Jeff Bethel Oral History Interview

Envisioning a career in medicine as a child in southern California, Jeff Bethel’s academic path brought him to the field of epidemiology and human health risk. A fellowship and subsequent position with the Centers for Disease Control following his PhD, provided him with the opportunity to monitor disease transmission at the U.S.-Mexico land border. Upon returning to academia, Bethel’s research has consistently incorporated climate change as he assesses heat-related risks associated with agricultural works and disaster preparedness in Oregon and Washington communities.

Bethel describes his path from Carlsbad, California to Oregon State University. He discusses his academic pursuits as an undergraduate and graduate student at the University of California, Davis. He describes his positive experience with the CDC in more detail and transitioning back to academia at East Carolina University. Other highlights include implementing disaster preparedness surveys, protecting agricultural workers against heat-related illness, and a broader discussion of climate change.