Faculty

Larry K. Lowry, Ph.D.: Coordinator and Co-PI

Dr. Lowry is the overall project manager and coordinator. He has a B.S. in Chemistry and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry. He has extensive experience with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in the Health Hazard Evaluation Program, through the assessment of worker exposure. Following his retirement from the US Public Health Service Commissioned Officer Corps, he worked at Midwest Research Institute. His major duties were lead-based paint issues for EPA and assistance of ATSDR in the conduct of health studies of residents living near hazardous waste sites. Since coming to UTHCT in 1996, he has developed and taught courses in advanced occupational and environmental health, industrial hygiene and toxicology. He currently holds adjunct faculty appointments with The University of Texas at Tyler and Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, Texas.

Jeffrey L. Levin, M.D., M.S.P.H.: Co-PI

Dr. Levin is board certified in internal medicine and occupational medicine. Dr. Levin chairs the Department of Occupational Health Sciences. He has published articles and chapters on a variety of topics, in peer reviewed and other publications, with the vast majority pertaining to occupational lung diseases and agricultural occupational health. He directs the Occupational Medicine Residency Program and helped develop a curriculum for graduate training in environmental science and in public health which serves as the academic component of the residency. He has been in the field of occupational and environmental medicine for over 20 years and has lectured widely on a variety of related topics both nationally and internationally. Dr. Levin is fluent in Spanish and is licensed in both Texas and Louisiana.

Debra C. Cherry, M.D., M.S.: Medical Director

Dr. Debra Cherry is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine at UTHSCT and location lead investigator for the National Children’s Study – Lamar County location. She also serves as principle investigator of Texas Cancer Registry - East Texas regional branch, medical director of the Southwest Center for Pediatric Environmental Health, epidemiology course director, and attending physician in UTHSCT’s occupational and environmental medicine clinic. She is board certified in occupational medicine, holds a Master’s of Science degree in environmental sciences, and completed her intern year in pediatrics at Children’s Mercy Hospital. She has been affiliated with SWCPEH since its inception in 2000, providing clinical consultation and directing special projects such as promoting the clinical environmental history and the Smoke-Free home pledge. Dr. Cherry is licensed as a physician in Texas.

Other Key Faculty

Barbara W. Huggins, M.D., Pediatrics

Dr. Huggins came to the Health Center in 1991 after three years in private practice. She served as the Chair of the Dept of Pediatrics for several years before stepping down to concentrate her efforts towards the significant environmental problem of childhood obesity. She leads a team of medical professionals who developed the Ready.Set.StartSmart! program, a childhood obesity prevention program that begins in the newborn period. Another forum for her to bring environmental issues to the awareness of many East Texans is her appearance as the moderator and co-producer of “Dr. Mom”, a weekly TV news segment on the local ABC affiliate. After five years of reporting as Dr. Mom for ABC she now writes and produces a weekly medical news segment called Dose of Health for the local CBS affiliate and London Broadcasting Company.

Kari Casas, M.D. Pediatrics and Clinical and Biochemical Genetics

Dr. Casas is board certified in pediatrics and clinical and biochemical genetics. She completed her pediatrics training at the University of Oklahoma and her genetics training at the University of California at Los Angeles. She has published peer reviewed articles on a variety of topics, including mitochondrial myopathy, chromosomal disorders, and fetal alcohol syndrome. She began practicing genetics in Tyler at Trinity Clinic in 2006. As a biochemical genetics specialist, she will participate in the Texas Department of State Health expansion of newborn screening for inherited metabolic conditions. She is also interested in the interaction of genes and the environment in cancer, autism, and other common health problems. Dr. Casas is licensed as a physician in Texas and also holds an adjunct position at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler.

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University of Texas Health Center at Tyler

Faculty