David Rich, Sc.D., M.P.H.

Dr. David Q. Rich is an environmental epidemiologist and a Professor in the Departments of Public Health Sciences, Medicine, and Environmental Medicine. He is also the Research Director of the Division of Epidemiology and the Director of the PhD and MS Programs in Epidemiology in the Department of Public Health Sciences. His primary research interests are the reproductive and cardiorespiratory health effects of ambient air pollution with particular interest in maternal air pollution exposure during pregnancy, effects on placental development and function, metabolic dysfunction, systemic inflammation, and any resulting effects on fetal growth and development. Dr. Rich also conducts accountability studies assessing the effects of air quality and environmental policies on air pollutant emissions, ambient pollutant concentrations, and morbidity and mortality in human populations in the United States and China. Some of this work has and is examining potential temporal changes in air pollution composition and toxicity in the United States, and any resulting cardiorespiratory morbidity and mortality. Over the past 2 years, Dr. Rich’s research has been funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the Health Effects Institute, and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.

Dr. Rich also mentors PhD and MS Epidemiology students and teaches graduate and undergraduate epidemiology courses, including Advanced Epidemiology Methods (PM416), Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology (PM470), and Concepts of Epidemiology (PHLT103)

Dr. Rich’s current research studies include:

1. Potential pathophysiologic mechanisms linking air pollution exposure during pregnancy to reduced fetal growth: a prospective cohort study of pregnant women living in Rochester, New York and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

2. Long term monitoring of particle size distributions in Rochester, New York

3. Changes in air pollution particulate matter composition in New York State and triggering of acute cardiovascular, respiratory, and respiratory infectious disease hospital admissions, and triggering of ST-elevation myocardial infarction: an accountability study

4. Environmental and health benefits of mobile source and electricity generating unit
policies to reduce particulate pollution in New York City, Atlanta, and Los Angeles: an accountability study