Eric A. Whitsel

Eric A. Whitsel is a Professor of Epidemiology and Adjunct Professor of Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Gillings School of Global Public Health. His roles include leading the WHI Southeast Regional Center as UNC Principal Investigator and chairing key committees like the WHI Built and Natural Environment Scientific Interest Group. Whitsel holds dual training in medicine (MD from UNC-Chapel Hill, 1993) and epidemiology (MPH from UNC-Chapel Hill, 1995). His research focuses on environmental, cardiovascular, and genetic epidemiology intersections, particularly air pollution's health effects and omics data integration. He leads multi-omics studies in WHI and ARIC cohorts, emphasizing geospatial exposure assessment and genomic data accuracy.

Education highlights include a BS in Biology (UNC, 1986), residency in Internal Medicine (University of Washington, 2000), and a cardiovascular epidemiology fellowship (UNC, 2003). His work includes co-authoring U.S. EPA's Integrated Science Assessments for particulate matter and establishing rigorous data standards for major longitudinal studies.

Research trends across his articles emphasize environmental exposures (radon, PM2.5, noise pollution) and their cardiovascular/genetic impacts, with methodological contributions to exposure modeling and omics integration. Awards include the Trudy Bush Award for women's cardiovascular research and multiple NIH/NIEHS fellowships.

Leadership spans T32 training programs (Cardiovascular, Genetics, Environmental) and WHI/ARIC morbidity committees. He advises on environmental health policies and collaborates internationally. Current efforts include the Gillings Humanitarian Health Initiative and innovation labs for public health leadership.