First-of-its-kind study assesses beryllium workers’ health in the nearly 20 years since the passing of DOE protective legislation
ORAU examined the incidence of BeS in a cohort of 6,915 workers employed at a single DOE nuclear site with nearly 29,000beryllium lymphocyte proliferation test (BeLPT)results obtained 1994 to 2018. Results of the study indicated an overall decrease in exposure and BeS incidence rates among the cohort, with some outlier data based on site cleanup activities involving beryllium. These findings provide support that the DOE Beryllium Rule helps avoid additional BeS cases.
Can analyzing data differently help predict and avoid collisions in the aviation industry?
ORAU and the Florida Institute of Technology are collaborating to determine if understanding adverse events of aircrafts could result in a significant enhancement of safety protocols in the field of aviation risk assessments.
Radium contamination from manufacturing is focus of survey work for NRC
Since 2016, ORAU survey teams have provided technical assistance to the NRC Radium Program by determining the radiological status of more than 40 sites. Surveyors perform radiation scans and collect soil, dust, water and radon samples at the decommissioned sites. These samples are analyzed by a radioanalytical laboratory and radium concentration results are used by ORAU health physicists to perform dose assessments.
Powe Award winner researches efficient drug delivery using nanomedicine
ORAU’s Powe Awards propel research and spark professional growth for junior faculty at ORAU member institutions. In 2018, competitive Powe research grants totaling $180,000 were awarded to 36 junior faculty members. Qingguo Xu, DPhil, a 2018 winner of the ORAU Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award, is using his award to research better methods for drug delivery in the treatment of eye disorders, cancer and other diseases.
Learn how ORAU’s subject matter experts continue to provide thought leadership on Total Exposure Health and apply that knowledge through the multiple programs we manage and laboratory facilities we operate by downloadingORAU Perspective: a white paper on Total Exposure Health.
Building on-ramps to a STEM-capable U.S. workforce
ORAU has provided robust workforce development solutions for national laboratories and federal agencies that take a cradle-to-grave approach to developing well-educated and experienced STEM workers. Learn more about how our expertise and experience aligned with federal STEM workforce development priorities by downloading ORAU Perspective: a white paper on STEM workforce development.
Is social media helping or hindering vaccination rates?
That’s the question ORAU researchers asking. Members of ORAU’s Health Communications and Marketing Team are collaborating with the University of Georgia to analyze social media conversations across three major vaccine types—childhood immunizations, HPV, and seasonal influenza—to better inform communication strategies aimed at decreasing hesitancy and increasing vaccination rates. The research is being conducted through an ORAU-Directed Research and Development program grant. Knoxville News Sentinel reporter Kristi Nelson talked to the research team about their work for this story.
Apply by April 1 for the 2019 ARC/ORNL Summer STEM Program
The ARC/ORNL Summer STEM Program is a residential, hands-on learning experience for Appalachia's high school and middle school students, as well as high school teachers in STEM-related fields. All participants work with award-winning scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
ORAU provides innovative scientific and technical solutions to advance science education and workforce development and protect health and the environment. We connect the right people and resources to get things done, and we put the full power of our organization behind every project—both large and small.
Radiation safety & health physics training
ORAU also offers some of the best radiation safety and health physics training available in the United States at our Oak Ridge, Tenn., facility. Whether you are just starting your career in the health physics field and want to learn in a hands-on, classroom environment, or are a seasoned professional who needs a refresher or way to develop new skills, Professional Training Programs has a course for you! Browse our course listing:
Applied Health Physics
The use of radiation in industry, medicine, and education has created a need for persons trained in the principles of radiation safety and health physics. To meet this need, ORAU conducts a five-week training course—Applied Health Physics. The American Academy of Health Physics grants 40 Continuing Education Credits for completion of this course.
This five-day, laboratory-oriented course introduces participants to the basic theories and mechanics of air sampling for radionuclides. Approximately 40% of the time is spent collecting and analyzing air samples; the remaining time is devoted to lectures.
This five-day, laboratory-oriented course introduces participants to the basic theories and mechanics of environmental monitoring for radioactivity. Approximately 50% of the time is spent collecting and analyzing samples; the remaining time is devoted to lectures.
This five-day, laboratory-oriented course covers the basics of radionuclide identification and quantification by gamma spectroscopy. Approximately 50% of the time will be spent in the laboratory.
This five-day course introduces participants to the use of statistics in operational health physics. The course is divided between lectures and practical laboratory activities designed to reinforce important principles. Core concepts such as probability distributions, descriptive statistics and hypothesis testing are included to support more detailed discussions on uncertainty propagation and statistical tests.
This five-day lecture/laboratory course is an introduction to the basic science behind radiation safety and to common applications of radiation safety principles. Lectures include a description of common radiation sources, interactions of radiation with matter, biological effects, detection and measurement. Laboratory exercises emphasize radiation detection and measurement techniques using both fixed and portable instrumentation.
This five-day lecture/laboratory course introduces course participants to current issues and technologies in the medical applications of radiation. The issues and technologies are discussed in the context of improving and developing an institution’s radiation safety program.
This four-day training course focuses on the methodology and practical application of the MARSAME standard. This standard supplements the MARSSIM manual that has become the basis for real property final status surveys. The objective of the course is to provide attendees with a solid understanding of the MARSAME standard, practice through exercise and provide practical information related to its implementation.
This five-day course emphasizes the decision-making processes involved in the design and implementation of a MARSSIM-based decommissioning survey. Topics include an overview of radiological survey types, the data quality objectives process, selection and application of DCGLs, background reference area selection, survey instrument detection sensitivity, area classification, statistical design of surveys, measurement uncertainty and performing statistical tests.
