Congratulations to Naydelin Hernandez, a student at Slippery Rock University (SRU) and President of the SRU AIHA Student Section, who has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 Pittsburgh AIHA Local Section Scholarship.

Naydelin will graduate from Slippery Rock University in 2026 with multiple degrees: a BS in Kinesiology and Exercise Science, a BS in Safety Management, and a BA in Professional Spanish. She brings a strong record of academic achievement and leadership. As a native Spanish and English speaker, Naydelin has demonstrated her skills across clinical settings, active construction sites, and community-based programs, providing clear and reliable translation support in each environment. She recently worked as an Intern at DPR Construction, where she assisted in overseeing the safety of approximately 650 workers.

Naydelin will be recognized at this year’s AIHA Connect Conference in New Orleans, along with all AIHF scholarship recipients, during the AIHA / AIHF Recognition Reception on Sunday, May 31, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM.

See all current and past Pittsburgh AIHA Scholarship recipients here: https://www.aiha.org/get-involved/aih-foundation/aih-foundation-scholarships/pittsburgh-local-section-scholarship

REGISTER NOW for our next event on Thursday, May 21, 2026, when we will visit the Butler County Community College Public Safety Training Facility.   

• Location: Butler County Community College (BC3) Public Safety Training Facility, 107 College Drive, Butler, PA.
• Date: Thursday, May 21, 2026
• Time: 11:00 AM to 2:30 PM (Lunch included).

Register online by May 17, 2026 - details are on the meeting page HERE:  ​2026-05-21 Fire Academy Visit

​The Pittsburgh AIHA would like to welcome the following students from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Department of Safety Sciences and Environmental Engineering.

The IUP AIHA Student Chapter, advised by Dr. Bryan Seal in the Department of Safety Sciences and Environmental Engineering, is an active and growing group sponsored by the Pittsburgh AIHA. The chapter connects students with OEHS professionals through meetings, guest speakers, and local section engagement. Many participants come from the SAFETY 215 Communications course, where they strengthen their technical communication skills. With an evolving leadership team and a strong focus on professional development, the chapter provides a valuable pathway for students to bridge their academic studies with future roles in industrial hygiene. Students can get involved through the IUP Safety Sciences Department, contact Dr. Seal directly, or follow the chapter on Instagram at @iupaiha.

Following the recent Local Section Election, we would like to congratulate the following Pittsburgh AIHA members who will begin their term of office this summer!  

• President-Elect:  Josh Maskrey, CIH
• Director: Matt Zock, CIH
• Treasurer:  Frank Porkrywka, Ed.D, CIH

Thank you to our current Committee members. Darrick Bertig, CIH, CSP, CUSA, MS, will conclude his term as President and will be succeeded by current President‑Elect Zane Frund, PhD, MPH, CIH, MBA, who will serve as President through July 2027. Morgan Ryan ends her term as Director. Dane Mitcheson will remain Secretary, and MaryAnn Hoff, MS, MPM, CIH, will continue serving as Director, each through July 2027.  Thank you to Andrew Wright, CIH, CSP, who volunteered as a candidate for Director during this year's election.

A big thank you to all who participate and volunteer for the Pittsburgh AIHA!

The Pittsburgh AIHA would like to welcome new corporate sponsor Audemus EHS and members Adam Butler, CIH, CSP and Dylan Fediaczko, GSP to the Pittsburgh AIHA!  

Audemus EHS provides EHS consulting services for military contracts and general industry with a specialty focus on health and safety. We have offices in Pittsburgh, PA St. Louis, MO, Salt Lake City, UT and Huntsville, AL. We perform work for customers in 37 states and 9 countries globally. We set ourselves apart by providing more efficient, more accurate, simpler, easier to understand solutions at similar prices to what others charge.

The Pittsburgh Local Section would like to thank the National AIHA President, Bradley S. King, PhD, MPH, CIH, for visiting Pittsburgh and addressing our local section on the current and future direction of the AIHA.  Dr. King works as a Senior Industrial Hygienist at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in Denver, Colorado.  All the local section members in attendance had an opportunity to chat with Dr. King about the AIHA and the profession in general. 

During the presentation, Dr. King highlighted some of the great work being done by members of our local section on the national level.  Following the National AIHA update, Dr. King presented some interesting case studies from his work at NIOSH, which included a discussion of the impacts of heat stress on the upstream oil and gas industry as well as a health hazard evaluation of lead, noise, and heat exposures at an automotive battery recycling facility.  All three topics were appreciated by the audience and provided a great learning opportunity for the student membership as well as the professional members in attendance.

Local Section President-Elect Zane N. Frund, Ph.D., MPH, MBA, CIH did a fantastic job welcoming the attendees and introducing Dr. King.  Dr. Frund, Past-President Barry Momyer, CIH, and members Matt Zock, CIH, and Aaron Fonner sponsored students from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), Slippery Rock University (SRU), and Duquesne University to attend the event.  Student attendance at events like these is critical to the future success of the local section.  Therefore, sponsorship of these students was greatly appreciated by the current membership of the local section.  Further, we would like to thank everyone else who volunteered to sponsor a student to attend the event.  Hopefully, word will spread about the event at our local universities, and more students will be in attendance next year.

The Pittsburgh Local Section would also like to thank Matt Zock, CIH and Christy Kirsch for coordinating the event at the LeMont Restaurant on March 5, 2026 as their efforts resulted in everyone in attendance being treated to a wonderful presentation and a delicious lunch.  In addition, we would like to say a special thank you to Kelly Faulisi and U.S. Micro-Solutions, Inc. for being the event’s drink sponsor.

​Thirty-eight (38) members, including eight students from Slippery Rock, Indiana University of PA, and Duquesne University attended the luncheon.  

​Naval Nuclear Laboratory has internship opportunities for college students to spend the summer of 2027 getting great work experience, in great locations, supporting the world's greatest Navy.
​
Calling all students pursuing an Occupational Safety & Health and/or Industrial Hygiene degree!  NNL Summer Technical Internships offer you immersive professional experience in the field of Occupational Safety & Health and Industrial Hygiene. This candidate would gain the invaluable opportunity to work with a team of experienced and accomplished occupational safety & health and industrial hygiene professionals to assist with projects in support of the technological development of Bettis Safety Training's safety training curricula. At NNL you are a part of a team working on deliverables that have a direct impact on the Navy’s nuclear fleet. Naval Nuclear Laboratory has internship opportunities for college students to spend the summer of 2027 getting great work experience, in great locations, supporting the world's greatest Navy.

Details are found at the link: https://navalnuclearlab.energy.gov/job-search/job-detail/?job-id=7330