Dr. June Spector, a physician-scientist, has been named the new chair of the Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences (DEOHS) at the University of Washington School of Public Health.
Spector will begin her new role January 1, 2026, pending approval from the Board of Regents. She brings to the position a wealth of experience working collaboratively with state agencies, as well as her history as a faculty member, researcher and leader within the department.
“I see the Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences as a leader in many areas: fundamental and applied research in environmental and occupational health sciences, translating research to impact, training the next generation of students, researchers and practitioners, and providing service to Washington state employers and workers to promote healthy workplaces,” said Spector. “I think the department's been fortunate to have really dedicated past leadership and is well positioned to build upon its strengths and also address emerging needs that are coming up in real time.”
Spector has spent her career focused on the prevention and management of adverse health outcomes related to heat exposure in working populations. She has also engaged in interdisciplinary research to evaluate health benefits of nature conservation interventions.
"At a time when government relations and meeting stakeholder needs are more important than ever, June brings a wonderful set of expertise and perspectives to the role of chair of DEOHS,” said Hilary Godwin, UW SPH dean. “She has a deep and nuanced understanding of the department and also has experience working at one of the key state agencies in Washington that we collaborate with on environmental and occupational health issues.”
Spector was most recently working as an occupational research physician and occupational disease prevention lead at the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) in the Safety and Health Assessment and Research Prevention Program, known as SHARP. There, she participated in policy-relevant research and health tracking activities.
Spector has been a faculty member at UW since 2012, with a tenured faculty position in DEOHS, a joint appointment in the Division of General Internal Medicine in the UW School of Medicine and an adjunct appointment in the Department of Global Health. After moving to L&I, Spector kept her close connections to the department and maintained a research associate professor appointment in the School, with a primary focus on heat stress research.
Spector is board certified in Internal Medicine and in Occupational & Environmental Medicine and previously served as director of the Occupational & Environmental Medicine Program at UW and DEOHS assistant chair for occupational medicine partnerships. Spector received a medical degree from Yale University, an MPH from Johns Hopkins University, and a bachelor's from Harvard University.
Amidst a challenging moment for public health funding, Spector is confident the department can continue to lead in research, teaching and service.
“We are experiencing a dynamic time and change can be stressful,” Spector said. “I think it's also, though, an opportunity to reflect on what we're trying to do and work together to clarify our priorities. We have a history of successfully navigating difficult times. As a result of that, the department will not only adapt but will be playing a role in setting the direction for the field of environmental and occupational health sciences.”
Spector is looking forward to listening and understanding the departmental priorities of faculty, staff and students and collectively developing a shared direction for the department.
“Strengthening connections with each other and with our external partners is really important going forward to make sure that we're moving toward our mission of safe, healthy and sustainable workplaces and communities.”