Scott Heiberger, a communications specialist with the National Farm Medicine Center (NFMC), Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation, and for the Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center (UMASH) at the University of Minnesota has been named to the International Society for Agricultural Safety and Health (ISASH) Board of Directors.

ISASH is dedicated to professional development of agricultural safety and health professionals; and provides national and international leadership in preventing agricultural injuries and illnesses in the agricultural community.

Heiberger is thought to be the first media or communications specialist on the board.

“This is an important liaison for NFMC, the National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety and Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center,”said Barbara Lee, Ph.D., NFMC senior research scientist. “This is a great show of support from agricultural safety professionals for the valuable role Scott has played in promoting safety via the media.”

Heiberger, a former newspaper journalist, joined the Farm Center in 2001. He handles media relations and publications, and is managing editor of the peer-reviewed Journal of Agromedicine. He also assists in outreach for the Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center (UMASH) at the University of Minnesota. He is presently finishing a UMASH-funded pilot study aimed at improving safety coverage in agricultural media. He is a member of the American Agricultural Editors Association and the National Association of Farm Broadcasting.