Sandie Ha

Sandie Ha is an Associate Professor in the Department of Public Health at the University of California Merced. Her research focuses on environmental health disparities, particularly examining how air pollution, climate change, and chemical exposures impact maternal and child health outcomes. She leads studies on air quality effects during pregnancy, including preterm births, stillbirth risks, and neonatal care utilization. Her work emphasizes community-based monitoring networks like the San Joaquin Valley Center for Air Injustice Reduction (SJV-CAIR) to address environmental justice issues in agricultural regions like Fresno County.

Her research spans topics such as pesticide exposure among Hmong farmers, ozone pollution triggers for asthma, and the intersection of racism and preterm birth disparities. Dr. Ha employs advanced epidemiological methods, including case-crossover analyses and geospatial modeling, to assess acute and chronic environmental health impacts. She collaborates with public health agencies and community organizations to translate findings into actionable policies and interventions.

Key themes in her work include:

• Climate change-induced health vulnerabilities
• Particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure disparities
• Environmental justice in marginalized communities
• Public health messaging effectiveness

Her recent studies highlight the acute risks of temperature extremes on neonatal care admissions and explore novel vector control strategies using sterile insect techniques. Dr. Ha's scholarship bridges environmental science, public health policy, and community empowerment to address systemic health inequities.