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
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2014
Distinguished Alumni Research Award -
2014
Distinguished Graduate Award -
2011
Frank R. Lautenberg Award in Public Health -
2011
Senator Frank R Lautenberg Annual Award in Public Health -
2009
Stephen Smith Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Public Health -
2008
Alumni Award for Professional Excellence -
2008
Irving J. Selikoff Award -
2006
Lifetime Achievement Award -
2006
Children's Environmental Health Champion Award -
2005
Health Achievement in Occupational Medicine Award -
2005
J. Lester Gabrilove Award -
2003
David P. Rall Award for Advocacy in Public Health -
2003
Jorma Rantanen Award -
2002
James Keogh Award -
2002
Jacobi Medallion -
2002
Haven Emerson Award -
2000
Award for Environmental Advocacy on Behalf of Children -
2000
William Steiger Memorial Award -
1999
Katherine Boucot Sturgis Award -
1998
Vernon Houk Award -
1995
Occupational Health and Safety Award -
1995
Herbert L. Needleman Medal and Award for Scientific Contributions and Advocacy on Behalf of Children -
1995
William Sidell Presidential Award -
1993
Harriet Hardy Award -
1985
Annual Honoree
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 did not report having any of the following types of financial relationships with industry during 2018 and/or 2019: consulting, scientific advisory board, industry-sponsored lectures, service on Board of Directors, participation on industry-sponsored committees, equity ownership valued at greater than 5% of a publicly traded company or any value in a privately held company. Please note that this information may differ from information posted on corporate sites due to timing or classification differences.
Mount Sinai's faculty policies relating to faculty collaboration with industry are posted on our website. Patients may wish to ask their physician about the activities they perform for companies.