cassandra a. okechukwu, msn, scd kresge 722, …...workplace health & safety 2012; 60:445-452....
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Cassandra A. Okechukwu, MSN, ScD Kresge 722, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
Phone: (617) 432 4486 | [email protected]
Homepage: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/cassandra-okechukwu
ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS
Assistant Professor, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan
School of Public Health, Boston, MA
2010–present
Instructor, University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD 2003–2004
EDUCATION
Robert Wood Johnson Health and Society Scholar Program, Joint program of University of
California, San Francisco and University of California, Berkeley June 2010
ScD in Public Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health May 2008
Master in Nursing Science, Johns Hopkins University, School of Nursing December 2002
Master in Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health May 2002
Bachelor in Nursing Science, University of Maryland, Baltimore May 2000
LICENSURE & CERTIFICATION
Interdisciplinary Concentration on Women, Gender, and Health (Harvard Chan School) 2008
Registered Nurse License (Maryland and Massachusetts) 2000 & 2008
Interdisciplinary Competency in Environmental and Occupational Health (Johns Hopkins) 2002
MAJOR ACADEMIC AND ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS
Co-Director Harvard/Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Pre- and Post-Doctoral
Educational Program in Cancer Prevention and Control
2015-present
Faculty & mentor Maternal and Child Health/ Children Youth and Families Training
Program
2010-present
HONORS & DISTINCTIONS:
Best Junior Scholar Paper Award, VI International Conference of Work and Family 2015
APHA James G. Zimmer New Investigator Research Award 2015
Kanter International Award for Work-Family Research Excellence 2015
National Institute of Health Loan Repayment Program for Health Disparities Research 2009–2015
Fellow, National Institute of Health Advanced Training Institute on Behavior Theory 2012
National Institute on Aging Summer Institute on Aging Research 2010
Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health Thomas D. Cabot Academic Fellowship 2008
Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health Student Recognition Leadership Award 2007
Association of Schools of Public Health Fellowship Award 2007
National Cancer Institute Pre-doctoral Cancer Prevention Fellowship Award 2004
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Academic Scholarship Award 2001
Johns Hopkins School of Nursing Hearst Foundation Academic Scholarship 2001
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US Army Nurse Corp Spirit of Nursing Leadership and Service Award 2000
University of Maryland Student Government Association Outstanding Leader Award 2000
Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society Leadership and Scholarship Award 2000
Johns Hopkins Hospital Outstanding Nurse Scholar Award 2000
Montgomery College Volunteer of the Year Award 1998
Hebrew Home of Greater Washington College Volunteer of the Year Award 1997
PUBLICATIONS
Peer-Reviewed (Underline denotes mentored author)
1. Okechukwu, C, Bacic J, Velasquez E, Hammer L. Marginal structural modeling of associations of
occupational injuries with voluntary and involuntary job loss among nursing home workers. Occup Environ
Med. (In press).
2. Bailey, Z. Okechukwu, C.A, Kawachi, I., & Williams, D. Incarceration and current tobacco smoking in
African American and Afro-Caribbean Blacks in the National Survey of American Life (NSAL). American
Journal of Public Health. (In press).
3. McHale, S. Davis, K., Greene, K., Casper, L. Kan, ML, Kelly, EL, King, RB. Okechukwu, CA. Effects of a
Workplace Intervention on Parent-Child Relationships. Journal of Marriage and Family. (In press).
4. McClellan, D., Okechukwu, C.A., Sorensen, G. Occupational Exposures and Tobacco-related Health
Disparities. In Cubbin, C. Hayward, M., eds. A Social Ecological Approach to Addressing Tobacco Related
Health Disparities (Monograph No. tbn). Bethesda: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, (In press).
5. Hurtado, D., Berkman, LF, Buxton, O., Okechukwu, C.A. Schedule control and nursing home quality:
exploratory evidence of a psychosocial predictor of resident care. Journal of Applied Gerontology; (In
Press); DOI:10.1177/0733464814546895
6. Sparer EH, Okechukwu CA, Manjourides J, Herrick RF, Katz JN, Dennerlein JT. Length of time spent
working on a commercial construction site and the associations with worker characteristics. American
Journal of Industrial Medicine. (In Press). doi: 10.1002/ajim.22461
7. Okechukwu, C.A. Long working hours are linked to risky alcohol consumption. [Editorial] The BMJ 2015:
350:g7800
8. Buxton, OM Okechukwu, CA. Long working hours can be toxic. [Commentary]. The Lancet Diabetes &
Endocrinology 2015; 3:1: 3-4
9. Davis, K., Lawson, KM, Almeida, D., Kelly, E., King, R.B., Hammer, L., Casper, LM., Okechukwu, C.A.,
Hanson, G., & McHale, SM. Parents’ Daily Time with Their Children: A Workplace Intervention.
