Pulmonary Function Test, Induced Sputum, Exhaled Breath Condensate, Exhaled Nitric Oxide, Nasal Nitric Oxide, Nasal Lavage, Occupational Asthma, Occupational Rhinitis, Public Health, Environmental Health, Epidemiologic Methodology, Occupational Health, Indoor Air Quality

WINDREF Research Fellow, Environmental Occupational Health Assembly, American Thoracic Society, Turkish Medical Association.

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Dr. Akpinar-Elci received her M.D. in 1991 from Dokuz Eylul University, School of Medicine in Izmir, Turkey. She completed a Pulmonology internship in 1992 at the Budapest Postgraduate Medical School, Institute of Pulmonology in Budapest, Hungary. In 1994 she completed a Certificate of occupational health practice from the Turkish Medical Association in Izmir, Turkey. Her residence in Pulmonology and Tuberculosis was completed in 1997 at the Chest Diseases and Surgery Training Research Hospital, in Izmir, Turkey. In 2004 Dr. Akpinar-Elci received a Master of Public Health from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in New Orleans, LA.

Dr. Akpinar-Elci has clinical and field research experience in occupational health and continues to conduct research in her current position at St. George’s University. Her areas of expertise include Occupational Health, Public Health, Epidemiology, Occupational Respiratory Diseases, and Respiratory Research Methods.

She has been the recipient of several awards including: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Bullard-Sherwood Research to Practice award, 2008; East Carolina University Division of Health Sciences, Author Recognition Award 2006; On-the-Spot-Award of Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service for commitment, initiative, and hard work under difficult circumstances in 2002 and 2006.

Dr. Akpinar-Elci is currently an Associate Professor at St George’s University School of Medicine, in the Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine and Environmental and Occupational Health Track. She is currently teaching MPH curriculum courses including: Principles of Environmental Health, Health Effects of Air Pollution, Occupational Health and Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology.

Elci O.C., Akpinar-Elci, M. Occupational exposures and laryngeal cancer among nonsmoking and nondrinking men. International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health. Oct 2009; 15 (4); 370-373

Akpinar-Elci M., Siegel P.D., Cox-Ganser J.M., Stemple K.J., White S.K., Hilsbos K., Weissman D.N. The respiratory inflammatory response of occupants in a water-damaged office building. Indoor Air, 2008, Apr;18(2):125-30.

Akpinar-Elci M., Yucesoy B., Elci O.C., Weissman D.N. The practical application of cytokine in occupational respiratory diseases. Recent Patents in Inflammation & Allergy Drug Discovery, 2007, 1:100-107 [Invited Review]

Akpinar-Elci M., Fedan K., Enright P. FEV6 as a surrogate for FVC in detecting airways obstruction and restriction in workplace. European Respiratory Journal 2006, 27:374-377

Akpinar-Elci M., Stemple K.J., Enright P., Fahy J.V., Bledsoe T.A., Kreiss K., Weissman D.N. Induced sputum evaluation in microwave popcorn production workers. Chest, 2005, 128:991-997

Akpinar-Elci M., Elci O.C., Odabasi A. Work-related asthma-like symptoms among florists. Chest, 2004, 125:2336-39

Akpinar-Elci, M., PI. Occupational Health Problems among Nutmeg Factories Workers, Small Research Grant Initiative, SGU, SRGI-09006

Akpinar-Elci, M., PI. “Implementing Renewable Energy and Preventing Land Degradation: An Intervention in the Nutmeg Industry in Grenada” the Global Environment Facility/Small Grants Programme (“GEF/SGP”) on behalf of the three GEF Implementing Agencies –United Nations Development Program (UNDP), United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the World Bank.

Pitzalis M., Akpinar-Elci, M, Optimization of heart failure patient management in rural North Carolina using a hub and spoke model: A novel strategy to improve quality of care and reduce costs. Brody Brothers, MT7751

Elci O.C., Akpinar-Elci, M. Identifying upper airways problems among agricultural growers and workers in Eastern North Carolina, ECU - DRGS