Katrina Smith Korfmacher, Ph.D.

Contact Information

Biography

Research

Community Engagement Core

The CEC maintains multidirectional links between environmental health research and the information needs of the community. My primary focus is addressing environmental health information and policy needs of the communities in and around Rochester. I participate in many local partnerships relating to environmental health including the Coalition to Prevent Lead Poisoning, the Rochester Healthy Homes Partnership, the Water Education Collaborative and the Pollution Prevention Institute.

As a policy scientist, most of my research has addressed the role of science in the policy process. I focus on the role of community groups in the policy process, and particularly on how these groups generate, access, and use information.

My outreach work translates environmental health research into relevant policy at the local, state, and federal levels. For example, childhood lead poisoning remains one of the most significant childhood environmental health risks in the Rochester area. I have been an active member of the Coalition to Prevent Lead Poisoning since 2001, serving on its Governmental Relations Subcommittee and Executive Committee. Through the Rochester Healthy Homes Partnership, I help to develop and promote programs aimed at reducing home environmental hazards. Other environmental health outreach projects address risks from consuming Lake Ontario fish, concerns about air quality, the environmental contributors to obesity, and water quality.

Many of the articles, reports, and materials listed below are based on my community environmental health work. My recent book, Bridging Silos: Collaborating for Environmental Health and Justice in Urban Communities, describes how communities can collaborate across systems and sectors to address environmental health disparities; with case studies from Rochester, New York; Duluth, Minnesota; and Southern California.”

Credentials

Education

1989
BA | Brown University
Environmental Health Sci

1993
MS | Duke University
Environment

1996
PhD | Duke University
Environment

Awards

2012
Advocate's Spirit Award
Sponsor: Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester
Location: Rochester, NY

2010
Dr. David Satcher Community Health Improvement Award
Location: University of Rochester

2006
Metrojustice Activist of the Year award

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Publications

Journal Articles

2/3/2021
Harris-Lovett S, Nelson K, Beamer P, Bischel HN, Bivins A, Bruder A, Butler C, Camenisch TD, Long SK, Karthikeyan S, Larsen DA, Meierdiercks K, Mouser P, Pagsuyoin S, Prasek S, Radniecki TS, Ram JL, Roper DK, Safford H, Sherchan SP, Shuster W, Stalder T, Wheeler RT, Korfmacher KS. "Wastewater surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 on college campuses: Initial efforts, lessons learned and research needs." . 2021 Feb 3; Epub 2021 Feb 03.

8/3/2020
Korfmacher KS. "Bridging Silos: A Research Agenda for Local Environmental Health Initiatives." New solutions : a journal of environmental and occupational health policy : NS.. 2020 Aug 3; :1048291120947370. Epub 2020 Aug 03.

2019
Patel, D. M.; Block, R. C.; Chapman, B. P.; Korfmacher, K. S.; van Wijngaarden, E. "Green space and mental health symptoms in a cardiac rehabilitation population." Indoor and Built Environment. 2019; .

Books & Chapters

2020
Book Title: "Bridging Silos: A research agenda for local environmental health initiatives."
Author List: Korfmacher, K.S.
Published By: NEW SOLUTIONS: A Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health Policy. 2020 in Published online

2020
Book Title: Connecting Ecojustice Research and Teaching: Narratives from the Field
Author List: Austin, R. N., A. McDermott, K.S. Korfmacher, L. Arbelaez, J. Bousleiman, A. Downey-Mavromatis, R. Elsiesy, S. Ki, M. Rao, S. Willi.
Edited By: Maria S. Rivera Maulucci, Hilary Callahan, Stephanie Pfirman
Published By: Springer 2020

2020
Book Title: "Promoting health equity through the built environment in Duluth, MN: External Resources and Local Evolution Toward Health in All Policies"
Author List: Korfmacher, K.S.
Published By: Chronicles of Health Impact Assessment. 2020

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Videos

Get the Lead Out: What You Need to Know about Lead Paint Poisoning