Staff Biography
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Charles Christen, DrPH, MEdDr. Christen has stepped down as Director of Operations of CHEC. He is now serving as the Executive Director of the Pittsburgh Aids Task Force. Learn more» Please contact us for more information:
Photo Right: Dr. Charles Christen, 2011 |
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Biography (Summary)
Dr. Christen is currently employed as the Director of Operations for the Center for Health Environments & Communities (CHEC) at the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public Health (GSPH), Department of Environmental & Occupational Health (EOH). His expertise is in behavioral & community health sciences with a cross discipline of environmental public health. He has been involved in research associated with documenting community & individual perceptions of the impacts of natural gas drilling related to the development of the Marcellus Shale region, as well as surveillance of environmental threats in the 10-county region surrounding Pittsburgh, PA. Dr. Christen is supervising the FracTracker project with the Center & is providing technical assistance to citizen surveillance & water monitoring projects targeting Marcellus Shale. Dr. Christen provided significant direction & consultation to two major community-based environmental research projects with CHEC involving development of community outreach & dissemination of results to various communities connected with the Center's research projects. He also has extensive experience in community organizing, health promotion campaigns, & psychosocial issues related to HIV prevention & related behavioral health issues.
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Education & Training
| 1973 | Culinary Institute of America Associate Degree, Culinary Arts New Haven, CN |
|---|---|
| 1985 | Duquense University B.A., Philosophy & Psychology Pittsburgh, PA (graduated Magna Cum Laude) |
| 1990 | Gregorian University S.T.L., License to Teach Sacred Theology Rome, Italy Biblical Theology (graduated Magna Cum Laude) |
| 1997 | Duquesne University M.Ed., Community Counseling Pittsburgh, PA (graduated Cum Laude) |
| 2010 | University of Pittsburgh DrPH, Doctor of Public Health Pittsburgh, PA Graduate School of Public Health, Behavioral & Community Health Sciences (with certificate in LGBT Public Health) |
Appointments & Positions
| Date | Affiliation | Position | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 - Present | Center for Healthy Environments & Communities University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health |
Director of Operations | |
| 2007-08 | Allegheny River Stewardship Project Center for Healthy Environments & Communities University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health |
Project Manager | |
| 2005-07 | PUBHLTH 2014 – Overview of Public Health University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health Dean’s Office |
Graduate Student Assistant | |
| 2004-05 | Three Rivers Fish Consumption Project University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health Department of Behavioral & Community Health Sciences |
Graduate Student Research Assistant | |
| 2004-05 | PAC3 Evaluation Team University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health Department of Behavioral & Community Health Sciences |
Support Staff | |
| 1997-2007 | HIV & Education Services Persad Center, Inc. Pittsburgh, PA |
Clinical Coordinator | |
| 1997-2001 | Persad Center, Inc. Pittsburgh, PA |
Clinical Therapist/ HIV Specialist | |
| 1993-97 | Allegheny General Hospital Pittsburgh, PA |
Staff Chaplain | |
| 1990-93 | St. Vitus Roman Catholic Church & St. Francis Hospital New Castle, PA |
Parish Priest & Chaplain | |
| 1985-90 | Roman Catholic Priesthood North American College Rome, Italy |
Theology Student | |
| 1982-85 | Roman Catholic Priesthood St. Paul Seminary Pittsburgh, PA |
Seminary Student | |
| 1978-85 | For the Chancellor University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA |
Private Chef |
Presentations
| Date | Details |
|---|---|
| 9/30/10 | Christen C. Visualizing Public Health Impacts of the Marcellus Shale Play. Ligonier, PA |
| 9/29/10 | Christen C. "Marcellus Shale and Your Community" Steel Valley Council meeting. Homestead, PA. |
| 9/29/10 | Christen C. "Case Study: Citizen Surveillance and Monitoring of Marcellus Shale Gas Extraction." Maximizing Profitability through Effective Environmental Risk Management - The Upstream Shale Gas & Environmental Summit, hosted by IQPC. Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel, Pittsburgh, PA |
