Seminar - Medical Effects of Ionizing Radiation Seminar / Grand Rounds
Date: May 14, 2004
Time: 4:00 PM
Location: Matheson Hall, Room: 208
Speaker(s):
Curtis E. Cummings, M.D., M.P.H.
Associate Professor of Public Health
Department of Environmental and Occupational Health
School of Public Health, Drexel University
Details:
Ionizing radiation is an integral part of our lives, with radioisotopes being a part of our daily environment. This environment includes strong radiation sources used by industry and institutions. These sources can play a role in accidents and terrorism, which together constitute the greatest nuclear threat. The principles of health physics describe the characteristics of radiation, radiation protection, and how radiation causes disease. Medical effects can result from high-level exposures and from internal contamination by radiation. These effects include acute radiation syndrome, and long-term effects such as malignancies and organ failure. Fear and misinformation regarding radiation are prevalent and lead to psychological illness even after low-dose radiation exposures. In a radiation emergency, systems approaches to radiation detection, emergency response and medical treatment are required to maintain the public health.
Biosketch:
Curtis E. Cummings, M.D., M.P.H., joined the Drexel University School of Public Health in October 2003. He served a 20-year career in the U.S. Public Health Service Corps and the U.S. Navy Medical Corps. He brings clinical experience and global perspective to his role of Associate Professor in Drexel’s Department for Environmental and Occupational Health. Following his B.S. from Pennsylvania State University and his M.D. from Jefferson Medical College, in 1977, Dr. Cummings served on active duty in the U.S. Public Health Service Corps during his residency in internal medicine. He then completed a residency in Occupational and Environmental Medicine at Mt. Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY, in 1982. From 1982-1985 he was Senior Public Health Physician, New Jersey State Department of Health.
Returning to active duty in the U.S. Navy in 1986, Dr. Cummings served as an occupational health physician, also earning his M.P.H. at Uniformed Service University of the Health Sciences in 1991. His assignments in clinical and medical management positions brought him to many locations, including Cairo, Egypt, and as head of Occupational and Preventive Medicine in Philadelphia. His final duty was at the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, after which he retired with the rank of Captain. He is board certified in internal medicine and occupational medicine and licensed to practice medicine in four states.
Directions:
Matheson Hall is located on 32nd Street, between Market and Chestnut Streets.
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