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.: Medical Director and 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. He directs the Occupational Medicine Residency Program and has been instrumental in the development of a technical training program targeted at intensive, short course work on issues of asbestos abatement, lead, and related topics. Dr. Levin developed a curriculum for graduate training in environmental science and in public health with sister educational institutions in Texas. Dr. Levin is fluent in Spanish and is licensed in both Texas and Louisiana.

Debra C. Cherry, M.D., M.S.: Medical Consultant
Dr. Cherry is board certified in occupational medicine. She completed her masters of science in environmental science and her residency in occupational medicine in June 2000. She also completed a one-month residency rotation at the North Texas Poison Center in Dallas. She has a unique background consisting of pediatrics training, epidemiology experience, and occupational and environmental medicine. She has a personal interest in pediatric health; she has three young children. In addition, her husband is a family practice physician in the Tyler area, which facilitates her ability to communicate with primary care physicians. 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.

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.