Research Projects

Dr. Kurt Hegmann, Dr. Matthew Thiese, Dr. Nicole Hughes

Occupational Medicine, Occupational Injury Prevention

 RMCOEH, along with the Utah Fire and Rescue Academy, Utah State Fire Chiefs Association, and Professional Firefighters of Utah, formed the Utah Firefighter Cancer Initiative (UFCI) to take aim at the No. 1 threat to firefighters: cancer, which is responsible for roughly two-thirds of on-duty firefighter fatalities. 

In addition to saving lives through screening approximately 500 Utah firefighters for cancer annually, UFCI is expanding the scientific knowledge base regarding cancer in firefighters. Led by RMCOEH, UFCI’s research arm aims to equip fire departments, policymakers, medical professionals, and firefighters with the information they need to protect those in the fire service. 

Components of UFCI’s research include determining: the best methods to screen firefighters for cancer; whether per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as “forever chemicals,” cause cancer in firefighters; whether there are additional forms of cancer linked to firefighting beyond those already known; the best evidence-based decontamination procedures to reduce cancer risk.