Diana M. Ceballos, PhD, MS, CIH.

What stands out about BU School of Public Health? Boston in general?

High quality faculty that care deeply about society’s public health issues and are truly committed to making a difference. Passionate students that get excited about environmental justice and health equity issues. A beautiful, historic, and intellectual city that attracts the best talent but is also close enough to nature.

Why public health?

Public health is intrinsically interdisciplinary, dynamic, and with a strong human component, which is required to be able to solve the most complex real-life challenges that we face regarding health.  

What inspires your research? 

The thrill of exploring new frontiers where no one has been before. The passion for serving and helping those in most need have healthier lives. The satisfaction of creating something greater through collaboration with others that I know I could never do on my own.  

Could you tell us about your work in environmental health?

My research aims to better understand health effects from exposure to complex mixtures to uncovering and addressing the disproportionate burden of exposure in vulnerable populations. For example, I have led several investigations to assess exposures to chemicals in workplaces and provided recommendations to minimize those exposures. My research highlights occupational hazards in emerging or not well-characterized workplaces, like electronics waste recycling facilities in the US and other parts of the world, as well as alternative solvents used in US dry cleaning, and new chemicals used in US nail salons. In particular, I helped document the first cases of take-home lead poisoning because of parental occupation in the electronics waste recycling industry, and I currently lead efforts to evaluate interventions to reduce exposures in the home of lead-exposed workers.