Pediatrics; 2015;5:875-882.
10. Tamers, S. Okechukwu, C.A., Marino, Guéguen, A., Goldberg, M., Zins, M. Effect of stressful life events
on changes in smoking among the French: Longitudinal findings from GAZEL. European Journal of Public
Health; 2015;25(4):711-5.
11. Arias, O.E., Caban-Martinez, A.J., Umukoro, A.J., Okechukwu, C.A., Dennerlein, J.T. Physical activity
levels at work and outside of work among Commercial Construction Workers. Journal of Occupational and
Environmental Medicine. 2015;57(1):73-8.
12. Sabbath, E., Gutierrez, L., Okechukwu, C.A., Singh-Manoux, A., Amieva, H., Goldberg, M., Zins, M.,
Berr, C. Time may not fully attenuate solvent-associated cognitive deficits in highly-exposed workers.
Neurology; 2014;82(19)1716-1723.
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13. Kim, S., Okechukwu, C.A., Dennerlein, J., Boden, L., Hopcia, K., Hashimoto, D.M., Sorensen, G.
Association between perceived inadequate staffing and musculoskeletal pain among hospital patient care
workers. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 2014; 87:323-330
14. Kim, S., Dutra, L.M, Okechukwu, C.A. Contractor-, steward-, and coworker-safety practice: Associations
with musculoskeletal pain and injury-related absence among construction apprentices. International
Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 2014; 87:493-500.
15. Kelly, E., Moen, P., Oakes, MJ, Okechukwu, C., Davis, K., Kossek, E., Hanson, G., Mierzwa, F., Casper,
LM. Changing work and work-family conflict: Evidence from the Work, Family, and Health Network.
American Sociological Review; 2014; 79(3):485-516.
16. Sabbath, EL, Hurtado, DA, Okechukwu, CA, Tamers, SL, Nelson, CC, Kim, SS, Wagner, GR, Sorensen, G.
Exposure to workplace verbal abuse and risk of injury among health care workers. American Journal of
Industrial Medicine; 2014; 57(2):222-32.
17. Dutra, LM, Williams, DR, Gupta, J., Kawachi, I., Okechukwu, C.A. Human rights violations and smoking
status among South African adults enrolled in the South Africa Stress and Health (SASH) study. Social
Science and Medicine; 2014;105:103-111.
18. Dutra, L.M., Williams, DR, Kawachi, I., Okechukwu, C.A. Worksite safety climate, smoking, and the use of
protective equipment by blue collar building workers enrolled in the MassBUILT smoking cessation trial.
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine; 2014; 56(10):1082- 1087
19. Dutra, L.M., Williams, DR, Kawachi, I., Okechukwu, C.A. Racial and nonracial discrimination and
smoking status among South African adults ten years after apartheid. Tobacco Control; 2014; 23:e114-21
20. Okechukwu, C.A, Souza, K., Davis, K., & De Castro, B. Discrimination, harassment, abuse and bullying in
the workplace: Contribution of workplace injustice to occupational health disparities. American Journal of
Industrial Medicine, 2014; 57(5):573-586
21. Lee RM, Emmons KM, Okechukwu CA, Barrett JL, Kenney EL, Cradock AL, Giles CM, de Blois ME,
Gortmaker SL. Validity of a practitioner-administered observational tool to measure physical activity,
nutrition, and screen time in school-age programs. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and
Physical Activity. 2014;11(1):145.
22. Lee, R. M., Okechukwu, C.A., Emmons, K.M., Gortmaker, S. Impact of Implementation Factors on
Children’s Water Consumption in the Out-of-School Nutrition and Physical Activity Group Randomized
Trial. New Directions for Youth Development. 2014 (143):79-101.
23. Tamers, S., Okechukwu, C.A., Bohl, AA, Guéguen, A., Goldberg, M., Zins, M. The impact of stressful life
events on excessive alcohol consumption in the French population: Findings from the GAZEL cohort study.
