Summer in Iowa
David Dyjack, DrPH, CIH
On Friday, April 29, 2022, Jacqueline (Summer) Beard, an environmental supervisor with the Alabama Department of Public Health, died in a tragic incident that occurred while performing the basic duties of her job. Summer Beard personifies the spirit of our members and profession. People in our professional network are often abstract to us. We hear the names, read the email messages, and might encounter them at a virtual or in-person event. They are the personalities behind the figures—6,700 NEHA members. That is 6,700 stories. That is 6,700 struggles. That is 6,700 individuals who work tirelessly to protect the health, safety, and economic prosperity of their communities.
In this month's column, NEHA Executive Director Dr. David Dyjack pays tribute to Summer Beard and our noble and committed professionals. He shares some of the work and thought within the organization that revolves around supporting the environmental health profession.
Journal of Environmental Health
July/August 2022
Volume 85, Number 1
On Friday, April 29, 2022, Jacqueline (Summer) Beard, an environmental supervisor with the Alabama Department of Public Health, died in a tragic incident that occurred while performing the basic duties of her job. Summer Beard personifies the spirit of our members and profession. People in our professional network are often abstract to us. We hear the names, read the email messages, and might encounter them at a virtual or in-person event. They are the personalities behind the figures—6,700 NEHA members. That is 6,700 stories. That is 6,700 struggles. That is 6,700 individuals who work tirelessly to protect the health, safety, and economic prosperity of their communities.
In this month's column, NEHA Executive Director Dr. David Dyjack pays tribute to Summer Beard and our noble and committed professionals. He shares some of the work and thought within the organization that revolves around supporting the environmental health profession.
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SUMMER IN IOWA (PDF)Journal of Environmental Health
July/August 2022
Volume 85, Number 1