Cambridge Health Alliance Physician Stefanos Kales Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM), an international medical society, has honored Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) physician Stefanos N. Kales, MD, MPH, with ACOEM’s 2013 Kehoe Award for Excellence in Education and Research in Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Dr. Kales was recognized for his leadership in and contributions to the field of OEM by ACOEM’s President, Karl Auerbach, MD, on behalf of the Board of Directors.

Dr. Kales is Division Chief of Occupational and Environmental Medicine and Medical Director of Employee and Industrial Medicine at CHA. He has participated in a wide range of research, advisory, and teaching activities on five continents, resulting in over 95 publications. He is an associate professor at Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) and Director of the Occupational Medicine Residency at HSPH.

Dr. Kales was honored by ACOEM for his significant contributions to OEM, including his dedication as a teacher and researcher to improving worker health as a pre-eminent authority in cardiopulmonary fitness and firefighting. His research statistically confirmed an excess of cardiovascular events among firefighters during strenuous duties; has provided quantification of risk factors; and has clarified the interaction between occupational stressors and medical risks. Dr. Kales was also cited for his major contributions in OEM toxicology and occupational sleep medicine and his prolific record of peer-reviewed publishing. Additionally, as Director of Harvard’s OEM residency, he has developed new approaches to train residents in health and productivity and disability prevention. Moreover, Dr. Kales was recognized as motivating Harvard’s OEM residents to pursue a wide range of research projects, resulting in Harvard’s OEM residency having more trainees recognized with resident research awards at AOHC than any other institution. The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine represents nearly 4,500 physicians specializing in occupational and environmental medicine. Founded in 1916, ACOEM is the nation’s largest medical society dedicated to promoting the health of workers through preventive medicine, clinical care, disability management, research, and education. For more information, visit www.acoem.org. Cambridge Health Alliance is an integrated, award-winning health system that provides high quality care in Cambridge, Somerville, and Boston’s metro-north communities. It includes three hospital campuses, a network of primary care and specialty practices, and the Cambridge Public Health Dept. CHA is a Harvard Medical School teaching affiliate and is also affiliated with Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and Tufts University School of Medicine. For more information, visit www.challiance.org.