PloS One; 2014; DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0087653
24. Tamers, S., Okechukwu, C., Allen, J., Yang, Stoddard, A., Tucker-Seeley, R., Sorensen, G. Are social
relationships a healthy influence on obesogenic behaviors among racially/ethnically diverse and socio-
economically disadvantaged residents? Preventive Medicine 2013, 56:70-74.
25. Chin, D., Hong, O., Bates, M., Gillen, M., & Okechukwu, C.A. Heavy and light/moderate smoking among
building trades construction workers. Public Health Nursing 2013; 30:128–139.
26. Okechukwu, C.A, Dutra, L.M., Bacic, J., El Ayadi, A., Emmons, K.M. Home matters: Work and household
predictors of smoking and cessation among blue-collar workers. Preventive Medicine 2013. 56:130-134
27. Sorensen, G., McLellan, D., Dennerlein, J., Pronk, N., Allen, J., Boden, L., Okechukwu, C., Hashimoto, D.,
Stoddard, A., Wagner, G. Integration of health protection and health promotion: Rationale, indicators, and
metrics. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 2013; 55: pS12-S18.
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28. Kim, S., Perry, M., Okechukwu, C.A. Association between union connection and upper body
musculoskeletal pains among unionized construction apprentices. American Journal of Industrial Medicine
2013; 56:189–196.
29. Kim, S., Okechukwu, C.A., Buxton, O., Dennerlein, J., Boden, L., Hashimoto, D., Sorensen, G. Association
between work-family conflict and musculoskeletal pain among hospital patient care workers. American
Journal of Industrial Medicine 2013; 56:488–495.
30. Cheng, K., Okechukwu, C. A., McMillen, R., Glantz, S.A. Association between clean indoor air laws and
voluntary smoke free rules in homes and cars. Tobacco Control, 2013; 0:1-7.
31. Chin, D., Hong, O., Bates, M., Gillen, M., Okechukwu, C.A. Cigarette smoking in building trades workers:
The impact of work environment. American Journal of Industrial Medicine 2012; 55:429-439.
32. Okechukwu C.A., El Ayadi, A., Tamers, S., Sabbath, E., Berkman, L. Household food insufficiency,
financial strain, work-family strain, and depressive symptoms in the working class: Results from the Work
Family and Health study. American Journal of Public Health 2012; 102:126-133.
33. Okechukwu, C.A, Bacic, J., Cheng, K., Catalano, R. Smoking among construction workers: The nonlinear
influence of labor marker shock, cigarette prices, and antismoking sentiment. Social Science & Medicine
2012; 75:1379-1386.
34. Chin, D., Hong, O., Bates, M., Gillen, M., Okechukwu, C.A. Occupational factors and smoking cessation
among unionized building trades workers. Workplace Health & Safety 2012; 60:445-452.
35. Buxton, O., Okechukwu, C.A. Authors' Response: Predictive Ability of Sleep Duration for the Feeling of
Being Refreshed by Sleep. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2012; 54:1321-1322
36. Okechukwu, C.A., Krieger, N., Sorensen, G., Li, Y., Barbeau, E. Testing hypothesized psychosocial
mediators: Lessons learned in the MassBUILT study. Health Education and Behavior 2011; 38:404-411.
37. Okechukwu, C.A., Nguyen, K., Hickman, N. Partner smoking characteristics: Association with smoking and
quitting among blue-collar workers. American Journal of Industrial Medicine 2011; 53:1102-1108.
38. Lathan, C.A., Okechukwu, C.A, Fisher-Drake, B., Bennett, G. Racial differences in the perception of lung
cancer: Data from the 2005 Health Information National Trends Survey. Cancer 2010; 116:1981-1986.
39. Okechukwu, C.A., Krieger, N., Chen, J., Sorensen, G., Li, Y., Barbeau, E. The association of hazards in the
work environment and smoking in a US multi-ethnic working class population: The United for Health
Study. Public Health Reports 2010; 125:225-233.
40. Berkman, L., Ertel, K., Buxton, O., Okechukwu, C.A. Managers’ practices related to work-family balance
predict employee cardiovascular risk and sleep duration in extended care settings. Journal of Occupational
Health Psychology 2010; 15:316-329.
41. Patel, P., Okechukwu, C.A., Collin, J., Hughes B. Bringing “light, life and happiness”: British American
Tobacco and music sponsorship in sub-Saharan Africa. Third World Quarterly 2009; 30:685-700.
