Work, Stress, and Health 2017: Oregon Healthy Workforce Center in action

From Left to Right: Center director, Kent Anger, Associate directors Leslie Hammer and Ryan Olson, and collaborator Diane Rohlman following their symposium on Total Worker Health ® Interventions.
From Left to Right: Center director, Kent Anger, Associate directors Leslie Hammer and Ryan Olson, and collaborator Diane Rohlman following their symposium on Total Worker Health ® Interventions.

The 2017 Work, Stress and Health bi-annual conference headed toward the Great Lakes last week to explore the latest research on how work lives impact the health and well-being of workers. Minneapolis, Minnesota welcomed a crowd of interdisciplinary researchers and practitioners June 7-10 for research presentation sessions, professional development, and networking events. The Oregon Healthy Workforce Center (OHWC) was well represented, both to present our own work, as well as well as to learn from collaborators and colleagues from around the world.

This year’s conference theme, “Contemporary Challenges and Opportunities” was a fitting home for some of the cutting edge research being presented by our OHWC team. Additionally, the focus of WSH on Total Worker Health coincides effortlessly with the OHWC mission of research effectiveness, collaboration, and dissemination to improve the health, safety, and well-being of workers.

The OHWC was particularly honored this year to present two dedicated symposium sessions focusing on some of our work with our large-scale interventions. The SERVe project (PI: Leslie Hammer) was featured in the symposium Support for Health and Well-Being Through Work: The Study for Employment Retention of Veterans (SERVe), chaired by MacKenna Perry. Presentations included lessons learned in recruiting large organizations by Krista Brockwood1; how veterans’ social support and financial strain impact work by MacKenna Perry2; work-family conflict as experienced daily by both veterans and their spouse/partners by Wylie Wan3; and effectiveness of the supervisor training at the center of by project by Leslie Hammer4.

On Saturday, the Oregon Healthy Workforce Center was featured in a symposium, chaired by Kent Anger, Effectiveness of Total Worker Health® Interventions and Dissemination Strategies of the Oregon Healthy Workforce. Leslie Hammer presented findings from the Safety and Health Improvement Project (SHIP)5, a project with construction workers. Ryan Olson presented findings from the COMPASS program for home care workers6, and Diane Rohlman demonstrated an effective safety intervention for young workers in the PUSH project7.

Professional development takes a prominent role at Work, Stress, and Health, and the Center contributed to the dialogue. Layla Mansfield and Leslie Hammer served as professional development panelists in “How did you get that job?”8 and “What Employers Want,”9 respectively. Janelle Cheung presented in a symposium focused on successfully mentoring graduate students, offering her perspective as a successful mentee10.

The SERVe Symposium Session: Discussant Mina Westover (Far left) offers her perspective and insights on the research presented by panelists (seated, L to R), MacKenna Perry, Wylie Wan, Leslie Hammer, and Krista Brockwood
The SERVe Symposium Session: Discussant Mina Westover (Far left) offers her perspective and insights on the research presented by panelists (seated, L to R), MacKenna Perry, Wylie Wan, Leslie Hammer, and Krista Brockwood

OHWC also had several other successful presentations and posters by Kent Anger11, David Hurtado12,13, and Anjali Rameshbabu14. The 2017 bi-annual Work, Stress, and Health Conference was a  rousing success, both for disseminating out own findings, as well as learning about the exciting work being done by colleagues from around the world. We already look forward to 2019!

Submitted by Sarah Haverly, MS, Doctoral Student and Graduate Research Assistant, Portland State University

References:

  1. Recruitment of Organizations in a Large-Scale Intervention Study. Krista Brockwood, PhD, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR; Leslie B. Hammer, PhD; Phoenix Rainbird, BS
  2. Social Support, Income Resources, and Outcomes: A Test of the Work–Home Resources Model. MacKenna L. Perry, MS, Portland State University, OR; Leslie B. Hammer, PhD; Janelle H. Cheung, PhD; Todd Bodner, PhD; Kathleen F. Carlson, PhD
  3. Daily Work–Family Experiences and Well-Being of Employed Service Members and Their Partners. Wylie Wan, PhD, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR; Sarah N Haverly, MD; Jackie Schroeder, MS; Leslie B. Hammer, PhD; Cynthia D. Mohr, PhD; Todd Bodner, PhD
  4. Supervisor Training Effectiveness and Health and Work Outcomes Among a Sample of Service Members. Leslie B. Hammer, PhD, Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences at Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR; Wylie Wan, PhD; Cynthia D Mohr, PhD; Krista Brockwood, PhD; Todd Bodner, PhD
  5. Safety and Health Improvement Program (SHIP). Leslie B. Hammer, PhD, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR; Donald M. Truxillo, PhD; Amy C. Pytlovany, MS
  6. The COMPASS Total Worker Health® Program for Home Care Workers: Impact and Dissemination. Ryan Olson, PhD, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR; Kelsey N. Parker, PhD; Jennifer M. Hess, PhD; Sharon V. Thompson, MS; Kristy L. Rhoten, BA; Miguel Marino, PhD
  7. The Role of Online Forums in an Occupational Safety and Health Training for Young Workers. Diane S. Rohlman, PhD, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA; Megan Parish, MPH; Diane L. Elliott, MD; Ginger Hanson, PhD
  8. How Did You Get That Job? Lessons Learned From Academic and Applied Job Searches. Panelist: Layla Mansfield, MS
  9. What Employers Want: Preparing for Occupational Health Jobs. Panelist: Leslie Hammer, PhD
  10. A Mentee’s Perspective in Launching a Successful Career. Janelle Cheung, PhD, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR
  11. Total Worker Health® Intervention for Construction Workers Improves Safety, Health, Well-Being. W. Kent Anger, PhD, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR; Jason Yano, MS; Katie Vaughn, BA; Bradley Wipfli, PhD; Ryan Olson, PhD; Magali Blanco, BS
  12. Differences in Perceived Social Support for Safe Patient Handling by Gender Among Healthcare Workers. David A. Hurtado, ScD, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR; Alejandra Garfias; Anjali Rameshbabu, PhD; Rachel A. Matsumoto, MS; Leslie B. Hammer, PhD
  13. Applying of Social Network Analysis to Identify Safety Champions. David A Hurtado, ScD, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR; Yaritza Rodriguez, BSc; Samuel A. Greenspan, MPH; Lisset Dumet, MBA
  14. Hello Research, Meet Practice: Plans for Action to Disseminate Total Worker Health®. Anjali Rameshbabu, PhD, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR; Rachel A. Matsumoto, MS; Dan Austin, MS; W. Kent Anger, PhD; Leslie B. Hammer, PhD

Other Resources
Total Worker Health topic page, OccHealthSci Resource Directory
OHWC Toolkit Kiosk

About the author

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Dede Montgomery

Dede supports the Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences and the Oregon Healthy WorkForce Center's research, engagement and education programs. She is a certified industrial hygienist. She's also a published author. Learn more: https://www.ohsu.edu/people/dede-montgomery.

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