| 9/22/10 | Martin J, Christen C, Coptis V, Reilly R, Nichols D. UMRA Watershed Meeting - Marcellus Shale Issues - Morgantown, WV. |
| 9/10/10 | Volz CD, Malone S, Christen C. "Marcellus Shale Gas Extraction Research & Questions." Geneva College Colloquia Series. Geneva College, PA. |
| 9/9/10 | Christen C. Marcellus Shale Tele-Town Hall Meeting hosted by Senator Jim Ferlo (PA-38). More information: Mikhail Pappas, Policy & Projects Liaison to Senator Jim Ferlo, 412.621.3006, mpappas@pasenate.com. |
| 8/27/10 | Volz CD, Christen C, Malone S. "What Do We Need to Know? The Potential Public Health Impacts of Marcellus Shale Drilling." University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health Symposium. Pittsburgh, PA. |
| 8/10/10 | Volz CD, Christen C, Malone S. CHEC Marcellus Shale meeting - Introducing FracTracker.org. Ithaca, NY. Link for more information about this series of meetings. |
| 7/29/10 | Christen C. Marcellus Shale drilling & its Impact on the Urban Environment. Panel discussion. Teamsters Temple in Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh, PA. |
| 7/29/10 | Volz CD, Christen C, Malone S, Dawes J, Ooms T. CHEC Marcellus Shale meeting - Introducing FracTracker.org. Hosted by CHEC & Foundation for PA Watersheds. Danville, PA. Link for more information about this series of meetings. |
| 7/22/10 | Volz CD, Christen C, Malone S, Dawes J, Michanowcz D. CHEC Marcellus Shale meeting - Introducing FracTracker.org. Hosted by CHEC & Foundation for PA Watersheds. Pittsburgh, PA. Link for more information about this series of meetings. |
| 7/22/10 | Christen C. EPA Public Information Meeting / Hearing. "Public Health Concerns Surrounding Gas Extraction Activities." Canonsburg, PA. |
| 7/12/10 | Christen C. Marcellus Shale gas extraction & public health. Pittsburgh City Council Post Agenda - Marcellus Shale. Pittsburgh City Council, Council Chambers, Pittsburgh PA. |
| 6/29/10 | Volz CD, Christen C, Malone S, Dawes J, Kirby C, Knauer J. Marcellus Shale meeting - Introducing FracTracker.org (1st of 5). Omni Bedford Hotel, Bedford, PA. Hosted by CHEC & Foundation for PA Watersheds. Questions: chec@pitt.edu. |
| 5/5/10 | Christen C. "Marcellus Shale Gas Extraction: Potential Public Health Impacts" Murrysville Municipal Building, Murrysville, PA. Presented to the Murrysville Municipal Council. |
| 5/3-4/10 | Christen C. "Marcellus Shale Gas Extraction: Potential Public Health Impacts & CHEC Research & Outreach Initiatives." PEC's Marcellus Shale Policy Conference. The Power Center, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA. Hosted by Pennsylvania Environmental Council & Duquesne University. PwPt | Learn more |
| 4/21/10 | Christen C, Clean Water Action, Graves-Marcucci L, & Hallowich S. Town Hall Meeting: Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Drilling Concerns. Hosted by the Lincoln Place Action Group. Mifflin School Auditorium, Pittsburgh, PA. |
| 4/14/10 | Volz CD & Christen C. Marcellus Shale Conference. Grove City College, Sticht Lecture Hall in the Hall of Arts & Letters. This conference addressed concerns regarding the environmental impacts of Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling. |
| 3/9/10 | Christen C & Volz CD. Marcellus Shale: Volunteer Monitoring Meeting for Service Providers. Hosted by Penn State University. University Park, PA. Read more» |
| 11/11/09 | Ferrar K, Volz C, Lawson C, Michanowicz D, Christen C, Longo C, Sharma RK, Talbott E, Collins E, Marcucci LG. Coal combustion waste placement in PA; An environmental justice issue with implications for contamination of surface & ground waters & human & ecological exposure via inhalation & ingestion. 2009 APHA Conference, Philadelphia, PA. Abstract# 202076 |
| 11/10/09 | Volz CD, Michanowicz D, Murray M, Christen C, Sharma RK, Talbott E, Good S, Ferrar K. Community participatory driven research; Comparisons of water quality variables & concentrations of toxic elements downstream from Allegheny River gravel mining operations during periods of activity & inactivity. 2009 APHA Conference, Philadelphia, PA. Abstract# 200296 | Presentation (PDF) |
| 11/9/09 | Christen C, Volz CD, Caruso P, DeMarco PM. Community-based participatory environmental health research to improve water quality on a major water source in Southwestern PA. 2009 APHA Conference, Philadelphia, PA. Abstract #197439 | Presentation (PDF) |
| 10/6/09 | Christen C. "Environmental Factors & Cancer Risk." Grow Your Knowledge of Cancer: Prevention & Detection Conference, Leslie N Firth Learning Center, Mercer, PA. (PDF) |
| 3/16/09 | Volz CD & Christen C. Report of Outcomes of the Allegheny River Stewardship Project Allegheny Township Community Group, Leechburg, PA |
