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Trish Koman
Adjunct Instructor; Health Scientist
Environmental Policy and Planning
Climate + Energy
Conservation + Restoration
Cities + Mobility + Built Environment
Cross-cutting
CV
Office
4040 Dana Hall
Websites
About
Trish Koman, PhD, MPP, shares her expertise in air pollution, public health, and environmental justice through her teaching and public health work to build healthier communities. She is an adjunct practice instructor at Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning. Dr. Koman has extensive experience in government service and research.
Most recently, Dr. Koman has served as the senior national environmental justice coordinator and scientist for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Air and Radiation, where she had responsibilities across the national climate and air pollution portfolios.
She has received numerous awards including an EPA Administrator Award for Excellence, and she was recognized by the American Public Health Association with the Distinguished Service award for the environment ( https://sph.umich.edu/news/2020posts/trish-koman-apha-distinguished-service-award-environment-section.html). Her teaching has been recognized with a U-Michigan Provost teaching innovation award.
Publications
Koman, P.D., N.H.F. French, 2023. Assessing Smoke Exposure in Space and Time, Landscape Fire, Smoke, and Health, 10.1002/9781119757030.ch10, (193-216), in Landscape Fire, Smoke, and Health: Linking Biomass Burning Emissions to Human Well‐Being, American Geophysical Union Online ISBN:9781119757030 |DOI:10.1002/9781119757030 (2024)
Woodruff, T.J., Rayasam, S.D.G., Axelrad, D.A., Koman, P.D., et al. 2023. A science-based agenda for health-protective chemical assessments and decisions: overview and consensus statement. Environ Health 21 (Suppl 1), 132. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-022-00930-3
Varshavsky, J.R., Rayasam, S.D.G., Sass, J.B. et al. 2023. Current practice and recommendations for advancing how human variability and susceptibility are considered in chemical risk assessment. Environ Health 21 (Suppl 1), 133. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-022-00940-1
Koman, P.D., Billmire, M., Baker, K.R., Carter, J.M., Thelen, B.J., French, N.H.F., Bell, S.A. 2022. Using wildland fire smoke modeling data in gerontological health research (California, 2007–2018) Science of the Total Environment 3, 838. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156403.
Carter, J.M., Koman, P.D., Cameron, L. et al. 2021. Assessing perceptions and priorities for health impacts of climate change within local Michigan health departments. J Environ Stud Sci 11, 595–609. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13412-021-00679-0
Koman, P.D., Billmire, M., Baker, K.R., de Majo, R., Anderson, F.J., Hoshiko, S., Thelen, B.J., French, N.H.F., 2019. Mapping Modeled Exposure of Wildland Fire Smoke for Human Health Studies in California, Atmosphere, 10, 6, (308). 10.3390/atmos10060308
Koman, P.D., Singla, V., Lam, J., Woodruff, T.J. 2019. Population susceptibility: A vital consideration in chemical risk evaluation under the Lautenberg Toxic Substances Control Act, PLOS Biology, 17, 8, (e3000372). 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000372
Koman, P.D., Hogan, K.A., Sampson, N., Mandell, R., Coombe, C.M., Tetteh, M.M., Hill-Ashford, Y.R., Wilkins, D., Zlatnik, M.G., Loch-Caruso, R., Schulz, A.J., Woodruff, T.J., 2018. Examining Joint Effects of Air Pollution Exposure and Social Determinants of Health in Defining “At-Risk” Populations Under the Clean Air Act: Susceptibility of Pregnant Women to Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy. World Med. Heal. Policy 10, 7–54. https://doi.org/10.1002/wmh3.257
Research
As an environmental epidemiologist and policy analyst, Dr. Koman leads community-engaged scholarship including studies of climate change vulnerability as well as health studies related to air pollution and wildland fire smoke exposures. Working with community partners in Flint, MI, during the water crisis, Dr. Koman developed an environmental education program.
While in federal service, Dr. Koman managed multi-disciplinary benefit-cost analyses, regulatory programs, and technological innovation initiatives. She established an international program to reduce diesel emissions from seaports which under her leadership grew to over $100 million grant program, helped initiate the Clean School Bus USA program to protect children’s health, and led the team that established the first fine particulate matter standard.
Accolades
Professional Honors and Awards
• American Public Health Association, Environment Section Advocacy Award and Distinguished Service Award (https://sph.umich.edu/news/2020posts/trish-koman-apha-distinguished-service-award-environment-section.html)
• University of Michigan, Provost’s Teaching Innovation Prize
• U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration and Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health “Promising Practice” recognition for teaching innovation
• EPA Administrator’s Award for Excellence
• EPA Gold Medal for Exceptional Service to the country: Clean Diesel Initiative Team
• EPA Gold Medal for Exceptional Service to the country: Clean Air Nonroad Diesel Rule
• EPA Gold Medal for Exceptional Service to the country: Heavy Duty Diesel Engine and Fuel Rule
• EPA Gold Medal for Exceptional Service to the country: Particulate Matter National Ambient Air Quality Standards
• EPA Silver Medal: Economic Benefits Methods Development
Education
Ph.D. University of Michigan, School of Public Health, Environmental Health Sciences
M.P.P. Graduate School of Public Policy, University of California, Berkeley
B.A. with Distinction, Chemistry and Philosophy, University of Virginia, Phi Beta Kappa, Louis Hammond Prize, Raven Society member, Echols Scholar
Affiliations
Environment Section Councilor, American Public Health Association
https://www.apha.org/apha-communities/member-sections/environment