Sarah Kotchian Consulting
1530 Eagle Ridge Drive, NE
Albuquerque
NMUSA
87122
Biographical Sketch: Sarah B. Kotchian, Ed.M., M.P.H., Ph.D.
Dr. Kotchian is a consultant in environmental and public health systems and services. She has conducted work for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to strengthen national, state, and local environmental health services and to promote environmental health leadership. She retired in 2007 from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, where she served as the Associate Director for Planning for the UNM Institute for Public Health. Director of the Albuquerque Environmental Health Department for over fourteen years, she served during five mayoral administrations. Under Dr. Kotchian’s direction, the Albuquerque Environmental Health Department administered comprehensive City and County wide programs in the areas of air quality, environmental health planning, food protection, noise control, hazardous waste, pollution prevention, groundwater quality and protection, landfill characterization and remediation, integrated vector management, vehicle emissions, epidemiology, geographic information systems, public information and animal services. She is a recognized leader, author, and speaker on the formation of local, state, and national environmental and public health policy, leadership, and practice. Most recently, she has been collaborating on the development and implementation of the first set of national environmental public health performance standards to improve the nation’s capacity, consistency, and accountability in providing essential environmental health services. She has provided training and technical assistance on the Standards to local, state, tribal, and federal agencies throughout the U.S.
Dr. Kotchian holds a Master's degree in Education from Harvard University, a Master's degree in Public Health from the University of Washington, and a Doctorate in American Studies from the University of New Mexico, where her doctoral research focused on the linkage between CEO faith, leadership, and corporate environmental policy. She currently serves on the Institute of Medicine Committee on Environmental Decision-Making Under Uncertainty. She is a past member of the Executive Board of the American Public Health Association (APHA) where she chaired its Subcommittee on Environment and Health. Other past activities include service on the National Environmental Health Science and Protection Accreditation Council; service on the Council on Education for Public Health, the national accrediting body for graduate public health education; Chair of the APHA Section on Environment; and Chair of the National Conference of Local Environmental Health Administrators.
Her awards include the National Environmental Health Association's highest honor, the Walter Mangold Award for outstanding contributions to the field of environmental health; the APHA Section on Environment Distinguished Service Award; and the New Mexico Distinguished Public Service Award, as well as other volunteer and service awards.
Dr. Kotchian is married and is the mother of a college student and a graduate student.