Lezah Brown’s inspiration for a career in the environmental health field came at an early age. “My grandmother was a public health nurse in Chicago,” said Brown, an assistant professor in the Department of Health Sciences. “When I was a girl I used to go with her to the public health clinic where she worked.”
That experience showed Brown the health disparities faced by many people in minority communities in America. Her grandmother’s nearly 40-year career began with nursing training at Provident Hospital, the first black owned and operated hospital in Chicago, which opened in 1891. “When it opened, Provident provided medical care to African Americans at a time when they were not allowed to go to other hospitals,” said Brown. “In the days before Provident and other such hospitals opened African-Americans received any medical treatment they got at home. If they needed surgery, it was often done on their own kitchen table.”
Though not as overt today, the lingering effects of those health disparities still persist in many minority communities. Striving to understand the wider social and health impacts of those disparities propelled Brown into industrial hygiene studies at Purdue University. After graduation she worked for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the area of worker safety. That job gave her a closer look at the environmental and occupational exposures faced by workers in a wide variety of settings. In everything from exposure to toxins and lack of safety equipment, to workplace harassment and violence, minority workers are often at the greatest risk. With that hard fact in mind Brown went back to school.
While pursuing a master’s degree and a Ph.D at the University of Illinois, Chicago (UIC), Brown expanded her research into minority health issues by focusing on environmental and occupational exposures. She investigated how exposure to pollutants and toxins, along with unsafe working conditions, harassment and incidents of workplace violence impact the long-term health of workers. By looking at the psychosocial issues of workplace harassment, intimidation and violence, she and her fellow researchers found that Hispanic workers are often most at risk in this part of the country.
“The research at UIC looked at the conditions faced by Hispanic day laborers in Chicago,” said Brown. “Many of them are undocumented workers in the construction trades with no health insurance, no safety equipment, and little or no knowledge of the health exposures in their jobs. Many times they face harassment or intimidation by their employers. Because of the language barrier and their undocumented status they are often unable, or afraid, to report poor working conditions or pay disputes.”
Brown also studied the job conditions of home health care workers in Chicago, many of whom are African American or Polish immigrant women. The study found that at one time or another many of the health care aides found themselves in uncomfortable or hostile work situations. Many reported facing verbal abuse, sexual harassment or physical violence from their patients or from patients’ family members. A number of workers also reported other health exposures such as needle stick injuries in the course of their jobs.
Brown has plans to expand her research to look at children’s health outcomes, such as obesity and diabetes, based on their mother’s occupational exposures. She is especially interested in studying how the “weathering” of black women in certain communities, due to cumulative life stresses, impacts a mother’s parenting abilities. Brown points out that obesity can be a major issue for low incomes families. A mother who is “weathered,” or stressed, by an ongoing combination of job, life and environmental issues, may not have the time, the energy or the means to provide balanced meals for her children. High-fat fast food is often cheaper and more readily available than fresh food. Neighborhoods that are unsafe for outdoor play and exercise can also contribute to poor health and an early onset of chronic disease in children.
Brown feels that research on the health impacts of workplace and environmental exposures can help bring about positive changes. “We need to get physicians to look more closely at people’s backgrounds and what they are exposed to so they can better understand people’s real health issues,” she said. “Also, if we have a fuller understanding of the serious issues that many minority workers face on a daily basis we will be able to develop better policies and interventions to address workplace problems.”
In addition to teaching courses in safety technology, occupational safety and health regulations, and hazardous materials regulations, Brown is also the faculty advisor for the Society of Women and Minorities in Health Sciences, a recently-established registered student organization. Brown started the RSO shortly after she began teaching at Illinois State in the fall of 2009. She saw a real need for a group that would provide support and mentoring for women and minority students who are interested in careers in health sciences.
“Health and safety is a predominantly white male field. I want women and minority students to feel comfortable in school and to actively incorporate themselves into their classes and into health science professions,” said Brown. “Minority students can often feel isolated in classes. I encourage students to speak up, get involved and address diversity issues by communicating with each other across cultures.”
The Society of Women and Minorities in Health Sciences gives students an opportunity to know and interact with Department of Health Sciences faculty members outside of class. Brown also sees the RSO as a launching point for student research projects and professional practice opportunities. Though its main aim is to support women and minority students in their education, it is by no means an exclusive organization. “I encourage the students to join and be active in other professional organizations tied to their majors,” said Brown. “I also invite all students in health sciences majors to come to our meetings and social events to see what the group is about.”
