Environmental Factor, January 2010, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

Collegium Ramazzini Elects Birnbaum as Fellow

By Eddy Ball
January 2010

The collegium's logo features an 18th century drawing of the group's namesake, Bernardino Ramazzini. (Photo courtesy of the Collegium Ramazzini)

Birnbaum, shown during a talk at NIEHS, has enjoyed a 30-year federal government career as a toxicologist and leader in environmental science. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

NIEHS/NTP Director Linda Birnbaum, Ph.D., received notification in December of her election as a fellow of the Collegium Ramazzini headquartered in Carpi, Italy. The letter from Collegium Ramazzini Secretary General Morando Soffritti, M.D., praised Birnbaum for her "scientific stature and authority" and "commitment to the public's health."

Birnbaum described her election as "a great honor" and said she looks forward to working with this prestigious group.

Birnbaum recognized for international distinction in environmental health

With 180 fellows(http://www.collegiumramazzini.org/fellows.asp) in 30 countries, the Collegium Ramazzini(http://www.collegiumramazzini.org/) is an international scientific society that examines critical issues in occupational and environmental health, with a view towards action to prevent disease and promote health. The fellows are professionals of clear personal distinction and integrity, distinguished by their contributions to occupational and environmental health.

Birnbaum is one of the select group of current and former NIEHS scientists who are Collegium Ramazzini fellows. They include former NIEHS Director Ken Olden, Ph.D., NTP Associate Director John Bucher, Ph.D., and Superfund Research Program Director William Suk, Ph.D., as well as several outstanding current and former other NIEHS scientists - Carl Barrett, Ph.D., David Hoel, Ph.D., James Huff, Ph.D., George Lucier, Ph.D., Ronald Melnick, Ph.D., John Moore, Ph.D., Walter Rogan, Ph.D., and Raymond Shapiro, Ph.D. Former NIEHS Director David Rall, M.D., Ph.D., was both a fellow and the recipient of the annual Ramazzini Award(http://www.collegiumramazzini.org/ramazziniaward.asp) in 1989.

Among the several fellows who are NIEHS grantees is Philip Landrigan, M.D., who serves as Collegium Ramazzini president.

The Collegium Ramazzini carries on the legacy of the father of occupational medicine

Founded in 1982, the Collegium derives its name from Italian physician and University of Modena Professor Bernardino Ramazzini (1633-1714), who authored one of the founding and seminal works of occupational medicine and played a substantial role in its development. His book, De Morbis Artificum Diatriba (Diseases of Workers), outlined the health hazards of chemicals, dust, metals, repetitive or violent motions, odd postures, and other disease-causative agents encountered by workers in 52 occupations.

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