Rule #1 in Environmental Health: Expect the Unexpected!

In this installment of the President’s Message, NEHA President Scott Holmes reflects on the unpredictable nature of environmental health practice and the importance of being prepared to respond when routine work becomes anything but routine. Through examples involving an unexpected exposure at a school and a residential mercury poisoning investigation, he illustrates the range of situations environmental health professionals can encounter and the knowledge and skills needed to investigate them effectively.

President Holmes encourages environmental health professionals to build on their educational foundations; sustain their skills through continued training; and empower themselves through professional development, credentials, leadership opportunities, and professional engagement. Ultimately, he emphasizes that continued learning and involvement strengthen both individual practitioners and the environmental health workforce, helping professionals prepare for the unexpected.