42. Okechukwu, C.A, Krieger, N., Sorensen, G., Li, Y., Barbeau, E. MassBUILT: Effectiveness of an
apprenticeship site-based smoking cessation intervention for unionized building trades workers. Cancer
Causes and Control 2009; 20: 887–894.
43. Bennett, G., Wolin, K., Okechukwu, C.A, Arthur, C., Askew, S., Sorensen, G., Emmons, K. Nativity and
cigarette smoking among lower income Blacks: Results from the Healthy Directions study. Journal of
Immigrant and Minority Health 2008; 10: 305-311.
44. Drake, B.A., Lathan, C., Okechukwu, C.A., Bennett, G. Prostate cancer screening, family history and race.
Annals of Epidemiology 2008; 18: 579-583.
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45. McPhaul, K., Rosen, J., Bobb, S., Okechukwu, C.A., Geiger-Brown, J., Kauffman, K., Johnson, J.,
Lipscomb, J. An exploratory study of mandated safety measures for home visiting case managers. Canadian
Journal of Nursing Research 2007; 39:172-189.
Book Chapters
46. Okechukwu, C., Davison, K., & Emmons, K. Changing health behaviors in a social context. In L. Berkman,
I. Kawachi & M. M. Glymour (Eds.), Social epidemiology. New York: Oxford University Press, 2014.
47. Lipscomb, J. A., Okechukwu, C.A. Workplace violence. In In Fitzpatrick, J.J., Wallace-Kazer, M., eds.
Encyclopedia for Nursing Research (3rd ed.) New York: Springer Publishing Company, 2012.
48. Lipscomb, J. A., Okechukwu, C.A. Workplace violence: An occupational hazard, not “part of the job.” In
Fitzpatrick, J.J., Wallace, M., eds. Encyclopedia for Nursing Research (2nd ed.). New York: Springer
Publishing Company, 2006.
49. Okechukwu, C.A, Lipscomb, J. A. Immigrant workers in nursing home and home health care. In Barron, S.,
eds. Special Populations at Risk /Immigrant Workers. NIOSH/CDC, 2004.
Non-Academic Publications
50. Okechukwu, C.A. (2014, December 30) New Year, Less Sludge: Reducing work stress in the New Year.
Editorial IV. Available at http://editorialiv.com/2015/12/30/less-sludge/
51. Okechukwu, C.A. (2013, March 14). Balancing work, family and health disparities. Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation Human Capital Blog. Available at http://www.rwjf.org/en/blogs/human-capital-
blog/2013/03/balancing_work_fami.html
52. Buxton, O.M, Okechukwu, C.A. (2012, September 5). Sleep problems and poverty: How socioeconomics
impact our sleep and health. Huffington Post. Available at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/orfeu-m-buxton-
phd/sleep-problems-poverty_b_1855786.html
53. Okechukwu, C.A. (2009, August 18). To catch and cook the meat: journey up the social and economic
ladder from Nigeria to US. KQED-National Public Radio Perspective. Available at
http://www.kqed.org/a/perspectives/R908180737
54. Okechukwu, C & McLellan, D. (2005). Tobacco Free Nurses. Organized Labor and Tobacco Control
Network newsletter. Available online at http://www.laborandtobacco.org/news/current-issue_news1.php
55. Lipscomb, J. A., McPhaul, K., & Okechukwu, C. (July 31, 2003). “Proposed Standard for Safety and
Security in the Public Sector throughout New York State” (testimony). New York State Occupational Safety
& Health Hazard Abatement Board, New York Department of Labor
FUNDED PROJECTS
Current Funding
Principal Investigator, Drug abuse and jobs: racial disparities in labor force participation
and outcomes. National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institute for Health
(R03DA038697) Amount $100,000
4/2015–3/2017
Principal Investigator, Integrating occupational health disparities into integrated WHP-
OSH programs. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Career Incubator and Pilot
Funds. Amount $150,000
7/2014–6/2017
Co-Investigator, Integrated Approaches to Health & Safety in the Dynamic Construction
Work Environment. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (2U19OH008861)
8/2009–9/2016
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Principal Investigator, Left Behind: A Pilot Study of Unemployment and Smoking in US
Populations Living with Mental Illness Using NESARC. Harvard Center for Population
and Development Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Seed Grant. Amount $20,000
1/2013–8/2015
Past Funding (last 7 years)
Supplement Principal Investigator, The impact of Work, Family and Health intervention
on nursing home residents (Supplement to Evaluating the Health Benefits of Workplace
Policies and Practices—Phase II. National Institute of Aging (3U01AG027669-S1)
Amount: $306,391
4/2011–8/2013
Principal Investigator, Research Enabling Grant. Harvard University Office of Faculty
Development and Diversity. Amount: $40,000
7/2012–6/2013
Principal Investigator, Public policy changes in nursing home reimbursement and health
of direct-care workers. Harvard-NIOSH Education and Research Center. Amount: $10,000
7/2012–6/2013
Principal Investigator, Examining the effects of tobacco control policies on disparities in
smoking by occupational group from 1992 to 2007. Health Disparities Working Group,
University of California, San Francisco, CA. Amount: $21,533
2008–2010
Principal Investigator, Macroeconomic trends and smoking among construction workers:
Is there an association? Berkeley Population Center, University of California, Berkeley,
CA. Amount: $11,698
2008–2009
Principal Investigator, Social determinants of smoking among working class populations.
