Our Core Faculty and Staff
Our Adjunct and Affiliate Faculty

Abdel-Razak M. Kadry
Adjunct Professor of Environmental Health
SPH Building, 4200 Valley Drive, Rm 2234T
akadry@umd.edu
Dr. Kadry is an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland's School of Public Health in College Park, MD. Previously, Dr. Kadry worked as a senior science advisor at the US Environmental Protection Agency's Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure (CCTE) and the National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) (retired, 2021).
Dr. Kadry has over 35 years of experience in toxicology and risk assessment, including academic research, drug safety and efficacy, food safety and environmental risk assessment. He worked as a consultant for the World Health Organization for five years. In addition, he was a member of the USA Codex Alimentarius team. As the Director of the EPA's Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS), he led the EPA's risk assessment development activities. He was the Chief of the Technical Analysis and Evaluation Branch, Risk Assessment Division, Office of Public Health Sciences, Food Safety and Inspection Service at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) before joining the EPA in 2006.
Dr. Kadry has authored numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters. He has taught toxicological research and risk assessment principles and applications to a large number of graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and other professionals in the United States and other countries. Dr. Kadry worked with Dr. M. Haider (UMD) and two Egyptian professors to create an international global graduate course on the use of risk assessment to ensure food safety and security (MIEH 607). This is a web-based course that is very popular at both the University of Maryland and Cairo University.
Dr. Kadry is very involved in the community service in the tri-state area (DC, MD and VA). He works for the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services (FMCS) as a certified lead mediator. He was able to successfully mediate many cases, including workplace disputes, scientific disagreements and EEO complaints. He assisted the disputing parties in reaching mutually acceptable resolutions. He is also a green belt certified Lean and Six Sigma professional. He taught a large number of federal employees and others how to use the lean management system to improve the efficiency and quality of various work processes. Mediation and a lean management system, he believes, are good complementary tools to aid in the risk assessment procedure.
Dr. Kadry earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Cairo University in Egypt, as well as his MS and PhD in toxicology from Zagazig University in Egypt. Dr. Kadry is a member of the Society of Toxicology (SOT), Society of Risk Analysis (SRA), International Association for Food Protection (IAFP), and other professional organizations and is certified by both the American Board of Toxicology and the National Board of Veterinary Medicine. He is a past president of SOT's Toxicologists of African Origin (TAO) and a member of the African Chapter of SRA's Board of Directors. He is also a former president of the Association of Government Toxicologists.
Areas of Interest: Environmental Risk Assessment; Food Safety; Bioavailability of Drugs and Pollutants; Drug Safety and Efficacy
Expertise: Big data, modeling and research methods; Environment, water, food and climate change; Global health, human rights and social justice
Education: DVM, Cairo University and PhD in Toxicology, Zagazig University-Egypt, Certified as Diplomat of the American Board of Toxicology, NC
Courses:
- MIEH 607: Risk-Based Approach to Ensure Global Food Safety and Security
- MIEH 740: Environmental Health Risk Assessment
Awards:
- EPA Outstanding Career Achievement Award, 2020 EPA
- Certificate of Appreciation for Commendable Service in
- Sustainable and Healthy Community Research program, 2016
- EPA Bronze Medal Award for Commendable Service for forging an international partnership for advancing EPA mission in protecting human health and environment, 2015.
- EPA Bronze Medal Award for Commendable Service for outstanding accomplishment in the assessment of public health risk from exposure to Bacillus anthracis to inform clean-up decisions, 2014.
- EPA’s Bronze Medal for Commendable Service for designing and launching an innovative strategic research action plan for sustainable and healthy communities research program that exemplifies trans-disciplinary approaches to enhancing sustainability, 2013.
- EPA’s Bronze Medal for Commendable Service for the development of the first comprehensive microbial risk assessment guideline, 2012
- Food Safety and Inspection Services (FSIS) Administrator’s Award for Excellence, 2005
- Certificate of Merit, for the assistance in the application of the CARVER methodology in the vulnerability assessments of FSIS-regulated products and for the active role in the training of scientists from other agencies and the industry on the methodology, September 2004.
- Spot Award for Outstanding efforts in evaluating the animal and human health impact of mineral supplements contaminated with dioxin. April 2003.
