University of Iowa College of Public Health alumna Audrey Tran Lam (17MPH in occupational and environmental health) is an environmental health program manager with the Center for Energy & Environmental Education (CEEE) at the University of Northern Iowa. Originally from Vinton, Iowa, Tran Lam has also earned a Certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from eCornell and a Graduate Certificate in Food Systems, the Environment, and Public Health from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She answered some questions about her career path, the power of volunteering, and environmental stewardship.

What led you to public health?

Funnily enough, I didn’t know what public health was until the summer of 2014. I was serving as an AmeriCorps volunteer in Cedar Rapids to make homes more energy efficient. During my service, I also worked on an organic vegetable farm for four seasons. It was there that I started really understanding the complex, interlocking web that connects food, food access, nutrition security, land use, agriculture, chemical fate and exposure, climate change, and human health. I saw the nexus of all these issues as being “public health,” and wanted to spend my life working to make the system more sustainable. So, I started at the College of Public Health in 2015!

Tell us more about your work with the CEEE.

My work spans two topics that I hold very dear: people and the natural environment. The two cannot be separated and are constantly influencing each other. Instead of just working to fix environmental problems or focusing strictly on topics of human health, I’m interested in where these topics bleed into each other. I hold a deep, deep love for Iowa, so the way that I think about the relationship between people and land is in a very Midwestern context.

I focus most of my time at the CEEE on two statewide environmental health programs—Good Neighbor Iowa and Farming for Public Health. Both aim to increase awareness about how practices we don’t think twice about impact human health in surprising ways. For example, many people don’t realize that many chemicals that we use in everyday life—pesticides, cosmetics, etc.—are derived from fossil fuels and can have many harmful impacts to health, especially that of children and pregnant women. Similarly, we don’t put together that agriculture, especially as currently practiced in the Midwest, has many negative downstream impacts to environmental and human health. How can we think about these problems in a way that encompasses the whole system to improve both our environment and human health?

You’re also involved with several nonprofits, including serving as current president of the Iowa Rural Health Association. What do you hope to focus on in this role?

I’m interested in highlighting how rural health encompasses more than the very real and immediate need of access to quality health care; it also includes environmental issues like poor water quality, vulnerability to floods, pesticide drift, lack of economic opportunity, and more.

My roles on the boards of the Heartland Health Research Alliance, the Pesticide Action Network, and the Plant Based Food Institute are not only ways that I can develop and deepen my understanding of how successful organizations function, but also support important work by passionate people.

What excites you most about your professional and volunteer work?

The people, most definitely! I have developed meaningful relationships with some of the most incredible, dedicated individuals who have chosen to spend their time making Iowa (and the world) a better place. I’ve learned so much from each of them. I also hope to one day gain enough experience to provide the guidance and mentorship that I’ve received to others.

What are three things that Iowans can do to help support or improve environmental health?

My first tip would be to eliminate the cosmetic use of pesticides in your home and lawn. We’re learning a lot about how chronic, low-doses of pesticides negatively impact human health, especially in-utero and in early life. Second, be aware of the chemicals in cleaning and personal care products; lots of everyday products contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Finally, eat more locally and mostly plants! Upwards of 86% of food that Iowans eat comes from outside of Iowa. Cultivation, processing, and transportation can impact the footprint of your food, and supporting biodiverse farming systems within the state improves environmental health and rural livelihoods.

What advice do you have for students who are interested in environmental issues and careers?

Public and environmental health are such diverse and vibrant fields. In his book, Sicker, Fatter, Poorer, Dr. Leonardo Trasande remarks that “Public Health is a team sport.” I use that line all the time—there are so many different roles to play in the myriad of systems that intersect and interlock. My advice is to follow the thing that pulls you. For me, it was environmental exposures to chemicals, food systems, and climate change. I really believe that there is a place for you in the public health ecosystem to do whatever it is that you love.

Second, boundaries are important. That being said, say “yes” to opportunities as they come your way! Volunteer to take notes at a meeting or to facilitate it! Volunteer to review abstracts for APHA! Little things build up your experience over time and signals to your colleagues that you’ll be there when they need you.

This story originally appeared in the spring 2023 issue of InSight magazine

Photo by Joey Loboda