Dr. Butler-Dawson is an epidemiologist with the Center for Health, Work & Environment, and an assistant professor in the Department of Environmental & Occupational Health. Her work in global health research and practice focuses on improving the health of vulnerable populations, especially in relation to: worker health and safety, agriculture, climate, and environmental exposures. She is currently examining environmental and occupational risk factors contributing to kidney disease among workers in Latin America, with an emphasis on the development of prevention strategies. Dr. Butler-Dawson is the principal investigator of a recently funded study (NIH/NIEHS K01) in rural Guatemala to assess the impact of airborne exposures on kidney health in women. She is also a co-founding member of the CHWE’s Climate, Work & Health Initiative. Prior to her academic position, Dr. Butler-Dawson worked for the U.S. Peace Corps in Burkina Faso and the CDC Division of Global HIV/AIDs.
Areas of Expertise
- Global Environmental Health
- Climate and Health
- Epidemiology
- International Total Worker Health
- Public Health Practice
Education, Licensure & Certifications
- PhD, Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa
- MPH, Environmental Health, Boston University
- BS, Biology/Chemistry, Northwest Nazarene University
Courses
- EHOH 6635 Climate Change and Health
- EHOH 7401 Climate Change and Worker Health
Research
NIH/NIEHS, K01: Women's airborne exposure and kidney health in Guatemala. Date Range: May 2021 – April 2024. Principal Investigator; NIH/NIEHS, R01: Particulate exposure and kidney health. Date Range: March 2021- February 2026. Co-Investigator.
Publications and Presentations
- Butler-Dawson J, Krisher L, Dally M, James KA, Johnson RJ, Jaramillo D, Yoder H, Johnson EC, Pilloni D, Asensio C, Cruz A, Newman LS. Sugarcane Workweek Study: Risk Factors for Daily Changes in Creatinine. KI Reports. June 2021
- Butler-Dawson J, James KA, Krisher L, Jaramillo D, Dally M, Neumann N, Pilloni D, Cruz A, Asensio C, Johnson RJ, Adgate J, Newman LS. Environmental metal exposures and kidney function of Guatemalan sugarcane workers. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2021 Feb 18. PMID: 33603096
- Krisher L, Butler-Dawson J, Yoder H, Pilloni D, Dally M, Johnson EC, et al. Electrolyte beverage intake to promote hydration and maintain kidney function in Guatemalan sugarcane workers laboring in hot conditions. J Occup Environ Med. 2020 Sep 28. PMID: 33003044
- Butler-Dawson J, Dally M, Johnson RJ, Johnson EC, Krisher L, Sánchez-Lozada LG, Griffin BR, Brindley S, Newman LS. Association of Copeptin, a Surrogate Marker of Arginine Vasopressin, with Decreased Kidney Function in Sugarcane Workers in Guatemala. Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism 2020;76(1):30-36. PMID: 32172243
- Butler-Dawson, J, Krisher, L, Yoder, H, Dally, M, Sorensen, C, Johnson, RJ, Asensio, C, Cruz, A, Johnson, EC, Carlton, EJ, Tenney, L, Asturias, EJ, Newman, LS. Evaluation of heat stress and cumulative incidence of acute kidney injury in sugarcane workers in Guatemala. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2019 Oct;92(7):977-990. PMID: 30997573