- Letter of Appreciation from FSIS Administrator for the leading OPHS Team in Antimicrobial Evaluation, 2003.
- Certificate of Appreciation: University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, in recognition and appreciation for dedication and loyal service, 1996.
- Fulbright Travel Award, 1995.
Publications:
- Gehlhaus MW 3rd, Gift JS, Hogan KA, Kopylev L, Schlosser PM, Kadry AR (2011). Approaches to cancer assessment in EPA's Integrated Risk Information System. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 15;254(2):170-80.
- Golden NJ, Crouch EA, Latimer H, Kadry AR, Kause J. (2009) Risk assessment for Clostridium perfringens in ready-to-eat and partially cooked meat and poultry products. J Food Prot. Jul; 72(7): 1376-84
- Lasky T., Sun W., Kadry A., Hoffman M.K. (2004) Mean Total Arsenic Concentrations in Chicken 1989-2000 and estimated exposures for consumers of chicken. Environ Health Perspect. 112(1):18-21 (2004)
- Kadry, A.M., Skowronski, G.A., Khodair, A.I., and Abdel-Rahman, M.S. (l995) Determining "Safe" Levels of Exposure: The Validity of the Use of 10X Safety Factors. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment Journal. 1 #5, 565-575.
- Kadry, A.M., Okereke, C.S., Abdel-Rahman, M.S., Friedman, M. and Davis, R. (l995) Pharmacokinetics of Benzophenone-3 After Oral Exposure in Male Rats, Journal of Applied Toxicology, Vol. 15(2), 97-102.
- Kadry, A.M., Skowronski, G.A., Turkall, R.M. and Abdel-Rahman, M.S. (l995) Comparison Between Oral and Dermal Bioavailability of Soil-Adsorbed Phenanthrene in Female Rats. Toxicology Letters, 78 153-163.
- Abdel-Nabi, I. M., Kadry, A.M., Davis, R. and Abdel-Rahman, M.S. (l992) Development and Validation of a High-Performance Liquid Chromatographic Method for the Determination of Benzophenone-3 in Rats. J. Applied Toxicology, 12, 255-259.
- Kadry, A.M., Farghali, H., and Abdel-Rahman, M.S. (l989) Toxicity and Metabolism of Trichloroethylene in Rat Hepatocytes. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. Vol.18, (6): 888 - 894
- Hughes, M.F., Kadry, A.M., Gairola, C. G., and Flesher, J. W. (l986) Mutagenic Activity of Biliary Metabolites of 6-hydroxymethyl benzo(a)pyrene. Mutation Research, l73 (4): 251-256
- Ewing A., Kadry A. M. and Dorough, H. W. (l985) Comparative Disposition and Elimination of Chlordane in Rats and Mice. Toxicology Letters, 26: 233-239.
Distinguished University Professor, UMIACS
University of Maryland, College Park
Assistant Professor
Missouri State Western University
Assistant Professor, Urban Studies & Planning Program
University of Maryland, College Park
Associate Professor, Plant Science & Landscape Architecture
University of Maryland, College Park
Assistant Professor
Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health
Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology
University of Maryland, College Park
Our Students
- Dr. Amy Sapkota
- Ibiyinka is a third-year PhD Student at the Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health at the University of Maryland. She holds a bachelor’s degree in food science and Technology from her home country, Nigeria. She also has a Master of Science degree in Public Health from Western Illinois University. Her research interests include the evaluation of the microbial quality of food and vegetables, water quality in food production, and infectious diseases.
- Advisor: Dr. Devon Payne-Sturges
- Jan-Michael Archer (he/him) is an Agents of Change in Environmental Justice Fellow, UMD Global STEWARDS National Science Foundation Research Trainee, and PhD candidate at the University of Maryland School of Public Health. His dissertation investigates how community-gathered air pollution data can be better utilized by environmental regulators for harm reduction and cumulative risk assessment. Having worked on environmental equity issues for nearly a decade, Jan is driven by a strong desire to hold institutions accountable to distributive justice, especially in oppressed communities. In addition to advocating for environmental justice in far off places--like his home state of Georgia--Jan works to secure safe, fair, and healthy working conditions here on campus by serving as an organizer in the newly formed UMD-UAW Graduate Labor Union (@UMD_GLU).
