Physician Brian Moench to Present Colloquium on Pollution and Politics

The Department of Communication's colloquium series continues Thursday, Oct. 1, at 3:30 p.m. in LNCO 2120 with a talk from Dr. Brian Moench, founder and president of the Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment (UPHE).

The talk, titled "Pollution, Politics and Persuasion," will center on Moench's hands-on work surrounding the frightening health consequences of air pollution, including its implications for public health and public policy. The U of U Medical School graduate completed a residency in anesthesia at Massachusetts General Hospital and spent a year on the faculty at Harvard Medical School before beginning a 30-year career in private practice as a board-certified anesthesiologist. Moench is founder and president of the Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment (UPHE), the largest civic organization of health care professionals in the state of Utah. He believes the profound implications of air pollution for public health should also have profound implications for public policy, since it leads to an indictment of industry, government, modern conveniences, life styles, and society in general. However, because it remains either a nonexistent or minuscule part of physician education and training, Moench says those physicians that acquire expertise in this arena are not just anomalies in the community, they are anomalies in their own profession.  The end result is a very difficult, disturbing, but important public message is currently carried by a small number of experts through the UPHE, led by Moench.

His talk will dicuss how UPHE has navigated this process, including its successes and failures, as well as potentital modifications of the message or delivery that may lead to more success in the future.  

Please join the Department of Communication in welcoming Dr. Moench for this colloquium on Thursday, Oct. 1, at 3:30 p.m. in LNCO 2120 (Reading Room). Find out more about Dr. Moench and his work with UPHE here.