The National Institute for Public Safety Health was formed by Steven Moffatt, MD in 2015 as an independent non-profit research center to support the growing research and evaluation needs of the first responder community.
The NIPSH is staffed by a team of doctorally and masters trained epidemiologists, data analysts, and clinicians.
The foundation of NIPSH is a database of more than 30 years of clinical, laboratory, health risk appraisal, and fitness data.
Our Mission is to provide the highest quality research, education, and advocacy to maximize the health and safety of public safety personnel.
Meet the Research Team
Steven M. Moffatt, MD is the founder of Public Safety Medical, an occupational medical practice based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Public Safety Medical provides hundreds of fire and law enforcement departments across Indiana and the bordering states with specialized medical, fitness, and psychological evaluations and interventions. In 2015, Dr. Moffatt formed the National Institute for Public Safety Health research center specializing in investigations to improve the health and wellness of firefighters and law enforcement officers. Dr. Moffatt is a highly regarded medical subject matter expert for public safety professions. He is a pioneer in the development of standards for medical surveillance programs for firefighters, law enforcement officers, and other first responders. Dr. Moffatt serves on national boards including the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the IAFF/IAFC Wellness-Fitness Task Force, the National Fire Protection Association, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Dr. Moffatt is a graduate of the Indiana University School of Medicine with a specialty in Internal Medicine.
Carolyn M. Muegge, MS, MPH, PhD is a research scientist at the National Institute for Public Safety Health. Carolyn has a PhD and Master of Public Health in Epidemiology, both from the Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health and a Master of Science in Health Promotion from Purdue University. Carolyn’s research interests include the health and wellness of firefighters and law enforcement officers. Dr. Muegge is currently the co-investigator on two FEMA grants examining health and occupational risk factors associated with cancer and the prevalence and impact of SARS-CoV-2 infections among firefighters. She has also reported or published on trends in health risk factors among new firefighters, barriers to a healthy lifestyle and excess mortality among Indiana firefighters. Dr. Muegge has been the PI on several contracts and grants. She has authored or co-authored more than 100 manuscripts, technical reports, posters, and presentations. Dr. Muegge was recognized in the 2020 Elite 50 at IUPUI, won the American Public Health Association new researcher award in 2016 and is a member of the national public health honor society, Delta Omega.
Vanessa Kleinschmidt has worked as the research project manager for the National Institute for Public Safety Health since 2016. Vanessa assists with the design, management, and execution of health-based research projects among the fire service and law enforcement, often collaborating with other research institutions across multiple sites. She has co-authored multiple manuscripts, technical reports, posters, and conference abstracts. Vanessa holds a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from the Indiana University Bloomington School of Public Health.