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Our mission is 3-fold:

  • Communication and outreach for special projects
  • Medical writing, particularly in the pharmaceutical realm
  • Contracts with government agencies that focus on health

 
 


Experience

Below is a selected list of contracts that are currently open or have been completed in the last five years. In addition, EHC staff are working diligently on a Web site dedicated to connecting community and science to heal autism; please visit us at HealingThresholds.com.

  • U.S. EPA OCHP — teaming with ICF Consulting and others to assist in providing technical assistance to OCHP (2004 - current)
  • U.S. EPA Toxicity and Exposure Assessment for Children’s Health (TEACH) — scientific literature reviews and creation of customized interactive database (2000 - current)
  • Medsite CME — preparation of CME on diverse topics (2006)
  • Department of Pediatrics, University of Chicago — maps of needs and resources for child abuse in the State of Illinois (2002 - 2003)
  • Medical News and Conference Systems, Tokyo, Japan — same-day conference coverage (2002 -2003)
  • Chicago Biomedical Consortium — facilitate three-university collaboration and grant writing (2002 - 2004)
  • Village of Oak Park, Illinois — periodic consulting on environmental issues of concern (1999 - 2003)
  • Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Chicago — NIH grant preparation (2003)
  • U.S. EPA FIELDS — Human Health Risk Assessment Module Peer Review (2002)

References and detailed information about past and current contracts are available upon request.

Staff Resumes

Dr. Lara C. Pullen

Dr. Lara C. Pullen has written comprehensive summaries of scientific research, developed fact sheets for risk assessors and managers, created PowerPoint presentations, written numerous medical documents and performed literature reviews. As president of Environmental Health Consulting, Dr. Pullen is involved in all aspects of the business, including the TEACH project with U.S. EPA.

Professional Experience
  • President, Environmental Health Consulting (founder and president, since 1999)
  • Medical Writer (since 1998)
  • Environmental Health Scientist and Life Scientist for U.S. EPA Region 5 (1995 - 1998)
Specific Experience
  • Authored, critically reviewed, and provided peer input on numerous human health risk assessments for hazardous waste and other types of sites
  • Performed numerous risk assessments
  • Written numerous medical and health documents for varied audiences
Education
  • University of Chicago 1994-1995
      Post-doctoral fellow in Cell Biology
  • Northwestern University 1988-1994
      Ph.D. Microbiology/Immunology
  • Ludwigs Maximilian University 1989-1990
      Fulbright Scholarship in Immunology
  • Macalester College 1984-1988
      B.A. Biology
Training/Teaching
  • Adjunct Professor in the Department of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago
  • Taught risk and decision-making course to U.S. EPA Region 5 management and staff
  • Provide hands-on dissection lessons for elementary school children

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Dr. Marisa Naujokas

Dr. Marisa Naujokas is a well-respected scientist in the field of immunology who has written many peer-reviewed research articles. As a scientist at Environmental Health Consulting, Dr. Naujokas brings her scientific mind to the analysis of technical problems and her powerful communication skills to both the written and verbal communication of that analysis. She focuses her efforts on children's health.

Professional Experience
  • Senior Scientist, Environmental Health Consulting (since 2002)
  • Research Fellow, University of Chicago
  • Graduate Researcher, Rush University
Specific Experience
  • Lead scientist for TEACH (Toxicity and Exposure Assessment for Children’s Health) performing literature reviews and scientific analysis
  • Authored, critically reviewed, and provided peer input on numerous publications in the biomedical sciences
  • Performed internationally recognized research in the field of immunology
  • Authored numerous training materials for the pharmaceutical industry
Education
  • University of Chicago 1991-1997
      Post-doctoral fellow in Cell Biology
  • Rush University 1986-1991
      Ph.D. Microbiology/Immunology
  • University of Chicago 1979-1983
      B.A. Biology
Training/Teaching
  • Adjunct Professor in the Department of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago
  • Taught risk and decision-making course to U.S. EPA Region 5 management and staff
  • Provide hands-on dissection lessons for elementary school children

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Dr. E.J. Dell

Dr. EJ Dell has a Ph.D. in pharmacology and brings to his work an understanding of chemistry and the body’s response to foreign chemicals. In addition to extensive lab experience, Dr. Dell has experience explaining complex scientific concepts to students of all levels. He provides scientific support for the Office of Children's Health Protection.

