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About the MSS Study Team

About the MSS Study Team

The MSS study team operates under the Environmental Health Bureau in the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The team includes toxicologists, epidemiologists, health educators, community engagement specialists, and support staff. We also have external partners assisting us.  

portrait of kory groetsch

Kory Groetsch, MS

Principal Investigator

Mr. Kory Groetsch is the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Environmental Health Bureau director overseeing response efforts for lead, vapor intrusion, drinking water, PFAS, and other sites of contamination. Prior to his current position, Mr. Groetsch served as a toxicologist and health educator within the Toxicology and Response Section, managing the State's Cooperative Agreement with the CDC's Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and conducting public health exposure assessments, biomonitoring activities, and health education activities across the state for 17 years.

Portrate of David Savitz

David Savitz, Ph.D.

Epidemiologist and Scientific Consultant, Principal Investigator

Dr. Savitz is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Epidemiology in the Brown University School of Public Health. He also serves as Interim Dean of the School of Public Health and holds joint appointments in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Pediatrics in the Alpert Medical School. Dr. Savitz has extensive experience in the study of health effects of PFAS, beginning with his work as a member of the C8 Science Panel. In that role, he led and collaborated in a number of research projects that culminated in a judgment regarding probable links between PFOA exposure and a series of health outcomes. He has also led projects focused on drinking water disinfection by-products, pesticides, a wide range of occupational exposures, and air pollution. Dr. Savitz will contribute to the research team in the development and refinement of hypotheses, guidance of data analysis and interpretation, and development of manuscripts for publication.

portrait of joost vant erve

Joost van't Erve, Ph.D.

Co-Lead Toxicologist, Principal Investigator

Dr. van't Erve is a toxicologist with many years of experience in conducting research on the effect of environmental chemical exposures on human health. Along with his work on MSS, he is responsible for evaluating environmental data, identifying public health hazards, and answering questions about toxicology from Michigan residents.

portrait of jordan bailey

Jordan Bailey, Ph.D.

Co-Lead Toxicologist

Dr. Bailey is a toxicologist with more than 12 years of experience conducting environmental health research in university and government settings. Her primary interest is in understanding the impact of environmental chemicals on health.

portrait of laura abington

Laura Abington, M.Ed., MPH

Co-Lead Epidemiologist

Laura Abington is an epidemiologist with prior experience in conducting a PFAS exposure assessment and in health study data analysis.  Her primary interests are in environmental epidemiology and understanding associations between chemical exposures and health outcomes.  

portrait of sarah allison

Sarah Allison, MPH

Lead Health Educator

Sarah Allison has over five years of public health experience, including drug use prevention, childhood lead poisoning prevention, and tobacco use reduction. She has worked in local health care, as well as county and state government. 

Portrait of Melissa Jaiman-Cruz

Melissa Jaiman-Cruz, B.Scs.

Project Manager

Melissa Jaiman-Cruz is a project manager with more than 5 years of experience as a research program coordinator and administrator in university, including neuroscience and environmental health. Her goal is to support the MiPEHS study and the Michigan residents and communities.

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