Dean, University of Michigan School of Public Health Tapped for National Board
WASHINGTON, DC – NEEF, also known as the National Environmental Education Foundation, announced today the appointment of Dr. Martin Philbert to its Board of Directors. Dr. Philbert is professor of toxicology and dean of the University of Michigan School of Public Health having previously served as senior associate dean for research at the school since 2004.
Dr. Philbert was the chair of the US-EPA Chemical Assessment Advisory Committee that provides peer review of risk assessments produced under the auspices of the EPA's Integrated Risk Information System and is a standing member of the Agency's Science Advisory Board. He also served a four-year term on the National Advisory Environmental Health Sciences Council of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and provides consultation to the federal agencies on a variety of issues surrounding emerging nanotechnologies, nanomedicine, health, and safety.
"Dr. Philbert brings a distinguished background in studying the effects of environmental influences on public health. He offers an important perspective as NEEF strives to engage 300 million Americans to actively use environmental knowledge to ensure the wellbeing of the earth and its people." said NEEF Board Chairman Decker Anstrom. "We are honored to have him join our board."
Dr. Philbert is an elected member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies of Science (USA), a fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (UK), a fellow of the Academy of Toxicological Sciences (USA) and a member of the Division of Earth and Life Sciences of the National Academy of Science (USA). Dr. Philbert is the author of more than 200 peer-reviewed scholarly manuscripts, abstracts and book chapters, and is the recipient of the 2001 Society of Toxicology Achievement Award.
He provides consultation to the National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the National Toxicology Program, and is a scientific advisor to the International Life Sciences Institute in Washington, DC. He has maintained a continuously federally funded portfolio of basic research activities throughout his career. Most recently his work has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Air Force, and the National Cancer Institute.
"Dr. Philbert's background will be invaluable to NEEF as we strengthen and expand our public health initiatives," said NEEF President Diane Wood. "Americans are increasingly making the connection between the environment and their health, and NEEF can offer them vital resources and solutions," Wood added.
Dr. Philbert earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 1984 from the College of Arts and Technology at Cambridge, and his doctorate in 1987 from the London University Royal Postgraduate Medical School. He was awarded a postdoctoral fellowship in the Neurotoxicology Laboratories at Rutgers University from 1988-90.