About SOCOEM

The Southern College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (SOCOEM) is a regional component of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM), which is the nation’s largest organization representing the voice of the nation’s physicians who practice occupational and environmental medicine. ACOEM was founded in 1916, and is dedicated to promoting the health of workers through preventive medicine, clinical care, research and education. ACOEM represents more than 4500 physicians and other healthcare professionals specializing in occupational and environmental medicine.

As the nation’s workplaces become more complex, physicians who practice occupational and environmental medicine play an increasingly visible role in preventing diseases and promoting wellness among workers. The health of America’s workforce is a central factor in the nation’s overall prosperity, stability and security. More than 130 million Americans spend most of their waking hours either at the workplace or in some way connected to it. Their health status determines everything from our national productivity on the global stage to the long-term stability of programs such as Medicare and Social Security. As the workplace has evolved and changed in recent decades, employers increasingly have begun making the connection between good health and the overall success of their enterprises. In this environment, the demand for physicians trained in understanding the complex interplay of factors that affect worker health has grown significantly.