PEHSU Region 10

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PEHSU Region 10

Service area: Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington 

The Northwest Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit (NW PEHSU) was founded in 1997 and is based out of Seattle at the University of Washington’s Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences. As the region 10 PEHSU, it serves Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington. In addition to collaborating with the National PEHSU network, we also work closely with other local, state and regional partners to improve reproductive and pediatric environmental health outcomes. 

Academic Affiliation: University of Washington: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Occupational and Environmental Medicine Program, Department of Pediatrics 

Hospital Affiliation: University of Washington Medical Center; Harborview Medical Center; Seattle Children’s 

Services
Faculty & Staff
What’s New
Resources
pehsu region 10 map
Video

Smokey Air Threatens Children’s Health

In this short video, Dr. Catherine Karr talks about how wildfire smoke can affect a child’s health and describes simple steps for families to take on smokey days. 

Watch on YouTube
Region 10

Specialties & comprehensive services

The Northwest PEHSU aims to improve reproductive and pediatric environmental health outcomes through training and education, consultation services, and evidence-based medical information. Our multidisciplinary staff have backgrounds in pediatrics, nursing, exposure science, environmental public health and community engagement. We work on an array of environmental issues that can pose health risks to children and pregnant individuals, such as exposure to lead and heavy metals, PFAS, mold, pesticides, air pollution, and wildfire smoke.

Visit our website for more

Faculty & staff

Catherine Karr, MD, PhD, MS

Catherine Karr, MD, PhD, MS

Region 10 Director

MaryKate Cardon, DNP, CPNP-PC

MaryKate Cardon, DNP, CPNP-PC

Region 10 Co-Director

Childhood Cancer & the Environment Champion

Sheela Sathyanarayana, MD, MPH

Sheela Sathyanarayana, MD, MPH

Reproductive Environmental Health Specialist

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Maria Tchong-French, MPH

Program Coordinator and Exposure Scientist

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Esther Min, PhD, MPH

Community Outreach Specialist

Margaret Willis, BSN, MPH

Margaret Willis, BSN, MPH

Pediatric Reproductive Environmental Health Clinical Specialist

Kristy Ivicek Lanciotti, MN, RN, CPN

Kristy Ivicek Lanciotti, MN, RN, CPN

Pediatric Reproductive Environmental Health Clininical Specialist

Paulina Osinska

Paulina Osinska, MPH

Fiscal Manager

Catherine Karr, MD, PhD, MS

Catherine Karr, MD, PhD, MS

Region 10 Director

As Director of the NW PEHSU, Dr. Karr sets the direction of the Unit and responds to queries from health care providers, government officials, and families regarding health risks associated with environmental exposures. Dr. Karr is a board-certified pediatrician with a doctoral degree in epidemiology and a master’s degree in environmental health/toxicology. She is Professor at the University of Washington Department of Pediatrics. She practices primary care pediatrics at the UW Pediatric Care Center-Roosevelt Clinic. She also provides specialty consultation for pediatric environmental medicine care at this clinic. Her academic appointments are in Pediatrics (primary) and the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences. Her research focuses on environmental exposures such as air pollution and respiratory health of children including asthma. Much of her work is conducted in a community engaged framework and with under-resourced populations. Dr. Karr is a national leader in pediatric environmental health research and research translation and routinely presents on children’s environmental health topics at national and international conferences and at Grand Rounds and other clinician forums. She is the recipient of the 2017 U.S. Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers.  She has authored papers and book chapters on pediatric respiratory health, including asthma, air pollution, the health of farmworker children, and global children’s environmental health. Click here to view a more detailed profile with a selection of her publications.

MaryKate Cardon, DNP, CPNP-PC

MaryKate Cardon, DNP, CPNP-PC

Region 10 Co-Director

MaryKate is Co-Director of the NW PEHSU. She completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree, with a focus in Pediatric Primary Care, at the University of Washington, and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at Boston College. As a nurse she has worked in a various pediatric healthcare settings, ranging from primary to intensive care, and has been a member of the NW PEHSU health consultant team since 2020. Her work with NW PEHSU includes researching and responding to pediatric environmental health inquiries and finding ways to translate evidence into understandable, actionable material for parents, community members, and healthcare professionals. She also directs various NW PEHSU outreach and education projects. She is passionate about pediatric environmental health, and aims to integrate PEH topics into the curricula of healthcare professional programs in order to increase awareness and improve child health outcomes.

