Robert Cohen

Robert Cohen, MD is a Clinical Professor and Director of the Mining Education and Research Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). His work focuses on occupational health, particularly respiratory diseases in mining environments. He leads research on silica exposure risks, pneumoconiosis, and occupational safety in coal mining and engineered stone fabrication sectors. His studies address regional disparities in lung disease prevalence among former coal miners and advocate for improved medical surveillance protocols. Dr. Cohen is affiliated with UIC’s Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to occupational lung disease prevention and global health monitoring through initiatives like the Observatorio Internacional de Neumoconiosis.

His research highlights the resurgence of severe lung conditions linked to silica exposure, advocating for stricter workplace regulations and better worker protections. Collaborations include international registries for engineered stone workers and audits of radiographic classifications for pneumoconiosis. Dr. Cohen’s work also examines the intersection of occupational hazards with broader health issues like opioid use and chronic pain among miners.