Bonnie Susan Richter, M.P.H., Ph.D.
12410 Rousseau Terrace
North Potomac, Maryland 20878
301 926-8029 (home) 301 903-4501 (office)
Education
The Johns Hopkins University, School of Hygiene and Public
Health, Department of Epidemiology, Baltimore, MD Ph.D.
(Epidemiology) 1997, Thesis: A Case-Control Study of Lead Exposure
and Other Risk Factors for Gouty Arthritis
The University of Michigan, School of Public Health, Department of
Epidemiology, Ann Arbor, MI M.P.H . (Epidemiology) 1982
Clark University, Department of Biology, Worcester, MA, A.B. 1975
Appointments
1990 – Present U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
Office of Health and Safety, Washington, D.C.
2009 - Present Senior Epidemiologist, DOE











Manages DOE – HHS Worker and Public Health Program
Provides authoritative, expert advice and counsel on occupational
and environmental public health issues
Develops policy and briefing materials on worker health issues for
senior management
Subject matter expert on DOE illness and injury surveillance
programs and radiation epidemiology
Identifies and recommends program improvements
Develops and delivers lectures and presentations
Responds to stakeholder inquiries on worker health issues
Conducts expert reviews of technical reports
DOE subject matter expert (epidemiology, pandemic planning,
national health security) at senior level meetings with Federal
agencies and State Health Departments
Publishes original articles in medical peer reviewed journals
regarding the health of the DOE workforce and communities
surrounding DOE sites
Developed and implemented pandemic flu action plan for DOE
workers and management
2006 - 2008
Director, Office of Illness and Injury Prevention Programs,
Office of Health, Safety and Security, DOE (office name change)
2003 - 2006
Director, Office of Epidemiology and Health Surveillance, Office of
Environment Safety and Health, DOE
Oversaw the development, conduct and support of research, public
health activities, health surveillance, and occupational medicine
programs and the implementation of Departmental policy and procedures
related to:







Illness and Injury Surveillance Program
Public Health Programs and Intervention Activities
Occupational Medicine
Health Research Strategies and Activities
Beryllium Registry and Bio Repository
Pandemic Influenza Education and Policy
Electronic Public Use Database of DOE worker studies
These programs provided the Department with opportunities for intervention
strategies to reduce the adverse health outcomes to workers and the public.
Represented the DOE at Congressional meetings, and interacted with top
officials in other Federal agencies and academic institutions in the areas of
worker and community health.
Determined staff assignments, supervised and evaluated staff
performance, developed program direction, and ensured information was
technically correct. Encouraged staff to work independently on various
office programs, to continue professional growth, and to work in teams.
Managed ~ $4 million annual budget
1990-2003
Epidemiologist, Office of Epidemiology and Health Surveillance,
Office of Environment Safety and Health, DOE
Manager, Beryllium Registry (2000 – 2003)
 Determined registry policy and guidance
 Developed implementation strategies at participating DOE sites
 Supervised and provided direction and guidance to information
systems contractor (ORISE, Oak Ridge, TN); evaluated budget
 Determined approaches to data analyses
 Interacted with physicians and industrial hygienists at DOE sites
 Communicated results to DOE management and workers
Epidemiologic Surveillance Program (1998 – 2003)
 Provided technical support and policy guidance to program manager
 Provided policy and guidance to data coordinators at 15 participating
DOE sites
 Directed special investigations as requested or required
 Reviewed and analyzed disease and mortality data
 Mets with workers, occupational medicine physicians, site
management, citizen groups, and other local and Federal
government agents to address health concerns
Manager, State Health Agreement Program (1990-1999)
 Coordinated grant program among six State health departments and
one State university
 Served as liaison to senior State health officials
 Tracked and recommended budget guidelines
 Developed overall strategy and policy
 Facilitated annual meetings with principal investigators


1988 – 1991
Developed scientific peer review process for new applications and
renewals
Represented DOE on advisory panels
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, GA
Epidemiologist, Division of Health Studies, Health Investigations
Branch
 Designed and conducted epidemiologic studies of people living near
toxic waste sites on the EPA NPL list
 Performed statistical analyses of data examining the association with
environmental sources of hazardous substances and adverse health
outcomes
 Wrote scientific reports
 Provided guidance and direction for policies and projects
 Reviewed and analyzed environmental data to determine the extent
of danger to the public’s health
 Met with citizen groups in matters related to policy issues and
scientific reports associated with hazardous waste sites
Awards
U.S. Department of Energy, Awards for Superior Job Performance, 1992 - 2005
U.S. Department of Energy, Cross Cutting Team Award, 1998
U.S. Department of Energy, Monetary Award for Special Act or Service, 1991,
1994, 2004
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Monetary Award for
Superior Work Performance, 1989, 1990
Arthritis Foundation Allied Health Professional Grant, 1986-1987, $35,000
Arthritis Foundation Allied Health Professional Fellowship, $10,000
The Johns Hopkins University Graduate School Scholarship, 1982-1984
U.S. Public Health Service Traineeship, University of Michigan, 1980-1982
Professional Activities










CDC ATSDR/NCEH Board of Scientific Counselors (Atlanta), 2010 - current
HHS/DHS National Biodefense Science Board (Washington, D.C.), DOE ex officio,(2008
- current
Federal Interagency Workgroup on Pandemic Influenza Vaccine Prioritization,2007 2008
National Institutes of Health, The National Children’s Study, Chemical exposure
subcommittee, 2001- 2003
The President’s Federal Task Force on the Protection of Children from Environmental
Health and Safety Risks, DOE representative Data and Research Needs Subcommittee,
1998 - 2000
Federal Interagency Committee on Women’s Health,1997 - 1998
National Environmental Health Association, invited speaker, July 1- 3, 1997, Crystal City,
VA
"An Overview of Methods Used in Occupational Epidemiology," invited speaker,
President's Special Session on Epidemiology, American Nuclear Society, Winter Meeting,
November 10-14, 1991, San Francisco
Health Effects Research Institute, EMF Research Feasibility Study Committee, invited
speaker October 1991, Boston
Committee on Interagency Radiation Research and Policy Coordination (CIRRPC), 1991,
DOE representative