CDC/ASPH Prevention Research Center Minority Fellowship. Amount: $45,375
2007–2008
Principal Investigator, Social determinants of smoking among working class populations.
NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards for Individual Pre-doctoral
Fellows (F31). (Declined funding)
2007–2009
Principal Investigator, Social determinants of smoking among working class populations.
CDC Grants for Public Health Research Dissertation (R36). (Declined funding)
2007–2009
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Primary Courses Harvard T.H Chan
School of Public Health
Psychosocial Theories for
Health Behavior
20+ graduate students.
Contact time: 48 hours/year
Spring 2012–
University of Maryland
School of Nursing
Community Health Nursing:
Theories and Practice
15 undergraduate students
Contact time: 60 hours/year
Spring 2004
Guest Lectures: Academic
Course: Sponsor & Venue Topic Audience Dates
Core Principles of Biostatistics
and Epidemiology for Public
Health Practice: Harvard T.H.
Chan School of Public Health
Studying work, family and
health outcomes: individual
and multilevel
considerations
Graduate MPH students
(classroom taught and
also tape-recorded)
October, 2015
Women, Gender, and Health:
Introductory Perspectives
Harvard T.H. Chan School of
Public Health
Gender in occupational and
environmental health
research and practice
20-30 graduate students
Contact time: 3 hours
Fall 2011,
2013, 2014, &
2015
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Entrepreneurship in Africa:
Faculty of Arts and Sciences,
Harvard University
Finding entrepreneurial
opportunities in addressing
non-communicable diseases
35 undergraduate &
graduate students
Contact time: 3 hours
March, 2015
Philosophy of Science: Simmons
School of Social Work
Developing a solution-
oriented research agenda
3 doctoral students
Contact time: 2 hours
November,
2014
Cancer Prevention
Harvard T.H. Chan School of
Public Health
Theories for Health
Behavior
Contact time: 2 hours Spring 2011,
2012
Guest Lectures: Non-Academic
Creating patients-based
evidence from roots: Albert J.
Jovell Institute of Public health
& Patients-UIC
Harvard Faculty Club
How theories shape research
studies and results
25 Executives
Contact time: 2 hours
April, 2015
Integrating Wellness and
Occupational Health and Safety
in the Workplace
Executive and Continuing
Professional Education
Harvard T.H. Chan School of
Public Health
Connection to Community:
Family and Work-Life
Balance
50-60 Executives
Contact time: 2 hours
January, 2014
& 2015
Integrating Wellness and
Occupational Health and Safety
in the Workplace
Executive and Continuing
Professional Education
Harvard T.H. Chan School of
Public Health
Putting Guidelines into
Practice: Labor
Union/Construction Case
Study
Connection to Community:
Family and Work-Life
Balance
50-60 Executives
Contact time: 5 hours
January, 2014
Postdoctoral Advising
Name Current Position Dates
Sara Tamers,
Primary advisee
Health Research Scientist, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Total Worker Health Program
Published three-first authored and one co-authored papers while working with
me; Awarded international grant from Harvard Center for Population and
Development
2010–
2013
Erika Sabbath
Secondary
advisee
Assistant Professor, Boston College
Co-authored three papers and was primary mentor on internal grant from
Harvard Education and Research Training Program
2012–
2014
Adolfo Cuevas Fellow, Harvard-DFCI Postdoctoral program in Cancer Prevention and Control 2015-
present
Emily Sparer Fellow, Harvard-DFCI Postdoctoral program in Cancer Prevention and Control
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Doctoral Advisees
Name Current Position Dates
Lauren Dutra Postdoctoral scholar, University of California San Francisco
Published three dissertation papers in Social Science and Medicine,
Tobacco Control and Journal of Occupational and Environmental
Medicine
2010–2013
Esther Hill
Velasquez
Doctoral Candidate, Social and Behavioral Sciences
Awarded pre-doctoral NIA fellowship while my student; Switched focus
and dissertation advisor, but continuing mentorship as teaching assistant
in spring 2015 and co-author on paper on occupational injuries and
turnover in nursing homes.
