About ACOEM

ACOEM VICE PRESIDENT CANDIDATE

Vice President Candidate

Raul Alexander Mirza, DO, MPH, MS, FACOEM, CPS/A

 
Candidate Statement
It is with gratitude and optimism that I submit my nomination for Vice President of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. My career has spanned military and civilian leadership, from directing multimillion-dollar Defense Health Agency programs and providing patient care to testifying before Congress on toxic exposures. These experiences demonstrate my dedication to promoting worker and community health.

As a former Chair of the Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation, I have led national efforts to strengthen hearing conservation, modernize training products, and build strategic partnerships. Within ACOEM, I have served as Board Director, Council member, Executive Committee member, Treasurer, and Chair of the 2025 AOHC—roles that have given me deep insight into our governance, finances, and growth opportunities.

If elected, I will focus on strategic foresight, operational excellence, and member value. ACOEM must remain the leading voice for OEM specialists, sustain financial discipline and infrastructure, modernize products to meet 21st-century practice models, and ensure members feel empowered and supported.
I believe ACOEM stands at a defining moment. I bring the discipline of military service, the adaptability of public health practice, and the commitment of someone who has found both purpose and community in this College.

Back to Top

ACOEM TREASURER CANDIDATE

Treasurer Candidate

André L. McShan, MD, MSPH, FACOEM

Candidate Statement
As Board Certified Occupational Medicine physician, I have spent my entire career working to ensure and restore the health of workers in America. As a Leader in ACOEM, I have spent the past few years working to ensure and restore the health of our professional society and our specialty. Much of the work in this regard, has been to stabilize and improve ACOEM’s finances. This is an effort, that I am happy to report, has been largely successful. I have witnessed firsthand, the immense amount of work that it has taken to accomplish our financial gains. As treasurer, I will work to build upon this success and continue the hard work of effective financial stewardship.

Back to Top

ACOEM DIRECTOR CANDIDATES

Director Candidate

Michael William Berneking, MD, DABFM, FACOEM, FAASM, FAAFP

Candidate Statement
I respectfully request your consideration for the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine Board of Directors.

I have been a member of ACOEM for nearly 20 years.  I have served in multiple leadership roles most recently completing a one-year Board term as a director.  I have a broad range of experience as an Occupational Medicine clinician I have practiced as part of a community practice, as an on-site physician, an occupational health center physician, and currently in a hospital-based practice.  I am also a military practitioner as an Army flight surgeon approaching 20 years in uniform.  I have held leadership roles in many of those positions and have worked with multidisciplinary teams in all of them. 

I hope to use this broad experience to strengthen ACOEM.  Our specialty faces significant challenges, from reduced training support to an aging membership, competition with other specialties, decreased visibility, and a variety of economic pressures. Meeting these challenges will require careful thought, collaboration, unity, and ingenuity.  I believe OEM is vital to our workforce and economy, and I am committed to helping ACOEM meet these challenges.  

Respectfully,

Mike

Back to Top

Director Candidate

Rupali Das, MD, MPH, FACOEM

Candidate Statement
I am running for the ACOEM Board of Directors to best apply my experience, passion and commitment to advance optimal wellness, health, and safety of workers, workplaces, and the environment, goals that align with the college’s mission. In 2025, I was honored to be elected to a one-year term on the ACOEM Board. It has been a positive and productive experience but too short to make a lasting impact. A three-year term will allow me to make a tangible and lasting positive difference. 

I have dedicated over 30 years to the practice of OEM in diverse settings, including clinical practice, academic residency training program, government public health agency, corporate environment, and President of my component society, WOEMA. This breadth of experience gives me a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing our profession, from the front lines of patient care to strategic organizational policies. 

This past year, I have actively explored alternative funding opportunities to ensure the OEM physician pipeline, a cohesive international engagement strategic plan, and pushed for a strong voice in this time of public health crisis.

If elected I will use my experience and grit to secure a sustainable future for ACOEM and our members.

Back to Top

Director Candidate

Amanda Dare Durrig Hagen, MD, MPH, FACOEM

Candidate Statement
I am honored to stand as a candidate for the ACOEM Board of Directors. As a physician dedicated to advancing the field of occupational medicine, I bring diverse leadership and service experiences that I believe will help strengthen our College and its mission.