National EMF Research and Communication Program, Washington, D.C., 1992
Society for Epidemiologic Research, Annual Meeting, June 1988, Pittsburgh, speaker
"Lead Exposure as A Risk Factor for Gouty Arthritis"
American Rheumatism Association Annual Meeting, 1985, Washington, D.C., invited
speaker, “Risk Factors For Gouty Arthritis"
Arthritis Foundation, Annual Fellows Meeting, 1985, Amelia Island, FL, invited speaker,
"Lead Exposure as A Risk Factor for Gouty Arthritis"
Arthritis Foundation, 1987 – 1989, Research grant review committee,
American Journal of Epidemiology and Journal of Preventive Medicine, review
committee, 1990
Presentations
Numerous presentations on DOE worker health, environmental health issues surrounding DOE
facilities, and pandemic influenza. The audiences have included: public health professionals
(APHA), DOE medical directors and staff (Pantex, Brookhaven, Oak Ridge, Los Alamos, Sandia,
Fernald, Pinellas), lay audiences, and community meetings. Guest lecturer: Uniform Services
Medical School, Industrial Hygiene Certification Review
Volunteer Activities


English as a Second Language tutor - Literacy Council of Montgomery County (2012 –
present)
Pet volunteer with my Golden Retriever at an in-patient psychiatric institute, the Regional
Institute for Children and Adolescents (RICA), Rockville, MD (2010 – 2012)
Publications
Richter BS, Watkins J, Cragle D, Ellis E, Giardi D, Strader C. Absenteeism and beryllium
sensitization among US Department of Energy workers. Abstract accepted for presentation,
American Public Heath Association meeting, November 2013, Boston
Boice JD, Cohen SS, Mumma M, Dupree Ellis E, Cragle D, Eckerman KF, Wallace PW, Chadda
B, Sonderman JS, Wiggs LD, Richter, BS and Leggett RW. Mortality among Mound workers
exposed to Polonium-210 and other sources of radiation, 1944–1979. Radiation Research,
accepted for publication, June 2013
Richter BS. Illness and injury surveillance at the US Department of Energy. Presented to the
American Public Heath Association meeting, October, 2011, Washington, D.C.
Richter BS. Department of Energy electronic data base of worker health studies. Poster session
at the American Public Heath Association meeting, October 29, 2011, Washington, D.C.
Maier LA, Newman LS, Balmes J, Harber P, Bruton C, Scanlon PD, Rossman M, Cragle D,
Richter BS. Development of a Beryllium Bio-Repository for Future Research, abstract presented
at the American College of Chest Physicians for a poster session, November 2010, Vancouver.
Richter BS. Injury and illness among female employees at the US Department of Energy. J Occ
Med 1998; 40: 994-998.
Richter BS, Stockwell, HS. Descriptive study of deaths from cancer associated with residential
proximity to the site of underground nuclear detonations. Arch Environ Health 1998; 53: 109 113.
Richter, BS. Tatum Salt Dome Test Site descriptive cancer study. U.S. Department of Energy,
Washington, D.C.; April 1995.
Richter, BS. An investigation of adverse health effects at the Department of Energy's Quince
Orchard Facility. U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, D.C.; June, 1995.
Gaventa S, Coull BJ, Gedrose J, Jones PA, Dennehy D, Richter BS. Arsenic and lead exposure
study of residents living near the Rocher Operable Limit of the Silver Bow Creek Superfund Site,
Rocher, Montana. U.S. DHHS, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta,
Georgia; September 1991.
Steele G, Richter BS. Exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls, Bloomington, Indiana. U.S.
DHHS, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, Georgia; 1991.
Richter BS. Mercury exposure study, Charleston, Tennessee. U.S. DHHS, Agency for Toxic
Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, Georgia; September 1990.
Richter BS, Rondinelli R. The relationship of human levels of lead and cadmium to the
consumption of fish caught in and around Lake Coeur D'Alene, Idaho. U.S. DHHS, Agency for
Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, Georgia; November 1989.
Richter BS. Study of disease and symptom prevalence, Newsom Brothers National Priorities
List Site, Columbia, Mississippi. U.S. DHHS, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry,
Atlanta, Georgia; October 1989.
Amler RW, Richter BS, Lybarger JA, et al. The Silver Creek Mine tailings exposure study, Park
City, Utah. U.S. DHHS, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, Georgia;
June 1988.
Lubin JH, Richter BS, Blot WJ. Lung cancer risk with cigar and pipe use. J.N.C.I. 1984; 73:37781.
Hammer SM, Richter BS, Hirsch MS. Activation and suppression of herpes simplex virus in a
human T lymphoid cell line. J. Immunology 1981;125:144-48.
Rinaldo CR Jr, Carney WP, Richter BS, Black PH, Hirsch MS. Mechanisms of
immunosuppression in cytomegalovirus mononucleosis. Infect Dis 1980;141:488-95.
Rinaldo CR Jr, Richter BS, Black PH, Hirsch MS. Persistent infection of human lymphoid and
myeloid cell lines with herpes simplex virus. Infec Immun 1979; 25: 521-25.
Rinaldo CR Jr, Richter BS, Black PH, Callery R, Chess L, Hirsch MS. Replication of herpes
simplex virus and cytomegalovirus in human leukocytes. J. Immun 1978;120: 130-36.