Kathryn Dixon
- Kathryn is a first-year PhD Student and Teaching Assistant with research interests in water quality, risk communication, and community engagement. She graduated with a Master of Science (ScM) degree in Environmental Health from the JHU Bloomberg School of Public Health and completed certificate programs in Risk Sciences and Public Policy, Environmental and Occupational Health, and Climate and Health. She completed a BA in Environmental Biology and a minor in Chemistry from McDaniel College. In her free time she likes to play soccer, volleyball, and travel.
Blean Girma
- Blean Girma is a first-year PhD student in Environmental Health Sciences. She holds an MPH degree from Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and BS in Biological Sciences from Mount Saint Mary’s University in Los Angeles. Ms. Girma has contributed to the pediatric environmental/climate health community for the past 5 years working as a research assistant at the Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health at Mount Sinai and Region 2 Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit. Her research interests include extreme heat, urban heat islands, air quality, climate resilience, environmental justice, reproductive justice, health equity, and community-based participatory research.
- Advisor: Dr. Amy Sapkota
Rebecca Patterson
- Rebecca is a 2023 Tillman Scholar.
Anna Pulley
- Anna is a first-year PhD Student in Environmental Health Sciences. She holds a MS in Biohazardous Threat Agents and Emerging Infectious Diseases from Georgetown University as well as a BS in Biomedical Sciences and BA in Psychology from the University of South Florida. She is a Graduate Assistant working in the Public Health and Aerobiology Lab with research interests in aerosol infectious disease transmission.
- Advisor: Dr. Amir Sapkota
- Nicole is a fifth-year PhD candidate in Environmental Health Sciences. She received her undergraduate in Speech and Hearing Science from Arizona State University and her Doctor of Audiology from the University of Texas at Austin. She is interested in climate change, air pollution, and chemical exposures. Her dissertation is on the impact of extreme heat on the risk of hospitalization and mortality in patients with end-stage kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis treatment. She is a fellow of the UMD Global STEWARDS NSF National Research Traineeship program and holds the Wylie Dissertation Fellowship for 2023. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with her 2 kids, being in nature, and reading.
Cameron Smith
- Cameron Smith is a first-year PhD student in Environmental Health Sciences. She received her BS in Environmental Science and Technology: Ecosystem Health, certificate in Sustainable Agriculture, and MS in Environmental Health Sciences from the University of Maryland. Her research interests include agriculture, water quality and contaminants found in drinking water, and access to clean drinking water. She is a Graduate Assistant working in the Water Quality, Outreach and Wellness Lab. In her free time she enjoys dancing, running, and reading.
- Advisor: Dr. Amir Sapkota
Wesley Wiggins
- Wesley is a PhD student and Graduate Assistant interested in climate change and environmental justice. His research interests are climate adaptation, climate justice, and community resilience. He graduated from Princeton University with a B.A. in Geosciences and a minor in Environmental Studies. Wesley spent the last two years as an ORISE Fellow at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency working on strengthening climate resilience at drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities.
Nana Ama Ohene Kumi
- Nana Ama is a first year MPH student. She focused on Plant and Environmental Biology for her undergraduate studies. She held a research assistantship position at CSIR-Water Research Institute for a year. She also enjoys baking and reading mystery novels.
Caroline Morton
- Caroline is a first year graduate student pursuing a dual master's degree in Environmental Health Sciences and Community Planning. She attended Towson University for her undergrad and received a bachelor degree in Geography and Environmental Planning with a minor in Health Sciences. Outside of school she enjoys playing sports and traveling.
Aziz Hurtado Olson
- Aziz is a first year MPH Environmental Health Sciences student. His research interests are in water quality and preventing waterborne parasitic infections. He received his B.S. in Cellular and Molecular Biology from Towson University and is particularly concerned about the social determinants of health among low-income communities preventing them access to safe drinking water.
Fatou Touray
- Fatou is a first year MPH student with a passion for environmental wellbeing. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Salisbury University in Public Health. During her free time, she enjoys cooking, organizing, and spending quality time with family.
Jasmine Wilkins
- Jasmine is a first year MPH student and graduate assistant with an interest in water, soil, and air quality. She graduated from Mississippi State University with a B.S. in Biological Sciences. During her free time she enjoys hiking with her dog and reading.