2011–2013
Felicia Browne Doctoral Candidate, Social and Behavioral Sciences
Awarded NCI pre-doctoral fellowship; defended in August 2015
2011–2015
Kathryn
Pollenz Smith
Doctoral Student, Social and Behavioral Sciences
Part-time student; Selected for highly-selective Fragile Families summer
fellowship
2012–present
Natasha Sokol Doctoral Student, Social and Behavioral Sciences
Awarded own NIH/NIDA F31 fellowship in April 2015
2013–present
Yenee Soh Doctoral Student, Social and Behavioral Sciences 2015-present
Thesis Committees
Name Current Position Dissertation/Proposal Title Dates
Dal Chin
(UCSF)
Junior specialist, School of
Nursing, University of
California San Francisco
Individual, interpersonal, and occupational
factors of cigarette smoking in building
trades workers
2010–2011
Rebekah Lee Research Associate,
Harvard Prevention
Research Center
Advancing implementation science for
community health: Finding from the out-of-
school nutrition and physical activity group-
randomized control trial
2010–2013
Lauren Dutra Postdoctoral scholar,
University of California
San Francisco
Injustice and smoking: An international
analysis of the relationship between
experiences of injustice and smoking
behavior among underrepresented
populations
2010–2013
Zinzi Bailey Director of Research and
Evaluation at the Center
for Health Equity, NYC
Department of Health
Incarceration as a social determinant of risk
factors for cancer
2011–2014
Rachel
Faulkenberry
Research Fellow, Dana-
Farber Cancer Institute
Beyond access: Barriers and facilitators to
information engagement among individuals
with low socioeconomic position
2013–2014
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Allegra Gordon Research fellow,
Children’s Hospital,
Boston
Gender expression, discrimination, and
health among U.S. adolescents and young
adults: Quantitative and qualitative
approaches
2012–2015
Felicia Browne Doctoral Candidate, Social
and Behavioral Sciences
HIV risk behavior among adolescents and
young adults in Cape Town, South Africa:
The role of economic dependence and
employment
2013–2015
Michael Grant Doctoral Candidate,
Environmental Health
The role of safety inspections in integrated
workplace interventions
2014–present
Elizabeth Barnett Doctoral Student, Social
and Behavioral Sciences
Physical activity and enjoyment:
measurement, evaluation, and reflection
2014-present
Masters Advisees
Name (Program) Years
Akshay Govind (Masters in Public Health) 2010–2011
Mary Gordon (Masters in Public Health) 2010–2012
Kristen Lingle (Masters in Public Health) 2011–2012
Atena Asiaii (Masters in Public Health) 2011–2012
Rijuta Pandav (Two year Masters in Science) 2011–2013
Alisha Lalani (Two year Masters in Science) 2011–2013
Araceli Gutiérrez (Two year Masters in Science) 2013–2014
Ian Huntington (Masters in Public Health) 2012–2015
Donna Zwas (Masters in Public Health) 2012–2015
Allison Hutchings (Masters in Public Health) 2012–2015
Michelle Fleming (Two year Masters in Science) 2014–present
PUBLIC SERVICE
2010–2014 Weekly Volunteer, St. Paul Parish, Fruit & Vegetable Pantry Program, Cambridge, MA
2011–2012 Humanities Advisor, God Loves Uganda (documentary on the genesis, funding and impact of
anti-gay laws in Uganda). Produced by Oscar Awardee, Roger Ross Williams
2000–2011 Registered Nurse (former Health Coordinator), Safe Haven Project: Camps and life-skills
programs for youth living with HIV/AIDS, Maryland and Massachusetts
STUDY SECTION/ GRANT REVIEW
Dates of Service Role Program Name Federal Agency
April 2013, 2014,
2015
Member of
Ad hoc
Panel
World Trade Center Cooperative
Research Agreement Grant
Proposal Review Ad hoc Panel
National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention
June 2014 Ad Hoc
Reviewer
Clinical Trials Review
Committee
National Heart, Lung, and Blood
Institute (NHLBI), National Institute
of Health
December
2013
Ad Hoc
Reviewer
Special Emphasis Panel World
Health Organization Cooperative
Grant
National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention
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Institutional Grant Review
Dates of Service Role Program Name Institution
2011 Committee
Member
