Interviewee: Tara Marko, PhD, RN
Positions: Assistant Professor at CSUSM School of Nursing; Per Diem Staff Nurse at Rady Children’s Hospital
Background and Initiative Overview
Dr. Tara Marko’s environmental health work bridges clinical practice, academia, and research, with a focus on the intersection of climate change and maternal-child health. Her pioneering dissertation research examined the impact of wildfire smoke exposure during pregnancy on neonatal outcomes, a study accepted for publication in the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing (JOGNN). This work addresses a critical gap in understanding how environmental crises disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, particularly pregnant individuals and infants.
Beyond her research, Dr. Marko is actively shaping sustainability initiatives at California State University San Marcos (CSUSM). As a newly appointed Sustainability Center Affiliate, she collaborates with campus efforts to integrate environmental health into academic programming. Additionally, she serves as the ANHE West Regional Forum Organizer, fostering connections among nurses and regional resources to amplify climate-health advocacy. Her multifaceted approach—combining rigorous research, education, and community engagement—exemplifies the expanding role of nurses in planetary health.
Collaborators and Key Partnerships
Dr. Marko’s research exemplifies the power of interdisciplinary collaboration. She worked closely with a team of experts from Washington State University, spanning the fields of nursing, medicine, and engineering. Among her collaborators were Dr. Julie Postma, a leader in environmental health research; Dr. Eka Burduli, whose expertise lies in statistical analysis; and Dr. Von Walden, who contributed specialized knowledge in air quality measurement. This diverse team brought together unique perspectives, enabling Dr. Marko to address complex research questions with methodological rigor.
Key Stakeholders and Engagement
To bring her research to fruition, Dr. Marko engaged with a network of stakeholders, including fellow researchers, mentors, and state agencies. Her collaborators provided invaluable expertise in areas such as environmental health, data analysis, and geographic information systems (GIS). However, one of the most critical stakeholders was the State Department of Health (DOH), which supplied essential data for her study. Engaging with these stakeholders was not without its challenges, as the COVID-19 pandemic caused significant delays in data availability, requiring Dr. Marko to adapt her research timeline and methodology.
Challenges and Obstacles
The COVID-19 pandemic posed a major obstacle to Dr. Marko’s research, delaying the release of vital state DOH data by two years. This setback not only extended her PhD timeline but also forced her to explore alternative data sources, which were less robust but necessary to keep the project moving forward. Despite these hurdles, her perseverance paid off, and the data eventually became available, allowing her to complete her dissertation and prepare it for publication.
Results and Impact
Dr. Marko’s research has made significant contributions to the understanding of how environmental exposures, such as wildfire smoke, impact vulnerable populations like pregnant women and newborns. Her findings are poised to inform clinical practices and public health policies, highlighting the need for greater attention to environmental risks in maternal and child health. Beyond her research, her leadership roles at CSUSM and ANHE are helping to build a community of nurses committed to environmental sustainability, ensuring that her impact extends beyond academia into practice and advocacy.
Advice for Nurses Pursuing Similar Projects
For nurses interested in environmental health research or sustainability initiatives, Dr. Marko offers several key insights. She encourages nurses to embrace a broad perspective, recognizing that environmental health intersects with all aspects of patient care, from individual symptoms to systemic health determinants. She emphasizes that no topic is “too niche” for nursing research, as long as it aligns with the goal of improving human health. Collaboration is another cornerstone of her advice; she urges nurses to seek out interdisciplinary partners who can complement their expertise and strengthen their projects. Finally, she highlights the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments (ANHE) as an invaluable resource for networking, education, and support in this growing field.
Conclusion
Dr. Tara Marko embodies the nurse scientist’s role in addressing climate-related health disparities. Her research on wildfire smoke, combined with academic and community leadership, provides a model for how nurses can drive evidence-based change in environmental health. As climate crises escalate, her work underscores the profession’s vital role in protecting vulnerable populations—one study, one partnership, and one policy at a time.