| 2/5/09 | Volz CD, Christen C, Michanowicz D, Malone S. Report of Outcomes of the Allegheny River Stewardship Project, Ford City, PA |
| 1/21/09 | Volz CD, & Christen C. Community-Based Participatory Environmental Research: Lessons from the Allegheny River Stewardship Project, Seminar Series, Behavioral & Community Health Sciences dept., GSPH, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA |
| 12/12/08 | Volz CD & Christen C. "Environment & Health: A Systems Approach," Sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Education, Posvar Hall, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA |
| 11/14/08 | Volz CD & Christen C. "The Allegheny River Stewardship Project: Building Science on Community Participation," Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Professionals (PAEP), Phipps Conservatory, Pittsburgh, PA |
| 10/15/08 | Volz CD & Christen, C. Outcomes of the Allegheny River Stewardship Project, Western PA Water Roundtable, Pittsburgh, PA |
| 9/5/08 | Christen C, Caruso P, DeMarco P, Morrison J, Mutetwa B, Niederberger P, Volz CD. The Application of Community-Based Participatory Environmental Research (CBPR) on the Study of the Quality of a Major Regional Water Source. (PDF) |
| 11/7/07 | Christen C, Volz CD, Caruso P, Arnowitt M, Brady S, Liu Y, Davis DL, & Talbott EO. Accepted 5041.0: "Results of semi-subsistence & recreational angler focus groups: Reports of combined sewer overflows, chemical releases & associated water-related illnesses in the Three Rivers area of Pittsburgh," 2007 APHA Annual Meeting, Washington, DC. Full text |
| 11/7/07 | Volz CD, Liu Y, Sussman N, Brady S, Caruso P, Green T, Arnowitt M, Peterson J, Christen C, Donovan M, Davis DL, Eagon P, McMahon K, Sharma R. Oral Presentation, 5041.0: "Mercury, Arsenic & Selenium in Channel Catfish from the Allegheny, Monongahela & Ohio Rivers near Pittsburgh PA: Implications for metallotoxin source identification & fish consumption by local anglers," 2007 APHA Annual Meeting, Washington, DC. Full text | Presentation (PDF) |
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Publications
Invited Publications - Past 5 Years
- Volz CD & Christen C. (2006). Why are river Recreationalists most at risk for development of waterborne infectious diseases; how can clinicians improve surveillance? Accepted for publication - Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine. 49(1):104-105, January 2007. PMID: 17215719
Additional Publications & Papers
- Malone S, Volz CD, Christen C, Kelso M, Ferrar K, Kearney S, Sharma R, Michanowicz D. (2011). "Implementation of FracTracker.org: A GeoWeb platform to manage and communicate shale gas information." University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health. Poster presentation. Pittsburgh, PA. Poster | PowerPoint
- Michanowicz D, Malone S, Kelso M, Christen C, Volz CD. (2011) "Utilizing Web-Based Public Participation Geographical Information Systems: Filling Gaps of the Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Industry." International Conference on Society & Information Technology. Oral presentation and publication. Orlando, FL. PDF
- Malone S, Christen C, Volz CD, Michanowicz D. (2010). "FracTracker - A web-based, public participation geographic information system focusing on the natural gas industry." Science2010 Conference. Poster presentation. Pittsburgh, PA.
- Michanowicz D, Christen C, Volz CD, Malone S. (2010). "FracTracker - A web-based, public participation geographic information system focusing on the natural gas industry." State of the Monongahela River Research Symposium. Hosted by the Center for Water Quality in Urban Environmental Systems (Water Quest) at Carnegie Mellon University. Poster presentation. Pittsburgh, PA.
- Christen C, Volz CD, Caruso P, DeMarco PM. (2009). Community-based participatory environmental health research to improve water quality on a major water source in Southwestern PA. American Public Health Association 2009 Conference. Abstract #197439
- Ferrar K, Volz C, Lawson C, Michanowicz D, Christen C, Longo C, Sharma RK, Talbott E, Collins E, Marcucci LG. (2009). Coal combustion waste placement in PA; An environmental justice issue with implications for contamination of surface & ground waters & human & ecological exposure via inhalation & ingestion. American Public Health Association 2009 Conference. Abstract# 202076
- Volz CD, Murray M, Christen C, Sharma RK, Talbott E, Ferrar K, Good S, Michanowicz D. (2009). Community participatory driven research; Comparisons of water quality variables & concentrations of toxic elements downstream from Allegheny River gravel mining operations during periods of activity & inactivity. American Public Health Association 2009 Conference. Abstract# 200296
