Feature Story
Health Center Today, March 24, 2010
Governor Proclaims Connecticut Migrant Farm Workers Day
By Chris Kaminski
Dr. Marcia Trapé-Cardoso (first row, second from left) with migrant farm workers.
Pictured left to right: Robert Trestman, Ph.D., M.D., Carlos Cardoso, Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D., and Candace Pettigrew, R.N.
Governor M. Jodi Rell has proclaimed Thursday, March 25, 2010, as Connecticut Migrant Farm Workers Day in honor of Dr. Marcia Trapé-Cardoso.
Dr. Trapé-Cardoso achieved many accomplishments in her professional career, particularly in the area of reducing occupational injuries and illnesses in migrant and seasonal tobacco farm workers. As a child in Brazil, Dr. Trapé-Cardoso was exposed to caring for farm workers by her father who was a physician. This passion carried through to her adult life as she continued her work in the Connecticut tobacco fields.
A nationally recognized expert in the field of employee health with a focus on work-related exposures to health care workers, Dr. Trapé-Cardoso was an active member of the Board of Directors for the Occupational and Environmental Medical Association of Connecticut, a chapter of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. She played an important leadership role in this organization holding several key positions most recently as a state delegate for the National House of Delegates. Dr. Trapé-Cardoso received the Irving J. Selikoff Professional Excellence Award from the Connecticut Council on Occupational Safety and Health, a non-profit, statewide organization which helps unions, individuals and communities win healthier and safer working and living conditions.
The Health Center also officially dedicated the 2010 Health, Safety, and Environment Fair in honor of Dr. Trapé-Cardoso in recognition of her support of the annual event since its inception in 2002.