Philip J Landrigan, MD Email Philip Landrigan
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- Position
- PROFESSOR & CHAIR EMERITUS | Environmental Medicine & Public Health
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- Language
- English
Philip J. Landrigan, M.D., M.Sc., is a pediatrician and epidemiologist. He has been a member of the faculty of Mount Sinai School of Medicine since 1985 and served as Chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine since from 1995 to 2015. He was named Dean for Global Health in 2010.
Dr. Landrigan graduated from Boston College in 1963 and from Harvard Medical School in 1967. He completed an internship in medicine/pediatrics at Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital and a residency in pediatrics at Children's Hospital Boston. In 1977, he received a Diploma of Industrial Health from the University of London and a Masters of Science in Occupational Medicine degree from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. He served for 15 years as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer and medical epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). While at CDC, Dr. Landrigan served for one year as a field epidemiologist in El Salvador and for much of another year in northern Nigeria. He participated in the Global Campaign for the Eradication of Smallpox. Dr. Landrigan directed the national program in occupational epidemiology for NIOSH. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal of the US Public Health Service.
In 1987, Dr. Landrigan was elected a member of the National Academy of Medicine (formerly the of the Institutes of Medicine). He is the President of Cellegium Ramazzini. He served as Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Industrial Medicine and Editor of Environmental Research. He has published more than 500 scientific papers and 5 books. He has chaired committees at the National Academy of Sciences on Environmental Neurotoxicology and on Pesticides in the Diets of Infants and Children. From 1995 to 1997, Dr. Landrigan served on the Presidential Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veteran's Illnesses. In 1997-1998, Dr. Landrigan served as Senior Advisor on Children's Health to the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and was instrumental in helping to establish a new Office of Children's Health Protection at EPA. From 2000-2002, Dr. Landrigan served on the Armed Forces Epidemiological Board. Dr Landrigan served from 1996 to 2005 in the Medical Corps of the United States Naval Reserve. He retired in 2005 at the rank of Captain. He continues to serve as Surgeon General of the New York Naval Militia, New York's Naval National Guard.
Dr. Landrigan is known for his many decades of work in protecting children against environmental threats to health. His research combines the tools of epidemiology with biological markers derived from clinical and laboratory medicine. Dr. Landrigan is deeply committed to translating research into strategies for health protection and disease prevention.
Dr. Landrigan is featured in the NY Times OpEd Why Are We Subsidizing Childhood Obesity?
Clinical Focus
Education
AB, Boston College
Diploma of Industrial Health, University of London
MSc in Occupational Medicine, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Language
English
2014
Distinguished Alumni Research Award
Boston College
2014
Distinguished Graduate Award
Boston Latin School
2011
Frank R. Lautenberg Award in Public Health
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
2011
Senator Frank R Lautenberg Annual Award in Public Health
University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey
2009
Stephen Smith Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Public Health
New York Academy of Medicine
2008
Alumni Award for Professional Excellence
Boston College
2008
Irving J. Selikoff Award
Collegium Ramazzini
2006
Lifetime Achievement Award
Children's Health Environmental Coalition
2006
Children's Environmental Health Champion Award
Environmental Protection Agency
2005
Health Achievement in Occupational Medicine Award
American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
2005
J. Lester Gabrilove Award
Mount Sinai School of Medicine
2003
David P. Rall Award for Advocacy in Public Health
American Public Health Association
2003
Jorma Rantanen Award
Finnish Institute for Occupational Health
2002
James Keogh Award
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
2002
Jacobi Medallion
Mount Sinai School of Medicine
2002
Haven Emerson Award
Public Health Association of New York City
2000
Award for Environmental Advocacy on Behalf of Children
Environmental Advocates of New York
2000
William Steiger Memorial Award
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists
1999
Katherine Boucot Sturgis Award
American College of Preventive Medicine
1998
Vernon Houk Award
International Society for Occupational and Environmental Health
1995
Occupational Health and Safety Award
International Association of Fire Fighters
1995
Herbert L. Needleman Medal and Award for Scientific Contributions and Advocacy on Behalf of Children
American Public Health Association
1995
William Sidell Presidential Award
United Brotherhood of Carpenters
1993
Harriet Hardy Award
New England College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
1985
Annual Honoree
New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health
Dr. Landrigan’s landmark studies in the early 1970s of children exposed to lead near a lead ore smelter in El Paso, Texas were among the first to show that lead can cause brain damage to children at levels too low to cause clinically evident signs and symptoms – a phenomenon now termed “subclinical toxicity.” This work was critical in persuading the EPA to remove lead from gasoline and paint, actions that resulted in a 95% decline in lead poisoning in US children. This success has been emulated in nations worldwide.
The 1993 National Academy of Science report on Pesticides in the Diets of Infants and Children that Dr. Landrigan led provided the blueprint for the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996, the major law governing pesticide use in the US, and the only federal environmental law that contains explicit provisions for the protection of children’s health.
Dr. Landrigan has been centrally involved in the medical and epidemiologic studies that followed the destruction of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. He has consulted extensively to the World Health Organization.
In the News
Dr. Landrigan and his work were recently profiled in The Daily News feature The Daily Check Up. View the PDF. Dr. Landrigan was also profiled in The Lancet in 2005. View profile.
Read the commentary by Philip J. Landrigan, MD, MSc, "What's Getting Into Our Children?" that appeared in the New York Times on August 4, 2009.
Physicians and scientists on the faculty of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai often interact with pharmaceutical, device and biotechnology companies to improve patient care, develop new therapies and achieve scientific breakthroughs. In order to promote an ethical and transparent environment for conducting research, providing clinical care and teaching, Mount Sinai requires that salaried faculty inform the School of their relationships with such companies.
Dr. Landrigan has not yet completed reporting of Industry relationships.
Mount Sinai's faculty policies relating to faculty collaboration with industry are posted on our website.
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