James P Fabisiak

Dr. James P. Fabisiak serves as Associate Professor and Vice Chair of Practice in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health. He directs the Center for Healthy Environments and Communities (CHEC), which has received continuous funding from the Heinz Endowments for over a decade. His research focuses on data-driven approaches to environmental health issues, particularly air pollution in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

His educational background includes:

• BS in Biology/Psychology from Syracuse University (1976)
• MS in Veterinary Science from Cornell University (1980)
• PhD in Pharmacology from Penn State University (1986)
• Postdoctoral Fellowship from the University of Vermont (1989)

Dr. Fabisiak's research program spans from community-level environmental assessments to molecular investigations of toxicant mechanisms. He has developed expertise in modeling regional air pollution using satellite-derived imaging and estimating disease burden through risk-based models. His work examines the health impacts of fossil fuel activities including fracking in the Marcellus Shale region and petrochemical facilities. As a toxicologist, he investigates cellular and molecular mechanisms of inhaled toxicants, with past research exploring metallothionein's dual role in oxidation and phospholipid signaling in cell death processes.

His publication record shows consistent contributions across multiple domains, with recent work focusing on environmental justice, particulate matter effects on respiratory diseases, and molecular toxicology. His research bridges population-level epidemiological studies with fundamental biochemical investigations, creating a comprehensive framework for understanding environmental health issues from community impacts down to cellular mechanisms.

Dr. Fabisiak teaches Principles of Toxicology (EOH 2175) and Introduction to Risk Assessment/Environmental Risk Assessment (EOH 2180/2181), reflecting his expertise in both theoretical foundations and practical applications of environmental health science.