February 2016 President’s Message

With the recent snow storms, the reality of living in the Northeast during the winter months hits home once again. So why not stay at home and take advantage of an easy way to learn while also earning some Maintenance points? NJAIHA is partnering with ChemWatch to offer a discounted online toxicology course to NJAIHA members: http://www.njaiha.org/events/online-toxicology-course/. While you are on our NJAIHA website, you can also register and pre-pay for the February meeting online: http://www.njaiha.org/event/february-2016-dinner-meeting/.

This month’s NJAIHA Dinner meeting before dinner topic: Update on the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program and NJ Air Clean Air Council (NJCAC) – The discussion explores the ongoing monitoring and treatment program and number of studies on health effects of WTC responders and survivors. NJCAC reports on the State plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from generators of electricity. Speaker: Robert J. Laumbach MD, MPH, CIH. Is Associate Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health at the Rutgers School of Public Health and EOHSI. After Dinner Session: USP 797: Requirements for Environmental Monitoring and Upcoming Changes for the Pharmaceutical Industry – After the intro to USP 797, the Compounding Expert Committee now proposes significant changes for sterile compounding. This includes collapsing of three risk categories and cross-referencing the new chapter 800 for handling of hazardous drug. Speaker: Michael Berg, Ph.D, is the Regional Director for EMLab P&K.

NJAIHA has already started planning for our 2016 Student Scholarships. We are promoting the funding by selling NJAIHA embroidered logo polo shirts. All proceeds will fund the scholarship for a deserving student. See our fundraising add on page 19 of this Newsletter. Please spread the word about this great opportunity for our students to participate in the process. Please check out our website and or contact Grey Coppi, Membership Committee Chair (membership@njaiha.org) about the details. You can also help out too!

We are still looking for a volunteer to be NJAIHA’s Outreach Coordinator. This is an important opportunity to assist both AIHA National and NJAIHA to increase awareness of our profession as a career and the benefits of being a member of our local chapter.

And just a friendly reminder that it’s that time of year again to renew your membership. Renewals can now be completed online on our website (http://www.njaiha.org/membership/). Members can also renew NJAIHA local membership when renewing as a National AIHA member (remember to check off local section tab on the National form).

I look forward to seeing all of you at our February 18th meeting at Snuffy’s!

Best Regards,
Mark Ostapczuk
President NJAIHA