Sheela Sathyanarayana, MD, MPH

Sheela Sathyanarayana, MD, MPH

Reproductive Environmental Health Specialist

Dr. Sheela Sathyanarayana is a Professor of Pediatrics and Adjunct Associate Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences at the University of Washington and is NW PEHSU’s reproductive environmental health specialist. As a physician-scientist, she practices general pediatrics and conducts research focused on endocrine disrupting chemicals, including phthalates and bisphenol A in pregnancy and early childhood. She serves as the center director for The Infant Development and Environment Study which is a multi-center cohort study of phthalate exposures in pregnancy and health outcomes in children. She leads two other NIH studies on genetic polymorphisms and sex steroid hormone concentrations in relation to environmental exposures and child health outcomes. In this capacity, she has developed extensive expertise in prenatal/child cohort recruitment, retention, and engagement. In 2013, she was named Outstanding New Investigator within the University of Washington Center for Ecogenetics and Environmental Health. She recently finished serving a 6-year term as chair of the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Children’s Health Protection Advisory Committee and now serves on the National Academies of Sciences Committee on Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals and Low Dose Toxicity. She is the co-PI of the ECHO PATHWAYS study at the University of Washington and Seattle Children’s Research Institute. This study brings together three cohorts at different stages of recruitment/follow-up/analysis. In this manner, it serves as a microcosm for the national ECHO effort to harmonize and prospectively collect data. Dr. Sathyanarayana hopes to be able to represent all the cohorts in order to be able to both capitalize and not overburden studies in order to meet national goals. Click here to view a more detailed profile with a selection of her publications.

Margaret Willis, BSN, MPH

Margaret Willis, BSN, MPH

Pediatric Reproductive Environmental Health Clinical Specialist

Margaret Willis is a registered nurse with over 20 years of experience. She earned a Master of Public Health in environmental and occupational health at the University of Washington in 2015. She holds bachelor’s degrees in nursing and psychology. She completed a 2-year fellowship with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Children’s Health Protection. Throughout her career, she has worked to promote positive health outcomes. She has contributed to federal and state children’s environmental health programs. She has coordinated public health interventions to reduce children’s exposures in daycares. She has served as an environmental health resource for families, clinicians, and public health professionals. As part of the NW PEHSU, Margaret responds to environmental health inquiries, coordinates special projects, and collaborates on education and outreach activities.

Kristy Ivicek Lanciotti, MN, RN, CPN

Kristy Ivicek Lanciotti, MN, RN, CPN

Pediatric Reproductive Environmental Health Clininical Specialist

Kristy Lanciotti is a registered nurse with particular interests in pediatrics and environmental health. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in 2000 from the University of San Francisco, and her Master of Nursing (MN) in 2008 from the University of Washington in Advanced Practice Community Health Systems Nursing (APCHSN). She also holds a master’s certificate in Environmental Health Nursing from the University of Washington. Kristy enjoys helping to translate environmental health science into accessible, understandable information that can be used by parents and community members to help inform their decision-making and keep children and families healthy. During her career, she has spent many years providing direct patient care to pediatric patients in acute care settings, and has been a research nurse and study coordinator for pediatric environmental health studies. She currently lives in Portland, Oregon, where she is an Assistant Professor in the undergraduate nursing program at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). Her work with NW PEHSU includes responding to pediatric environmental health inquiries from healthcare providers, families, and the general public, responding to outreach requests to provide education and training on pediatric environmental health issues, and participating in projects and committees that promote pediatric environmental health.

Paulina Osinska

Paulina Osinska, MPH

Fiscal Manager

Paulina is the fiscal manager of the NW PEHSU. She completed her MPH from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Throughout her career she’s worked in research and program management in areas such as occupational health and safety, patient safety, perinatal health, and violence prevention.

What’s new

Wildfires
05/01/2025

Pediatrician Shares Keys to Reducing Wildfire Smoke Exposure

Environmental Factor

Region 10
Air Quality| Weather-Related Events & Disasters| Wildfires
04/03/2025

Children Exposed to Higher Ozone Levels Early in Life Are More Likely to Develop Asthma

UW News

Region 10
Air Quality
PEHSU Region 10 Example Impact in Washington State

Helping children live healthier lives by increasing lead testing rates in Washington state

Regional resources

Sweet Alternatives and Health: Guidance for Health Professionals

Low calorie sweeteners (LCS) can be used in certain patient populations. LCS contribute no calories or negligible calories in small quantities. LCS…

Region 10
Food Safety
El Humo y La Salud de Su Familia

El Humo y La Salud de Su Familia

El humo de los incendios forestales, estufas de leña o pellet, quemas agrícolas e incendios planeados pueden dañar la salud y el bienestar de sus h…

Region 10
Air Quality
Girl playing with bubbles outside

Is the Air Safe to Play?

This NW PEHSU infographic offers practical activity guidance during times of poor air quality. 

Region 10
Air Quality| Weather-Related Events & Disasters
Tractor spraying pesticide on crops

Recognizing Acute Pesticide Poisoning in Children

This NW PEHSU factsheet is for healthcare providers interested in learning about early recognition of acute pesticide poisoning, clinical managemen…

Region 10
Pesticides & Pests| Testing for Environmental Exposures
Smoke from a fire over a field

Smokey Air Threatens Children’s Health

In this short video, Dr. Catherine Karr talks about how wildfire smoke can affect a child’s health and describes simple steps for families to take …

Region 10
Air Quality| Weather-Related Events & Disasters
Spices in Egypt

Traditional Sources of Lead Exposures in Immigrant Populations

View this factsheet for clinicians on Traditional Sources of Lead Exposures in Immigrant Populations here. 

National PEHSURegion 10
Lead
Pregnant woman touching belly

Clinical management of lead during pregnancy and lactation

View a factsheet with more detailed guidance on the clinical management of lead during pregnancy and lactation here (from Region 10). 

Region 10
Lead