Professional Experience
  • Health Scientist, Environmental Health Consulting (since 2003)
  • Graduate Researcher, Northwestern Medical School
  • Laboratory Technician, Dupont, Pfizer, ARCO
Specific Experience
  • Currently reviews IRIS entries to determine if they are protective of children's health
  • Lead Scientist performing critical reviews of chemical-specific Toxicological Reviews and Summaries for the U.S. EPA
  • Authored, critically reviewed, and provided peer input on several publications in the biomedical sciences
  • Performed internationally recognized research in the field of pharmacology
Education
  • Northwestern University 1997-2003
      Ph.D. in Pharmacology
  • Pennsylvania State University 1990-1995
      B.S. Chemistry
Training/Teaching
  • Instructor and Teaching Assistant for Bioscience, Vanderbilt University
  • Instructor of molecular biology and microbiology, Roosevelt University
  • Teaching Assistant for graduate biochemistry, Northwestern University Medical School
  • MCAT Instructor for organic chemistry, The Princeton Review

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Scottie Kersta-Wilson

Scottie Kersta-Wilson has extensive experience working with diverse groups of people to create quality products under tight deadlines. Ms. Kersta-Wilson brings her background in health communications and project management to her role at Environmental Health Consulting. At EHC she actively works with the health scientists to translate the technical accomplishments of EHC into a growing client and project base.

Professional Experience
  • Environmental Health Consulting, Program Manager (since 2003)
  • Independent Consultant—Instructional Design, training development (Web and paper-based), medical editing/writing and Web site maintenance
  • e-Learning Consultant, Usertech
  • Published writer and exhibiting artist

Specific Experience

  • Assist in management of TEACH project
  • Development of Web-based training in Grants Administration, Clinical Information Systems, Manufacturing, and Human Resources
  • Instructional Design, Training Development, Technical Writing, Project Management, Digital Imaging
Education
  • University of Chicago 2001-2002
      Certificate in Medical Writing/Editing
  • University of Illinois at Chicago 1992-1995
      M.F.A. Photography/Computer Imaging
  • University of Houston 1973-1975
      B.A. Sociology
  • Baylor University 1971-1973
Training/Teaching
  • Developed Web-based training for clinicians in use of electronic medical records system at Kaiser Permanente
  • Developed and delivered PeopleSoft and SAP training to adults in various industries (manufacturing, academia, retail, and healthcare)
  • Developed and delivered SAP Train-the-Trainer to senior engineers at Samsung
  • Certified Developer for OnDemand Personal Navigation System and RapidBuilder (tools for Web-based training development)

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Barbara A. Miles

Barb Miles has extensive experience managing projects and developing systems to meet business needs. Her training in economics makes her ideally suited to manage the financial aspects of EHC. She actively works with the EHC team to optimize and systemize work flow.

Professional Experience
  • Environmental Health Consulting, Business Manager (since 2005)
  • E-Business Manager, Shure, Inc. Information Systems
  • Project Manager, Peapod Inc.
  • Quality Assurance Manager, Peapod, Inc.
  • Quality Systems Senior Analyst, 3Com Global Information Systems
  • Business Analyst, Northern Trust Bank

Specific Experience

  • Manage all aspects of EHC finances
  • Identify and implement software solutions to meet business needs
  • Coordinate the replacement of computers  
  • Provide monthly success measurements to team
Education
  • Keller Graduate School of Management 2000 Project Management, Project Methodology
  • University of Illinois at Chicago 1988-1992
      B.A. Economics 
  • Software Engineering Institute 2001 Capability Maturity Modeling (CMM) Training
  • Treasury Management Association 1999 Certification in Treasury Management
Training/Teaching
  • Provided training on Image Workflow to staff and management at Northern Trust Bank
  • Managed and trained volunteers for the Saint Nicholas Parish Holiday Festival Annual Fundraiser

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