Occupational Medicine Residency

Alexander Nguyen, MD

Our Program

Practitioners in the field of Occupational Medicine recognize that work and the work environment can have favorable or adverse effects on the health of the workers and other populations. The nature or circumstances of work can be arranged to protect workers’ health. Occupational medicine exists to provide health and well-being in the workplace and ensure workers’ physical attributes or limitations are accommodated in job placement.
Occupational medicine residents enter the program at the second year of their post-graduate training. Residents receive a combination of didactics and supervised practical training to prepare them for independent practice of occupational medicine as well as a Master of Public Health degree. Occupational Medicine is the area of specialization in preventive medicine that focuses on the following:

• Relationship between health of workers, job tasks and work environment
• Employee’s ability to perform work-related tasks
• The arrangement of work
• Physical, chemical and social environments of the workplace
• Prevention and management of work-related injuries and diseases

The goal of the Occupational Medicine Residency Program at UT Health Science Center is to provide the academic and practicum components of training which enable the graduate to practice the specialty competently and independently. Highlights include:

• Accredited by Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)
• One of Two Civilian Occupational Medicine Programs in Texas
• Internationally Prominent Faculty
• Master’s Degree in Public Health
• Practical Training Experience
• Rural and Agricultural Health-Specific Training

Some of the rotations that are available within this program include Chevron, Eastman Chemical, ExxonMobil, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), North Texas Poison Center, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Texas Department of State Health Services, Veteran Affairs North Texas Health Care System and several types of local clinics that offer occupational medicine services.