[ X ]Bio-Sketch   Practical Experience
Among others, Dr. Soskolne's most notable contribution to the health of Canadians must be his work in AIDS from 1982 through 1989, based in Toronto (1982 – 1985), and later in Edmonton (1985 – 1989). He served on both the National and Alberta Advisory Committees on AIDS. In addition, his input was recognized as significant to the founding of the community-based AIDS Committee of Toronto as well as the AIDS Network of Edmonton (now known as The HIV Network of Edmonton Society). The latter has been recognized in the 2010 commemorative book, Around the Kitchen Table, reflecting on 25 years of AIDS in Edmonton.

Dr. Soskolne's work in the occupational cancer area led to the IARC designation of occupational acid exposure being a definitive cause of cancer. Sulfuric acid is the single most common exposure among industrial workers in the developed world. His discovery of the strong link between sulfuric acid and laryngeal cancer led to significant government and industry interventions worldwide to protect workers from exposure. In 1997, Dr. Soskolne was invited to assist the federal government's WHMIS Evaluation Section in its formulation of the now mandatory Canadian regulations that were being designed to effectively protect Canadian workers. In 2011, Dr. Soskolne's team demonstrated the effect of exposure to strong-inorganic-acid mists containing sulfuric acid to be specific to the larynx.

http://www.colinsoskolne.com/documents/IJOEH_Jan11_Soskolne.pdf

Dr. Soskolne's joint WHO Discussion Document on the link between global ecological integrity and public health has been considered for information at several levels within Canada. For example, the National Round Table for Environment and Economy heard from Dr. Soskolne in August, 1999, and the British Columbia Ministries of Health and of Environment, Lands, and Parks in January, 2000. Numerous non-governmental organizations also have invited Dr. Soskolne to speak to this Discussion Document since July, 1999. This document also has been foundational to an Australian textbook initiative for training in Sustainability and Health: Supporting Global Ecological Integrity in Public Health (2005).

http://www.colinsoskolne.com/documents/WHO-1999_Discussion_Document.pdf

Dr. Soskolne's work (2008 – 2010) as founding Academic Coordinator in the newly-established Office of Sustainability in the Provost's Office at the University of Alberta included a focus on curriculum development for sustainability-training across all disciplines throughout the University. This work required interdisciplinary collaboration campus-wide.

In 2007, Dr. Soskolne was elected President of the Canadian Society for Epidemiology and Biostatistics (CSEB). He was re-elected for a further two-year term in 2009. From 2011 – 2013, he remained on the CSEB Board as Immediate Past-President.

In 2013, Dr. Soskolne was elected Vice-President (North America) in the newly launched Society for the Advancement of Science in Africa (SASA).

Dr. Soskolne was appointed Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, ACT, Australia, July 1, 2013 – 2016. Prior to this, he was "Visiting Fellow" (November 1, 2012 – December 31, 2013). He retired from a further three-year appointment in the Health Research Institute in September 2019.

Dr. Soskolne, in his formal volunteer leadership role in the Joint Policy Committee of the Societies of Epidemiology (2014 – 2019), which became known as the International Network for Epidemiology in Policy (INEP), established a formidable profesionnal voice at the nexus of epidemiological research and health policy.


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