For the past 10 years we have sponsored UPR industrial hygiene students and faculty visits to USF. In addition, for two years, the Sunshine ERC has sent an interdisciplinary group to visit the University of Puerto Rico, to meet with faculty and students from UPR and to tour occupational settings. The first year was also marked by a shared continuing education program on heat stress. In 2018, another group led by a faculty from USF COPH’s disaster response and humanitarian relief program was to learn about disaster response and in particular their response to Hurricane Maria. With combined workshops, field trips and problem definition sessions, the combined Sunshine ERC and UPR faculty and students accomplished both outreach and interdisciplinary goals. The effort led to a definition of problems surrounding protection of relief and response workers in both urban and rural settings. More importantly, the trust and team work between UPR and the Sunshine ERC has laid the foundation for future work.

Southeastern Occupational Network (SouthON): the Sunshine ERC, in conjunction with the other ERC’s and Agricultural centers in the southeast, helps organize and support the SouthON meeting by participating in the planning, support, and attendance. SouthON started as an opportunity to share data, experiences and information among state health departments with an interest in occupational injury and illness. It has grown with NIOSH conference grant support to include professionals from the region and beyond. Sunshine ERC sends a contingent of staff and trainees from all of our disciplines to attend and present. They have the opportunity to learn from the professionals as well as faculty and students from the other ERCs and other academic institutions.

The annual event provides excellent opportunities for students to present posters on their research and interact with researchers from academia (engineering, nursing, public health, and medicine) and practitioners working in occupational and environmental health and safety. Pilot Project awardees have the opportunity to showcase the results of their research during this symposium. The Sunshine ERC co-sponsors this event with the Deep South Center for Occupational Health & Safety, Central Appalachian Regional ERC, North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health ERC, Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety, and Southeast Center for Agricultural Health and Injury Prevention.

This conference is held in Orlando every August. The Sunshine ERC jointly organizes and sponsors sessions at this event with the three other regional ERCs in the region (UAB/Auburn, KY, and NC), USF OSHA Training Institute Education Center and USF Safety Florida Consultation Program.