Directory Profile

Dr. Julie Postma, PhD, RN is a Professor in the Department of Nursing and Systems Science at Washington State University College of Nursing. She worked clinically as a cardiothoracic nurse before studying occupational and environmental health and earning a PhD in Nursing Science at the University of Washington. She continued there as a post-doctoral fellow, supported by the National Institute of Nursing Research.

Dr. Postma has over 15 years of experience working alongside community partners to promote environmental health and justice in rural, Hispanic communities. Her scholarship reflects the importance of community engagement and cultural humility in assessing environmental health risks, designing and testing risk reduction interventions, and implementing locally relevant strategies to reduce risks. Dr. Postma served as the 2023-2024 Climate and Health Scholar for the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health.

Education

• BSN, University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, MI
• PhD, University of Washington School of Nursing, Seattle, WA

Funded Research

• “NRT: Rivers, Watersheds, Communities: Training an Innovative, Cross-Sector Workforce for Equitable, Multi-Scale Decision-Making Towards Human and Ecosystem Health.” (2021) Boll, J. et al. National Science Foundation Research Traineeship (NRT). $2,999,967 (direct and indirect costs) Project dates: 9/1/21-8/31/26) Role: Senior / Key personnel
• “Environmental Health Research Institute for Nurse and Clinician Scientists (EHRI-NCS).” (Grants.gov Tracking #: GRANT13250074); Castner, J., Amiri, A.; Eldeirawi, K.; Huffling, K.; Huntington-Moskos, L.; Polivka, B.; Postma, J.; Rodriguez, J. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences; Sub award $108,000 (direct and indirect costs). Project period: 8/1/21-7/30/25 Role: Co-I
• “Smoke hazards in the Agricultural Workplace: A bilingual survey for agricultural employers.” Postma, J. & Graves, J. UW Pacific Northwest Agriculture Safety and Health Center, Pilot Project Program, $32,088 (total costs). Project period: 9/30/23-9/29/24. Role: PI
• “Smoke Hazards in the Agricultural Workplace: Survey transla” UW Pacific Northwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center’s Outreach Minigrant program, $5000, Project period: 6/1/23-9/30/23. Role: PI.
• “Employer Perspectives on Wildfire Smoke Hazards in the Agricultural Workplace.” Postma, J. (mentor), Parker, Molly (PhD student). Professional Training Opportunities Program in Occupational Health, UW, 2022-2023, $9,977
• “The association between maternal exposure to wildfire smoke and neonatal outcomes.” Marko, T., Postma, J. & Walden, V. National Research Service Award (F31), National Institute of Nursing Research, $91,040. 9/30/21-9/30/23, Sponsor (with co-sponsor Von Walden)
• “Monitoring and Communicating Wildfire Smoke Hazards in the Agricultural Workplace.” Postma, J. Washington State University Institute for Research and Education to Advance Community Health, Faculty Seed Grant, $20,000. 1/22 – 6/23. Role: PI
• “Building capacity to reduce agricultural worker exposure to smoke and heat during wildfires.” Postma, J. Seed grant, WSU Health Equity Research Center, $35,000, 7/1/21-6/30/22
• “Promoting risk reduction among young adults with asthma during wildfire smoke events.” Postma, J., Rappold, A., Odom-Maryon, T., Amiri, S., Walden, V., Butterfield, P. (2020). National Institute of Nursing Research $382,500 (direct and indirect costs). 2020-2022

Research Interests
Adaptation to climate change; air quality; wildfire smoke; risk reduction interventions; risk communication

Methodological Strengths
Community based participatory research; intervention research; mixed methods

Areas of Expertise
Climate change and health; wildfire smoke; asthma; agricultural worker health; Hispanic health; social drivers of health, community health

Memberships

• Member, Editorial board, Public Health Nursing, 2020-present
• Member, Association of Community Health Nurse Educators, 2011-present
• Member, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing Delta Chi-at-large, 2010-present
• Member, Western Institute of Nursing Research, 2008-present
• Member, Washington State Public Health Association, 2006-present

Honors and Awards

• Inducted into the Western Academy of Nursing, 2024
• NIH Climate and Health Scholar, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, 2023-2024
• Excellence in Research Award, WSU College of Nursing, 2021
• Faculty Mentor Award, WSU College of Nursing, 2020
• Scholar Award, Sigma Theta Tau, Delta Chi Chapter-at-Large, 2019
• Public Health Leadership Award, Washington State Public Health Association, 2017

Selected Publications

1. Postma, J., Hernandez-Silva, L., Anders, K., Sogge, C., Katz, J. Development, Implementation, and Outcomes of a Nursing Holistic Admissions Process. Journal of Professional Nursing. (In press).
2. Marko T, Burduli E, James L, Walden V, Ghazvini M, Butterfield P, Amiri S, Postma J. Associations Among Exposure to Wildfire Smoke In Utero and Neonatal Outcomes. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing. 2026 January; 55(1):43-56. doi: 10.1016/j.jogn.2025.04.006.
3. Richards C, Dyer A, Vera M, Postma J. Climate change and nursing research: a scoping review. Environmental Research: Health. 2025 October; 3(4):042001-. doi: 10.1088/2752-5309/ae0c2c. Special issue: ‘Focus on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies for Health.’ https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/2752-5309/ae0c2c
4. Richards C, Brumley C, Graves J, Parker M, Khot L, Postma J. Mapping Research Priorities for Climate Change Adaptation in Agriculture: A One Health Perspective. Workplace Health & Safety. 2025 May; 73(9):454-465. doi: 10.1177/21650799251334147.
5. Ricci C, Orloff A, Wynne M, Pflueger L, Hallos P, Lopez A, Phelps M, Postma J, Hebert L. Land Use Barriers to Native and Western Food Security are Associated with Indigenous Maternal Death Occurrence and Changes to Nutritional Value of a Key Traditional Food. [preprint]. 2025 July. doi: 10.1101/2025.07.24.25332149.
6. Postma J, Parker M, Hurst S, Romo J, Graves J. Agricultural Supervisors Perspectives on Occupational Wildfire Smoke Rules. Journal of Agromedicine. 2025 May; 30(4):789-800. doi: 10.1080/1059924X.2025.2498342.
7. Parker M, Graves JM, James L, Postma J. Agricultural Employer Perspectives on Occupational Wildfire Smoke Rules. J Agromedicine. 2025 Jul;30(3):577-590. doi: 10.1080/1059924X.2025.2465639.
8. Postma, J., Bindler, R. Haverkamp, H.C., Walden, V. Symptoms Reported by Young Adults With Asthma During Wildfire Smoke Season. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2024 Dec; 75(6): 974-977. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2024.07.026.
9. Parker M, Ybarra-Vega M, Postma J. Agricultural Worker Perspectives on Climate Hazards and Risk Reduction Strategies. Journal of Agromedicine. 2023 December; 29(3):333-343. doi: 10.1080/1059924X.2023.2299378.

Link to Complete List of Published Work in MyNCBI
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/18IQ5ysOKEsAx/bibliography/public/

updated 07/24/26