WCAHS Director Kent Pinkerton Retiring
The Director of WCAHS, Dr. Kent Pinkerton, is retiring on September 30, 2024. WCAHS has been privileged to have Dr. Pinkerton as the Director of WCAHS since 2017, when he took over for the founding director, Dr. Marc Schenker. Prior to becoming director of WCAHS, Dr. Pinkerton served as the Associate Director of WCAHS for 15 years. Dr. Pinkerton is also a Professor of Pediatrics in the School of Medicine and Professor of Anatomy, Physiology, and Cell Biology in the School of Veterinary Medicine.
Dr. Pinkerton is an expert on air pollution. His research has informed WCAHS’ wildfire smoke exposure training and resources, which have reached thousands of farmworkers across California. Dr. Pinkerton is currently the principal investigator on a WCAHS core research project titled, “Assessing the impact of co-exposure to agricultural wildfire emissions on California farmworker health.” The aim of this research is to assess the effects of dual exposure to wildfire emissions and existing air pollution. A better understanding of the impact of dual exposure will allow for the establishment of more effective strategies for mitigating exposure, managing risks, heightening awareness of protective measures, and regulating air quality to improve farmworker health. Dr. Pinkerton will continue as PI of this core project following his retirement as WCAHS Director.
Professor Pinkerton has been a great colleague and friend, an effective leader, and an outstanding scholar. He led the efforts to develop new strategic goals for the Center, and expanded programs to respond to emerging issues and increase the diversity among researchers and critical research areas supported by the Center. Under his leadership, the Center successfully secured competitive renewals from NIOSH to address agricultural safety and health challenges in the Western US. During his tenure, the Center's outreach program has seen an impressive increase in the number of stakeholders reached and the many relevant topics covered, from heat illness to COVID-19 prevention. Professor Pinkerton represented the Center and UC Davis so eloquently and effectively at many meetings and advocated for support from government agencies and state and federal legislators. His calm and friendly demeanor always impressed me and is appreciated among his colleagues, students, and scholars. It has been a privilege to have worked closely with Professor Pinkerton for over ten years, and I look forward to continuing our collaboration during his “retirement” as he carries on his critical research and will always be part of the WCAHS family!”
—Dr. Fadi Fathallah, WCAHS Associate Director
In addition to his roles as a professor and researcher, Dr. Pinkerton has contributed extensively to the training of students of all ages. For example, Dr. Pinkerton recently worked with high school students in the Imperial Valley to provide hands-on experience during a WCAHS-sponsored small grant scholarship. Dr. Pinkerton has also trained numerous graduate students who have gone on to contribute to air pollution research.
I am—and forever will be—so grateful that my career as a scientist began in Dr. Pinkerton’s lab. Dr. Pinkerton taught me how to tell a scientific story, and to get excited about both big and small discoveries. I would regularly go into his office with a single question and come out two hours later having gotten a deep dive lesson into a helpfully related topic. His enthusiasm for learning and teaching is contagious, and a large part of the reason I am still in academia today. During my tenure in CHE [Center for Health and the Environment], my research interests shifted significantly. Many mentors would have balked, but Dr. Pinkerton enthusiastically supported me, and made helpful connections to ensure I could continue to learn outside his expertise. He will always be the example I turn to of how to be both a dedicated scientist and a world-class mentor.”
—Dr. Savannah D’Evelyn
WCAHS thanks Dr. Pinkerton for his leadership and vision, and wishes him the best in his retirement.