A. David Mazzone Awards Program for Prostate
Cancer Research: Disparities Research Section
Dana-Farber Cancer
Institute
DEPARTMENT AND SCHOOL SERVICE:
2013–present Member, Committee for the Advancement of Women Faculty
2012–present Faculty Member, Harvard Center for Population and Development
2011–present Steering Committee Member, Maternal Child Health/Children, Youth & Families
Training Program
2010–present Faculty Advisor, Harvard Chan Nigerian Students and Scholars Association
2010–present Member, DFCI/Harvard Cancer Center
2010–2013 Faculty Member, Women, Gender and Health Interdisciplinary committee
2011–2012 Co-chair, Women, Gender, and Health Interdisciplinary committee
2011–2013 Steering Committee Member, Harvard Chan Women and Health Initiative
2011 Committee Member, Roadmap to 2013 Planning Retreat, Harvard Chan School
2011 Attendee, Retreat for Comparative Effectiveness, Dean’s Flagship Initiative on
Comparative Effectiveness Research
2011 Moderator, World Malaria Day: Achieving Progress and Impact, Harvard Chan School
Nigerian Students and Scholars Association
2010–2012 Faculty Mentor, Harvard RWJ Health and Society Scholars Program
2010 Member, Harvard Chan School Fulbright Application committee
2010–present Internal Advisory Committee, Harvard Center for Work, Health, & Well-being
Ad Hoc ABSTRACT & MANUSCRIPT REVIEW
Plos One 2015–
Nicotine and Tobacco Research 2013–
American Journal of Industrial Medicine, Social Science and Medicine 2008–
American Journal of Public Health, American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2007–2012
Journal of Occupational Health Psychology 2011
Health Education and Behavior, Tobacco Control, American Public Health Association,
Occupational Health Section, Preventing Chronic Disease
Pre-2010
INVITED PRESENTATIONS
Local
1. Okechukwu, C. (October, 2015). Work-family support: why it matters for the public’s health. Harvard
Takemi Program in International Health Seminar Series, Boston, MA.
2. Okechukwu, C (July, 2015). Balancing work, family and health disparities: A tale of two America. Harvard
T.H Chan Summer Hot Topics Seminar Series, Boston, MA.
3. Okechukwu, C. (February, 2015). From racism and injustice to public health outcomes. Harvard Takemi
Program in International Health Seminar Series, Boston, MA.
4. Okechukwu, C. (February, 2015). Occupational injuries drive turnover in nursing homes. Harvard
Education and Research Center Environmental and Occupational Medicine and Epidemiology Seminar
Series, Boston, MA.
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National and International
5. Okechukwu CA, Rodgers, JA, Dennerlein, J., Kim, SS. (November 2015). Pressure to take shortcuts
predicts injury absence among construction apprentices. Paper presented at the American Public Health
Association Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois.
6. Okechukwu, C (August, 2015). Work, family and health: Why balance matters for public health. Johns
Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Education and Research Center Environmental and Occupational
Health Seminar Series. Baltimore, MD.
7. Okechukwu, C. (March, 2015). Integrated Interventions for Tobacco Cessation- Practical Considerations.
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Total Worker Health Webinar Series. Available from
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/twh/webinar.html
8. Okechukwu, C. (November, 2014). Who will care for us: Addressing health, productivity and turnover in
long-term care. National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program Seminar Series. Baltimore, MD.
9. Okechukwu, C, Kelly, E., Bacic, J., DePasquale, N., Hurtado. D., Kossek, E. Sembajwe, G. (July, 2015).
Supporting employees’ work-family needs improves care quality: Evidence from the Work, Family, and
Health study. VI International Conference of Work and Family. Instituto de Estudios Superiores de la
Empresa (IESE Business School), Barcelona, Spain.
10. Okechukwu, C. (May, 2015). Job loss as a consequence of occupational injury: Longitudinal analyses using
Marginal Structural Models. Paper presented at Work, Stress and Health Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA.
