The 2002 American Occupational Health Conference (AOHC), the nation's largest conference of occupational and environmental health professionals, is expected to draw more than 5,000 physicians, nurses, scientists, safety engineers, industrial engineers, and other allied health professionals, April 12-19, to the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago, Ill.

The 87th annual AOHC is jointly sponsored by the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) and the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, Inc. (AAOHN). The theme of the meeting is "Workforce of the 21st Century."

The program is designed to provide learner-centered education in the most current issues relevant to the practice of occupational and environmental medicine (OEM). Topics will cover current issues in genetic testing, the latest OEM research, responses to terrorism, migrant farm worker health and safety, disability, welder safety, medically unexplained workplace syndromes, and safety and productivity in the workplace.

Program highlights will include the ACOEM/AAOHN Joint Plenary Session and the ACOEM General Session and Sappington Lecture on Wednesday, and ACOEM's Annual Membership Meeting on Thursday. John Henshaw, MPH, Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has been invited to give Wednesday's Joint Plenary address. Secretary Henshaw will discuss "Worker's Safety and Health in the 21st Century." The Sappington Lecture will be presented by Thomas V. Inglesby, MD, Deputy Director for the Johns Hopkins Center for Civilian Biodefense Studies in Baltimore, Md.

Dr. Edward Hughes, professor of health industry management, and management and strategy at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, will present "A Perspective on the Future of American Health Care" at the Thursday session.

ACOEM is an international medical society of more than 6,000 members. The College provides leadership to promote optimal health and safety of workers, workplaces, and environments. ACOEM is head-quartered in Arlington Heights, Ill.