The Southeast Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit

Abby Mutic, PhD, CNM, is an Assistant Professor from Emory University School of Nursing, a Certified Nurse Midwife, and the Director of the Southeast Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit(SE PEHSU). Her expertise is in environmental exposures and respiratory health among women and children. She oversees multiple community outreach projects in the Southeast and consults with exposed communities and healthcare providers experiencing large and small environmental hazards. Dr. Mutic is a mindful researcher, employing continuous community guidance for research development, interpretation, and educational report-back.

Dr. Gittinger completed her residency in emergency medicine at Indiana University and her fellowship in medical toxicology at Emory University and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She works clinically in the Emergency Department at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, GA and at the Georgia Poison Center. She currently serves as an assistant professor of emergency medicine and medical toxicology at Emory University’s School of Medicine. Her professional interests include medical education, acute toxicologic exposures, environmental toxicology, and reduction of pediatric and maternal exposures to environmental toxins. When she is not working clinically, Dr. Gittinger enjoys spending time and traveling with her husband and two toddler girls.

Dr. Philipsborn is a general pediatrician at Emory University School of Medicine and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, practicing at Hughes Spalding Primary Care Center. Core PEHSU faculty, she serves as the Scholars Director for the Pediatric and Reproductive Health Scholars – Southeast Exposures and Disparities (PREHS-SEED) K12 program.  At Emory, she Directs the Pediatric Clerkship as well as the Climate Change and Environmental Health “thread” for medical students.  Her scholarly work focuses on understanding the influence of climate change on child health and educating our learners about climate change and environmental health.  She serves on the executive committee for the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Environmental Health and Climate Change and the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change US Working Group.  She completed medical school and residency training at Emory University, holds an MPA in Environmental Science and Policy from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, and an AB in English from Princeton University

Dr. Green is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology and a Fellow of both the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American College of Legal Medicine. She currently serves as director of the Gynecology Comprehensive Breast Clinic, a division of the Avon Breast Clinic in the Georgia Cancer Center of Excellence, Winship Cancer Institute, where she has direct responsibility for residency and medical student training. She has published several times and is both previously and currently very active in a number of research projects focusing on the Alliance for Innovation in Maternal Health (AIM) patient safety bundles, breastfeeding rates in underserved populations, risk assessment and BRCA testing in the breast clinic population, applicability and clinical relevance of current risk assessment models and educational tools for patients at high risk for breast cancer, domestic violence issues in the minority population, barriers to HPV vaccination among minority women and the impact of the Medicaid revisions on pregnancy outcomes. She lectures regionally and nationally for both physicians and attorneys at leading conferences.  In addition, Dr. Green has functioned as a consultant for the Emory Regional Training Center, the LIFE Residency Wellness Curriculum Board and the State of Georgia, Department of Human Resources/ Women’s Health Division.

Dr. Rubin is a Developmental Pediatrician who is clinically active in caring for children with developmental disabilities and their families in his private practice, as well directing interdisciplinary clinics for children with Autism and Cerebral Palsy at CHOA Hughes Spalding, and consulting to the Emory Neurodevelopmental Exposure Clinic. He is the primary editor of Health Care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the lifespan, Springer 2016. In 2004, he founded the non-profit Break the Cycle of Health Disparities, Inc. and started the annual Break the Cycle of Children’s Environmental Health Disparities program in partnership with the Southeast PEHSU to raise awareness among university students about children’s environmental health disparities and to cultivate future leaders to address these challenges. He currently serves on the National Advisory Council for Children and Disasters. Dr. Rubin’s personal mission is to work in collaboration with others on reducing children’s health disparities and promote health equity for all children, locally, nationally, and globally in the context of environmental and social justice and in the face climate change. 

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Dr Henry Falk served in multiple capacities at CDC, including Assistant Administrator of ATSDR, Director of the National Center for Environmental Health, member of the Executive Leadership Board, and Director of the Coordinating Center for Environmental Health and Injury Prevention.  He retired from the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps after 30 years of service as Rear Admiral and Assistant Surgeon General, and from the CDC in December, 2010, although he continued there as a part-time consultant to the Deputy Director, ONDIEH/CDC on global aspects of Noncommunicable Diseases, Injury and Environmental Health until 2018.  Currently, he is at Emory Rollins School of Public Health as an Adjunct Professor of Environmental Health, and also consults in global environmental health, particularly in India and Israel.  At CDC, he helped start the environmental health, injury, disaster epidemiology, lead poisoning prevention, asthma, radiation studies, hazardous waste investigations, and a variety of other programs; he began his career at CDC as an EIS Officer and worked on the initial

Before retiring 3 years ago, Wayne Garfinkel was responsible for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Southeast Children’s Environmental Health Programs. This responsibility included liaison activities between the SE PEHSU and EPA, and implementing projects, programs and supporting research activities to reduce children’s exposures to radon, contaminated water, poor air quality, lead-based paint, pesticides, asbestos, mercury and other environmental hazards.

He received a Civil Engineering degree from the University of Florida and attended graduate school at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Georgia State University.  He worked 40 years with the EPA and three years as an Engineering Consultant. Consulting engineering experience includes planning and managing construction of municipal waste pollution control facilities.  EPA work experience includes Pollution Prevention, Toxic Substances, Pesticides, Municipal Wastewater Facilities Design, Construction and Grant Management, Water Quality, Hazardous Waste and Remediation Engineering.

In addition to serving as a consultant for the SE PEHSU, he is the leader of the Roswell Marietta Chapter of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby, and volunteers for the Chattahoochee River Keepers, Environmental Voters Project and Backpack Buddies.

Nathan Mutic is an Associate Director of Research Projects at the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing where he oversees daily operations of the Emory University Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit. He is passionate about improving children’s environmental health through impactful partnerships.

Jahmisha Octalien is a Project Coordinator for Emory University’s Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit (PEHSU) at the Nell Hodgson School of Nursing.

In 5 years, she sees herself being fulfilled in her work by being a source of knowledge and bridging the gap in environmental justice for underserved communities.

When not working with PEHSU, Jahmisha enjoys creating DIY projects, listening to music, and traveling to new places.

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Maya is currently pursuing her Masters in Environmental Health at Rollins School of Public Health.

In five years, Maya sees herself doing impactful work that she loves, surrounded by community and continuing to explore.

“This work matters to me because I believe that all people with an environmental health concern should feel empowered to seek help or resources to address these issues in their communities.”

 When Maya is not working with the PEHSU, she enjoys being outside! Her hobbies include hiking, swimming, cooking, eating, experiencing live music, and exploring with her dog.

Adrienne is currently a Master of Public Health Candidate at Rollins School of Public Health; Behavioral Social and Health Education Sciences.

In 5 years, she sees herself working hard with the community to solve problems and move towards a more just society.

“This work matters to me because I believe that it takes passion, dedication, and effort to right injustices.” 

When not working with PEHSU, Adrienne enjoys cooking new vegan recipes, exploring Atlanta’s hidden gems, and being in nature.

Octavia is currently pursuing her Doctorate of Philosophy in Nursing. She works with the PEHSU, Center for Black Women's Wellness, and Emory Center for Digital Scholarship on an augmented reality project focused on integrating technology with the PEHSU's existing Prescriptions for Prevention. Prescriptions for Prevention is currently used to engage community members with information to increase awareness about a variety of environmental exposures. In 5 years she sees herself bridging the gap between research and practice through research translation and implementation. 

“This work matters to me because I believe that disparities can be eliminated by ensuring that healthcare is equitable.”

When Octavia is not working with the PEHSU, she enjoys gardening and reading.