OU Hudson College of Public Health Welcomes Dr. J. Scott Meschke as New Chair of the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health

The OU Hudson College of Public Health is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. John “Scott” Meschke as Chair of the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health. A nationally recognized expert in environmental and occupational health microbiology, Dr. Meschke brings more than 25 years of experience, deep research expertise, and a global perspective to his new role at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences campus.

Dr. Meschke joins OUHSC from the University of Washington in Seattle, where he served as Professor and Associate Chair in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences in the School of Public Health, with a joint appointment in the College of Engineering. Since 2002, he has led groundbreaking research in the detection and control of pathogens in air, water, food, and surfaces—critical work that informs public health policies and global disease surveillance efforts.

His research program has played an important role in advancing environmental surveillance methods, including wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) for tracking viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, poliovirus, and Salmonella Typhi. Dr. Meschke has collaborated extensively with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and research partners across Kenya, South Africa, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh, among others.

Dr. Meschke has served on numerous national and international advisory groups, including WHO guideline development panels and working groups focused on wastewater surveillance and ethical data use. His thought leadership has helped shape public health preparedness and response strategies for infectious disease threats worldwide.

A dedicated mentor and educator, Dr. Meschke is also a committed member of the professional public health community. He currently serves as Vice Chair of the Health-Related Microbiology Specialist Group of the International Water Association and has held leadership roles in several other key organizations, including the International Society for Food and Environmental Virology.

Dr. Meschke earned his PhD and completed his postdoctoral training in Environmental Sciences and Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He also holds a Master of Science in Environmental Science from Indiana University, a law degree (JD) and bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Kansas.

Outside the lab, Dr. Meschke enjoys music, cooking, and cheering on his favorite soccer teams. He and his wife, Lea Anne—a school psychologist—are proud parents to two sons, Flynn and Beck.

Dr. Meschke’s leadership will be instrumental in advancing the College’s mission to protect and improve worker and environmental health in Oklahoma and beyond.