This five-day course is designed to provide course participants with a thorough understanding of current methods for determining radiation doses resulting from intakes of radioactive materials by workers. The course covers the basic concepts and principles of internal dose assessments, and describes the ICRP internal dosimetry systems and models currently in use in the United States and internationally.
This five-day lecture/laboratory course introduces course participants to relevant issues that influence the effectiveness of a radiation safety program. The course emphasizes a variety of administrative and technical issues that a radiation safety officer has to address. An interactive format offers the opportunity for instructor/group discussions to facilitate the learning process.
Site Characterization in Support of Decommissioning
This five-day course emphasizes site evaluation, data planning, survey implementation and tools, data interpretation, and decision-making processes involved in the historical site assessment, scoping survey and characterization survey phases of decommissioning. Topics include: site assessment, surveys for radiological and chemical contaminants, data quality objectives and assessments, safety evaluations, planning and budgeting.
Come see us at the Society of Public Health Education Annual Conference
Addressing Root Causes of Opioid Addiction: An Exploration of Adverse Childhood Experiences in Appalachia and Opportunities to Promote Resiliency
Session B2 on Wednesday, March 27, from 2:15 to 3:45 p.m.
The SOPHE Annual Conference is March 26-29, in Salt Lake City
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are a strong predictor of future health, life potential, and behavioral choices. Research has shown an association between ACEs and substance use disorders. In this session, Kristin Mattson will be presenting a summary of outcomes resulting from a series of expert conversations about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in Appalachia. These conversations engaged stakeholders to 1) identify how children in Appalachia experience ACEs (trauma) differently than in other areas of the country, and 2) explore opportunities to address these ACEs and impact the opioid epidemic.
Come see us at the 2019 NACCHO Preparedness Summit
Come talk to us about public health and healthcare preparedness in booth 101 at the 2019 NACCHO Preparedness Summit March 26-29, 2019 in St. Louis.
March 27:Be sure to grab a seat at the session titled, "Regional Disaster Health Response System (RDHRS): Initial Pilot Demonstrations." This is a joint presentation by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response and representatives from the two Regional Disaster Health Response System pilot awardees, Nebraska Medicine and Massachusetts General Hospital. ORAU is a Nebraska Medicine partner, providing project management support for Capability 3 (Increasing Statewide and Regional Medical Surge Capacity). Additionally, ORAU is designing and facilitating workshops to educate Nebraska healthcare coalition members and other identified stakeholders on the Conceptual Framework for Regional Healthcare Delivery that ORAU developed in support of Capability 3 objectives.
Come see us at the 2019 NACCHO Preparedness Summit
Come talk to us about public health and healthcare preparedness in booth 101 at the 2019 NACCHO Preparedness Summit March 26-29, 2019 in St. Louis.
March 28: Julie Suzuki Crumly, MS, PhD, MCHES, ORAU Senior Evaluation Specialist, and Catalina White, MPH, Medical Countermeasure Specialist for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, will present a session titled, “Medical Countermeasure Action Plan Data Analysis: National Trends.” As part of the Public Health Emergency Preparedness program, public health departments across the nation will demonstrate operational readiness for a large medical countermeasure (MCM) response.
Come see us at the Society of Public Health Education Annual Conference
Exploring Challenges, Opportunities, and Best Practices for Opioid Communication in Appalachia
Session F5 on Friday, March 29, from 8:15 to 9:45 a.m.
The SOPHE Annual Conference is March 26-29, in Salt Lake City
Kristin Mattson will share findings from research into best practices for communicating about opioids within the Appalachian region. Findings include a discussion about the types of content and messaging strategies that would be most effective in Appalachia to promote substance abuse prevention. Research was conducted through focus groups with community members across the region and interviews with subject matter experts.
Come see us at the Collaborate 19, the Oracle Applications Users Group Forum
April 8: Christin Lane and Manda Salyer-Goss will present “Oracle Project Contracts Implementation: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.” Presenters will share a user story from an implementation of the Oracle Projects Contracts module given from the perspective of the project manager and functional lead. Learn what worked, what didn’t, and some tricks we found along the way. Presenters will discuss the importance of cross functional buy-in and participation and some unique ideas to encourage this. Integration with other E-Business suite modules such as procurement and accounts receivable, OBIEE Reporting and overcoming pain points of the implementation will also be discussed.
Come see us at the Tennessee Library Association Annual Conference
The TLA Annual Conference will be held April 24-26, 2019, in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
April 24, 2019: Half-day workshop: “Walking Together Through Open Doors: Successful Mentoring” featuring speaker Dr. Diane Kelly, professor and director, University of Tennessee School of Information Science. The workshop will also include a one-hour panel discussion and a one-hour mentoring plan exercise.
April 26, 2019, 9 a.m.: One-hour presentation: “Resilience in Leadership: Balancing your Heart and Mind.” Feeling burned out? Are you beginning to have a hard time adapting to the speed of change? How about the constant task changing and multitasking that goes on in our library jobs and personal lives? It’s time to recharge! Join the TLA Leadership Roundtable to learn how to get rid of the anxiety, learn to disconnect appropriately, and take time for you and focus on things that really matter.
Further. Together.
Since 1946, one thing has been our focus—our customers' missions.
ORAU also offers some of the best radiation safety and health physics training available in the United States at our Oak Ridge, Tenn., facility. Whether you are just starting your career in the health physics field and want to learn in a hands-on, classroom environment, or are a seasoned professional who needs a refresher or way to develop new skills, Professional Training Programs has a course for you! Browse our course listing:
