Robert W. Powitz, PhD, MPH, RS

Biographical Information 

Diplomate Laureate - American Academy of Sanitarians

Robert W. Powitz graduated from Stuyvesant High School in New York City.  He received his undergraduate education in agronomy and plant pathology from the State University of New York and the University of Georgia.  He holds a Masters in Public Health with a specialty in institutional environmental health and Doctor of Philosophy degree in environmental health, with specialties in environmental microbiology and epidemiology from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.  Dr. Powitz also holds a Certificate from the North American School of Conservation.

Dr. Powitz began his professional career as a state Sanitarian and municipal Health Officer in New Jersey.  He is currently Principal and Technical Director of R.W.Powitz & Associates, PC, a professional corporation specializing in forensic environmental and public health  services to industry, law firms, insurance companies and governmental agencies.

For over twelve years, he was the Director of Environmental Health and Safety and Biological Safety Officer at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan; where he also held the title of Adjunct Associate Professor in the College of Engineering.  Dr. Powitz served as Director of Biological Safety and Environment for the United States Department of Agriculture at the Plum Island Animal Disease Center. For over 20-years, he was part-time Health Director for the towns of Westbrook, Sprague, Franklin, Lebanon and Salem in the State of Connecticut. He is currently the Public Health Consultant for the Bucks County Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.

Dr. Powitz was co-author of “Tools for Environmental Health”, a regular column on portable instrumentation that appeared in the Journal of Environmental Health.  He is on the editorial board of Food Safety Magazine and authored a column featuring regulatory issues for retail food establishments. He also authored columns in American Jails Magazine and Corrections Managers’ Report, and was a regular contributor to Executive Housekeeping Today. In addition to his writing, he presents tutorials and workshops on contamination control and toxin-free cleaning initiatives; environmental health, safety and professional development for public health, correctional, housekeeping and food production professionals. He continues to present professional tutorials to sanitarian affiliate organizations and industry.

Dr. Powitz serves on the NSF International, Council of Public Health Consultants and is chairman of several NSF/ANSI standards development joint committees.  He also served on the Underwriter Laboratories Consumer Advisory and Corporate Councils.

Dr Powitz is licensed as a Sanitarian in Connecticut as well as being registered as a Sanitarian by the National Environmental Health Association; where he is also credentialed as a Certified Professional - Food Safety.  

Among his honors, Dr. Powitz received the Walter S. Mangold Award; the highest honor bestowed upon a sanitarian by the National Environmental Health Association.  He also was honored with the NSF/NEHA Walter F. Snyder Award for achievement in environmental health; the American Academy of Sanitarians’ Davis Calvin Wagner Award for excellence as a Sanitarian and advancing public health practice, and the Harry R. H. Nicholas Award from the New Jersey Environmental Health Association.  He is the first to hold the title of Diplomate Laureate in the American Academy of Sanitarians. Dr. Powitz is a Diplomate with the American Board of Forensic Engineering and Technology and a member of Phi Theta Kappa.