News and Press Releases

The Adolph G. Kammer Merit in Authorship Award is a prestigious recognition presented annually by the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine to honor the most outstanding research published in the field. This year, three former residents in RMCOEH’s Occupational Medicine program were given the honor, alongside a pair of faculty members, for research they completed during their time at the center.

Drs. Trevor Pugh, Jeffrey Harris and Kyle Jarnagin, who completed the Occupational Medicine Residency in 2022, performed the research with Dr. Kurt Hegmann, RMCOEH’s director, and Dr. Matthew Thiese, the center’s chief operating officer. Their paper, "Impacts of the Statewide COVID-19 Lockdown Interventions on Excess Mortality, Unemployment, and Employment Growth," was published in September 2022. They received the award during the American Occupational Health Conference this spring. 

“Receiving the Adolph G. Kammer Merit in Authorship Award is an immense honor.” Dr. Hegmann said. “It underscores the importance of rigorous, impactful research in occupational and environmental medicine.” 

The study critically evaluated the real-world effects of lockdown measures, revealing that while lockdowns correlated with significant economic downturns, they did not demonstrate a substantial benefit in reducing excess mortality. 

“The results were indeed surprising,” Dr. Hegmann said. “We anticipated that lockdowns would show some benefit in reducing excess mortality, but our data didn’t support that hypothesis. Instead, we found significant economic repercussions, without any benefit of reducing excess mortality.” 

This study's findings highlight the complexity of public health policies, especially in light of future pandemics. The researchers used state-level data from 2020 and compared it with data from the previous three years, analyzing factors such as mortality, unemployment, and employment growth. By employing “openness scores” to gauge the strictness of lockdowns, they adjusted for various demographic factors. Dr. Pugh recalled his excitement when the study was first proposed, emphasizing how the project evolved through collaboration among the team members during their research course at RMCOEH.

Despite the researchers’ initial expectations that lockdowns would effectively curb mortality rates, the study's results challenged this notion. 

“I remember initially believing that lockdowns must have had some impact on mortality,” Dr. Pugh said. “It made sense. I was surprised when the data resulted in what they did.” 

The unexpected outcomes underscore the need for a nuanced approach to public health policies.

The 2024 Kammer Award not only celebrates the authors' dedication and hard work but also signals the importance of reevaluating lockdown measures in preparation for future health emergencies. Dr. Pugh said the implications of their findings suggest that policymakers must consider both the health and economic impacts of such interventions. 

“I truly believe the results will help move the needle in public health policy,” he said.

This study also exemplifies how scientific inquiry can lead to critical insights, shaping more effective public health responses in the future. Dr. Hegmann said that, by challenging preconceived notions about the efficacy of lockdowns, the research encourages a more holistic view of public health strategies that prioritize both safety and economic stability.

“This study was a prime example of how scientific inquiry can challenge prevailing assumptions and lead to more informed, balanced approaches to managing public health crises and inform planning for future pandemics,” he said.