Dr. Nathan Fethke has been named head of the University of Iowa Department of Occupational and Environmental Health. His appointment begins Oct. 1, 2023.

Fethke is currently a professor in the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health in the UI College of Public Health. He holds a secondary appointment in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University of Iowa. He directs the Ergonomics Training Program within the NIOSH-funded Heartland Center for Occupational Health and Safety and serves as Deputy Director of the NIOSH-funded Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health.

He is a Certified Professional Ergonomist. His research interests focus on developing and improving methods to quantify the physical demands of work as well as the epidemiology of musculoskeletal injuries among working people, including those in the construction industry and agricultural sector. His work includes evolving and evaluating interventions to advance workplace ergonomics and formalizing new methods and strategies for estimating exposure to physical risk factors.

Fethke teaches occupational ergonomics and research methods courses. He has successfully advised and mentored students into careers in academia, manufacturing, corporate research, and public health leadership. He was awarded the College of Public Health Faculty Teaching Award in 2018 and received a University of Iowa Inventor Award in 2019.

“Dr. Fethke’s strong portfolio of extramural research together with outstanding teaching and mentoring skills provide an excellent foundation for his leadership of this distinguished department,” says Edith Parker, dean of the College of Public Health. “Nate’s interdisciplinary expertise, spanning engineering and public health, and his focus on practical, real-world solutions reflects one of the great strengths of the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health and these same qualities will help guide the continued success of its faculty, students, and staff.”

Fethke earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biomedical engineering from the University of Iowa, followed by his Doctor of Philosophy in Occupational and Environmental Health from the University of Iowa in 2006. After beginning his academic career at East Tennessee State University, he joined the College of Public Health faculty as an assistant professor of occupational and environmental health in 2009 and attained the rank of full professor with tenure in 2023.

“I am truly honored to serve as OEH department head,” says Fethke. “The department is home to incredibly talented people committed to preventing illness and injury resulting from innumerable, and evolving, environmental and workplace hazards. The department has a collaborative spirit and a distinguished history of national and international leadership. I’m excited for the opportunity to work with all colleagues, students, and alumni to continue and grow our outstanding programs.”

Fethke will succeed Dr. Tom Peters, professor of occupational and environmental health, who served as interim department head since 2022. Peters will remain on faculty in the College of Public Health.

“I want to express my deep appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Peters for his outstanding leadership as an interim department head for the past few years. His commitment to the students, faculty, and staff of OEH and the college is exceptional, and I thank him again for his service,” says Parker.