Dr. Jean Ospital, former Principal in an environmental consulting group, is AQMD’s new Health Effects Officer.
For most of his 20-plus years in the environmental health field Ospital worked for the Southern California Edison Company, in its Research and Development and Environmental Affairs divisions. During his tenure he helped develop cost effective methods to clean up toxic chemicals, conducted risk assessments of air pollutants and hazardous chemicals, and directed research on how air, water and soil pollutants impact human health.
He also developed policy and technical input for state and national environmental regulations and legislation, and served as a public health educator.
A native of Central California who moved to Los Angeles in 1969, Ospital credits the Peace Corps for sparking his interest in environmental health. "When I volunteered for the Peace Corps they sent me to school to learn about public health," he said.
In 1970 he earned a Masters in Public Health, Health Education and Behavioral Sciences from the University of California, Los Angeles, then spent a year in El Salvador with the Peace Corps as a Health Educator. After his tour with the Peace Corps Ospital returned to UCLA and in 1976 earned a Doctorate in Public Health, Environmental Health Sciences.
He has lectured at UCLA and the University of California, Irvine, speaking on environmental health related issues.
He, his wife and son reside in Westchester.
Ospital replaces Dr. Shankar Prasad who left AQMD in 1998 to take the Community Health Advisor position, reporting to the Chairman of the California Air Resources Board.
AQMD Home Page
This page updated: July 12, 2000
URL: http://www.aqmd.gov/news1/Ospital.htm