Abe Timmons, DO, MPH, is an occupational medicine specialist and former US Air Force flight surgeon recently joined OEHN as a Full-Time Medical Director.  Dr. Timmons has several years of experience in both occupational medicine and aerospace medicine.  He most recently served as the medical director of occupational medicine at the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center at Tinker Air Force Base, OK, the largest industrial work facility in the Air Force.  Prior to that he was the chief of clinical medicine for the occupational medicine clinic at Wright Patterson AFB, OH, and oversaw the health of the workers at the Air Force Research Laboratory. 

Q: What led you to decide on a specialty in occupational medicine?

A:  I have always been interested in preventing medical problems before they occur.  Occupational Medicine is the interface between clinical medicine and prevention, so it allows me to pursue the prevention aspect that often gets overlooked in medical care.  I also have had a fascination with different occupations, in particular aviation, and that is how I got hooked on occupational medicine back in medical school when I was able to work with NIOSH for 3 months investigating aviation and commercial fishing accidents.

Q: What area(s) of Occupational Health do you feel are largely overlooked by employers?

A:  Two of the biggest areas I feel are often overlooked are prevention of occupational illness and injury, and effective risk communication to employees and the public.  It is easier to follow a path of least resistance and hope no problems occur, than to spend time and resources trying to figure out ahead of time what could cause harm and attempt to prevent that from occurring.  Risk communication is another area that could be improved upon in the community and can go a long way in reducing employee and public anxiety over workplace or environmental issues when the first occur.

Q:  What do you enjoy most about your current position as Medical Director at OEHN?

A:  I most enjoy the chance to interact with a variety of great people, both occupational health workers and employees, at different sites.  It is difficult at times to keep things straight, but it is so valuable to get a broadened view of different worksites in the state rather than be isolated to one site.  OEHN has a great complement of clients that gives us a unique perspective in the occupational medicine community.

Q: You recently moved here from Oklahoma, have you noticed any significant differences between approach to Occupational Medicine in the SouthWest vs the NorthEast?

A: The big difference for me was that I was in the Air Force on active duty while in Oklahoma, and before that in Ohio.  The government system was very cumbersome in which to maneuver at times, and volume was not a big concern because it was not profit driven.  However, there were also regional differences in practices that I noted, but it was really driven more by local workers compensation laws in a particular state.  But ultimately the goal in occupational medicine is the same – to keep people safe, healthy and employed! 

Other Medical Director Report Articles:

• Getting the Weight Off:  Workplace Weight Management Program

• EH&S - A Bottom Line Activity:  Presentation on November 13, 2008

• Is Your Office Making You Fat?  Taking Control at Your Work Place 

• Wellness Programs Keep Employees Healthy:  Reduce Health Care Costs 

• Staying Healthy at Work:  8 Tips You Can Use Today 

• OEHN Adds New Medical Director:  Abe Timmons DO, MPH 

• Meet Abe Timmons:  OEHN's Newest Medical Director 

• OEHN Attends Beijing Summer Olympics

• Investing in Corporate Wellness: Making Your Case  by Joe Flynn, COO, OEHN

OEHN delivers premier onsite Medical Director leadership and program oversight for employee and occupational health departments across the country. OEHN is supported by a team of Board Certified Occupational Health physicians, program management staff, project managers and consultants. Its network of twelve hospital clinics and a local, regional, and national network of occupational medicine resources provide labor unions, organizations, hospitals, disability management providers, and the government with a comprehensive portfolio of occupational medicine solutions. Visit OEHN on www.OEHN.net.

Occupational & Environmental Health Network (OEHN) 
5 Mount Royal Avenue  Marlborough, MA  01752
508 251 7260

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