My professional journey began as a U.S. Navy Flight Surgeon, where I learned the importance of operational readiness, resilience, and the integration of health into mission success. Today, I serve as the National Director of Occupational Health for Marathon Health, overseeing programs that support employers and employees across the United States. In this role, I focus on evidence-based practices, workforce safety, regulatory compliance, and innovative models of care that improve both employee health outcomes and organizational performance.

As a current Fellow of ACOEM, I value the College as the leading voice for our specialty and a critical advocate for worker health. If elected, I will prioritize broadening member engagement, advancing our influence in national policy, and strengthening our commitment to research and education.

I look forward to serving and contributing my experience, leadership, and passion to advancing ACOEM’s mission and the field of occupational and environmental medicine.

Back to Top

Director Candidate

Ismail Nabeel, MD, MPH, MS, FACOEM

Candidate Statement
I am a professor in the Department of Environmental Medicine at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. As former chair of ACOEM’s Council on OEM Science, I have led rigorous position papers from “Long Covid” to the recently released “Harnessing OEM Expertise to transform Medical Care.” Five years ago I conceived and produced ACOEM’s podcast, "OccPod", which showcases leading OEM voices and has earned national and international recognition.

My work strives to make OEM mainstream, spotlighting emerging threats such as climate‑related workforce health loss highlighted in a recent Health Affairs Forefront article. Over three years on the ACOEM board I have championed modernization of the specialty. I will be serving as the vice‑chair of AOHC 2026 in Chicago and chair of the upcoming 2025 ACOEM Virtual Fall Summit, curating forward‑looking topics for the field from integrating disaster preparedness to the artificial intelligence into OEM practice. 
Through the ACOEM “Essentials” project we plan to leverage expert knowledge and AI to develop cutting‑edge courses for OEM providers. 

As we draft the next strategic plan, I am committed to bold, decisive actions that empower our talented membership, nurture the next generation of OEM specialists, and ensure the specialty meets tomorrow’s existential challenges.

Back to Top

Director Candidate

Ana E. Nobis, MD, MPH, FACOEM

Candidate Statement
There is a proverb that says, "If you want go to fast, go alone.  If you want to go far, go together."  I have always strived to be a bridge builder, a connecter--someone who helps create a group that shares a purpose and plan and carries that plan to fruition.  We are meant to work together.  

I have been an ACOEM member for over 10 years and have served in a multitude of roles including AOHC Planning Committee Member; Chair of the Academic Section; Director of Communications for the Medical Center Occupational Health Section; and Speaker of the House 2024-2025.   

I have served as the Medical Director of Occupational Health at Vanderbilt University Medical Center for over 2 years and have worked at VUMC for close to 7 years.  In addition to serving as medical director, I am also co-chair of an institution-wide initiative to create community at work.  

I am the mother to three wonderful girls, ages 11, 7, and 7.  As the mother of three children and a full-time working mom (ACOEMMOM!), it's a good thing I like to stay busy!  

I would be honored to serve on our ACOEM Board and help us travel far together!

Back to Top

Director Candidate

William Perkison, MD, MPH, FACOEM

Candidate Statement
I am pleased to have the opportunity to apply to ACOEM’s BOD. In this time of unprecedented challenges to our specialty, particularly to our training programs, I believe I have the necessary expertise to help ACOEM navigate these challenges. If elected, I would work to further strengthen partnerships with the AMA and other primary care organizations to promote ACOEM educational offerings as well as synergizing advocacy efforts to Congress. I would also advocate for greater outreach to corporate partners, particularly the insurance and manufacturing sectors to support our residency training. In order to accomplish these goals, I have over 25 years of leadership experience in ACOEM as a HOD member, component president, chair of the environmental section, council member on both the scientific affairs council and the council of government affairs, and as a current board member of SOCOEM. Professionally, I have longstanding experience in OEM and am currently an Associate Professor at the Univ. of Texas School of Public Health where I have been a successful OEM residency program director for the last 7 years. I appreciate your consideration for BOD and will work hard to represent you in this capacity.