11. Okechukwu, C. (March, 2015). Balancing opportunities and coercion: Labor, workers' rights and NCD. In
Framing Non-Communicable Diseases for action: Insight and innovation from the next generation of public
health leaders. Symposium conducted at the World Conference on Tobacco or Health. Abu Dhabi, United
Arab Emirates.
12. Okechukwu, C. (October, 2014). Using creative and strategic partnership for TWH interventions in complex
organizational structures. Paper presented at the First International Symposium to Advance Total Worker
Health. Bethesda, MD.
13. Sparer EH, Okechukwu CA, Manjourides J, Herrick RF, Katz JN, Dennerlein JT. (June, 2014). Patterns of
site-employment of construction workers on and off commercial construction sites in New England and the
relationship to musculoskeletal pain. Paper presented at the 24th International Epidemiology in
Occupational Health, Chicago, IL.
14. Okechukwu, C. (June, 2014). Connecting theories, methods and research findings: integrating work-family
exposures and health promotion. In Improving worker health and well-being: synergies and antagonisms
between worksite health promotion and work-life policy. Symposium conducted at the Work & Family
Researchers Network Bi-annual Conference. New York, NY.
15. Okechukwu, C. (March, 2014). “They really do come a close second”: How managers balance family-
responsiveness and care quality in long-term care. Paper presented at the Industrial and Labor Relations
Review Journal conference, special issue on Employment Relations in Healthcare. New Brunswick, NJ.
16. Kelly, E., Moen, P., Oakes, MJ, Okechukwu, C., Davis, K., Kossek, E., Hanson, G., Mierzwa, F., Casper,
LM. (April, 2013). Changing work and work-family conflict in an information technology workplace:
Evidence from the Work, Family and Health Network. Plenary paper presented at the Population
Association of America Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA.
17. Okechukwu, C. (March, 2013). Understanding workplace determinants of health. Paper presented at the
Association of Health Care Journalists Annual Meeting, Boston, MA.
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18. Dutra, L.M. Okechukwu, CA. (March, 2012). Household and workplace influences on smoking among U.S.
workers. Paper presented at the 15th
World Conference on Tobacco or Health, Singapore.
19. Okechukwu, C., Souza, K., Davis, K., De Castro, B. (September, 2011). Discrimination, harassment, abuse
and bullying in the workplace: Contribution of workplace injustice to occupational health disparities.
Plenary presentation at the First National Conference on Elimination Health and Safety Disparities at Work,
Chicago, IL.
20. Okechukwu, C., Kelly, E., Sembajwe, G., Berkman, L. (May, 2011). Decoupling as a management strategy:
The case of work-family stress in nursing homes. Paper presented at the Work, Stress and Health Annual
Conference, Orlando, FL.
21. Okechukwu, C., Kelly, E., Sembajwe, G., Berkman, L. (November, 2009). That’s not our role: A qualitative
study of family-responsive workplace policies for staff in nursing homes. Paper presented at the American
Public Health Association Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA.
22. Okechukwu, C., Krieger, N., Li, Y., Barbeau, E. (March, 2009). Apprenticeship site-based smoking
cessation intervention for blue-collar workers in the United States. Paper presented at the 14th
World
Conference on Tobacco or Health, Mumbai, India.
23. Okechukwu, C., Sorensen, G., Punnett, L., Brockhaus, A., Borwegan, B., Wagner, G. (November, 2007).
Paradigm shift or struggle: Integrating health promotion and health protection. Occupational Health and
Safety session and panel, conceptualized and coordinated by Okechukwu C. Paper presented at the
American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, Washington DC.
24. Okechukwu, C., Krieger, N., Sorensen, G., Li, Y., Barbeau, E. (September, 2007). Exposure to hazards and
smoking behaviors in a multiethnic working class population. Paper presented at the Worklife 2007
National Symposium: Protecting and Promoting Worker Health. National Institute of Occupational Safety
and Health, Washington DC.
25. Okechukwu, C., Ertel K., Buxton, O., Sorensen, G., Berkman, L. (August, 2007). The health impact of
work/family demands among low wage employees in long-term care industry. Paper presented at the
Academy of Management annual meeting, Philadelphia, PA.
26. McPhaul, K., Okechukwu, C., Lipscomb, J. (November, 2003). Intertwining advocacy and scholarship in
occupational health. Paper presented at the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, San
Francisco, CA.
27. Okechukwu, C., Langlie, N. (November, 2003). An art based program to increase the social network of
young adults living with HIV. Paper presented at the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting,
San Francisco, CA.