Director of UT’s Occupational and Environmental Medicine Residency. Dr. Perkison’s work measures the extent chronic diseases in employees affect workplace productivity, absenteeism, employer-covered healthcare costs, and other work-related indices of occupational health.
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  OccPod – Episode 51, A Summer Resurgence of COVID-19 25.08.2023 13min

  Thank you for joining us for another episode of OccPod. In this episode, Erin and Dr. Nabeel discuss the latest variant of COVID-19, the summer surge, and the forthcoming updated vaccines. Don't forget to subscribe to OccPod so you never miss a new episode!
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  OccPod – Episode 50, The Titan Implosion and Decompression Illness 17.07.2023 27min

  Thank you for joining us for another episode of OccPod. In this episode, Erin, Dr. Nabeel, and guest Dr. Gary Toups discuss hyperbaric medicine, including the recent implosion of the Titan submersible. Dr. Toups also discusses decompression illnesses in divers and case-on workers. Dr. Toups has practiced Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine since 2004, when he treated recreational divers and military aviators for decompression illness at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan.  He is a former US Air Force officer, and served as a navigator, pilot, flight safety officer, and aircraft mishap investigator.  In 1995, he left aviation and attended the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, earning his MD in 1999.