Back to Top

Director Candidate

Yogesh Reddy, MD, MPH, MHA, FACOEM

Candidate Statement
With unwavering dedication to advancing occupational and environmental medicine, I am honored to seek election to the ACOEM Board of Directors. As past President of the TXCOEM and the founding President of SOCOEM, I had the privilege of uniting regional leaders and collaborating on impactful new bylaws, shaping the foundation of our organization. My leadership was pivotal in hosting successful CME activities and driving medical student engagement, raising awareness and fostering growth for our specialty. As a former faculty member at UT Health Science Center at Houston, I have mentored residents and partnered with academic leaders to promote education and innovation. Recognizing the vital role of digital connectivity, I spearheaded the development of a member app to empower collaboration and real-time engagement, positioning our organization at the forefront of technological advancement. I bring to the Board a blend of hard work, integrity, and a forward-thinking mindset—continuously championing excellence, inclusivity, and bold solutions. My commitment is to cultivate a sustainable, thriving ACOEM that meets the evolving needs of our members and sets the standard in our field. It would be a privilege to serve and help shape the future of occupational and environmental medicine through collaborative, visionary leadership.

Back to Top

Director Candidate

Warren Silverman, MD, FACOEM, FACPM

​
Candidate Statement
For those of you who do not know me, my name is Warren Silverman and I am looking for your support to gain a spot back on the ACOEM Board.  I would like to be there to represent you and to help ACOEM find its way through treacherous and rapidly changing times.  I have had a clinical  pure OccMed practice for over 35 years.  I have been corporate medical director for several multinational companies.  I have been a police surgeon, fire surgeon, aviation medical examiner, school medical director and forensic consultant for environmental and Occupational medicine medicolegal cases, both domestic and international.  I have held many leadership positions at ACOEM and worked in the safety community as an OSHA SGE, a NYS Safety specialist and investigator.  I have an active interest in AI, Space physiology and global collaboration.  I know your fears.  I know your pain.  I know our special capabilities and ways to use them within the framework of ACOEM.  Help me to have our voice heard as we guide this ship.  Let us work together to help ACOEM to lead the way domestically and globally.  Thank you for your consideration.

Back to Top

ACOEM YOUNG PHYSICIAN DIRECTOR CANDIDATES

Director Candidate

Matt Hamm, MD, MPH, MHA, MBAc, FACOEM

Candidate Statement
Fellow occ docs, what an exciting and pivotal time! American workers, employers, and communities need us more than ever. Yet reductions at NIOSH have further shrunk OEM’s residencies, and our pipeline is drying up—with fewer than one new graduate for every three retirements. The Board is focused on navigating this existential threat, and we need our next Young Director to deliver results.

As chair of the OEM Pipeline Task Force, I’ve led over 20 initiatives across ACOEM with lasting impact for the specialty. These include authoring the 2025 national strategy for OEM training, launching a new recruitment website, and conducting research that brought OEM into The Match, while securing support from legislators and industry. My 11 years in OEM span active-duty military, corporate consulting, and private practice. I’ve directed, governed, and taught—driving change from the clinic to the national stage. ACOEM has recognized my record with three national awards, and endorsements from sections, residency directors, and past presidents. 

With so much at stake, we need an innovative Young Director with proven outcomes and broad experience to shape the future of our field, including creative training and certification models. I would be honored to earn your vote. Matt Hamm
Back to Top

Director Candidate

Romera Navaranjan Santiago, MD, MPH, FAAFP, FACOEM

Candidate Statement
Greetings Everyone from Champaign-Urbana, Illinois!!! From my perspective, the Young Physician BOD member should be able to fully represent and advocate for the interests and beliefs of the early-career OEM physicians as well as function as a consensus builder when collaborating with senior OEM physicians who have immense knowledge of ACOEM’s precedence. I truly believe I can fulfill both aspects of this role to the fullest based on my past and current experiences combined with the open-minded and interdisciplinary mindset I bring every day. Some examples of experiences I speak of include my four-year service on the Resident & Recent Graduate Section’s (RRG) leadership. As RRG Chair, I ensured that the Young Physician Director regularly connected with our RRG leadership team to hear and share updates. In terms of experience collaborating with senior OEM physicians, in being the first trainee on NECOEM’s Board of Directors and the first resident member of ACOEM’s newest Council of External Relations and Communications, I have had the privilege to learn and collaborate with respected leaders in our field and navigate avenues to move OEM forward in various ways ranging from educational programming efforts to connecting with other stakeholders including other OEM professionals and industry partners.

Back to Top