Jack P. Shonkoff

Jack P. Shonkoff, M.D., is a Professor at Harvard University, holding dual appointments at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Harvard Graduate School of Education, as well as a Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and Boston Children's Hospital. He is the Director of the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University and chairs key initiatives like the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child and the JPB Research Network on Toxic Stress. His work focuses on translating scientific insights into policy and practice to address early childhood adversity, systemic inequities, and structural racism. Shonkoff has authored over 150 publications, including influential works like the Handbook of Early Childhood Intervention, and has received prestigious awards for his contributions to child health and public policy.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree from Cornell University
• M.D. from New York University School of Medicine
• Pediatric training at Bronx Municipal Hospital Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine
• Fellowship in Developmental Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and Boston Children’s Hospital

Research Interests: Shonkoff’s work bridges developmental science with policy, emphasizing the impact of early adversity, structural inequities, and systemic racism on child development. He advocates for evidence-based interventions to build resilience and equity in early childhood systems. Key areas include toxic stress biology, brain development, and scalable policy solutions. His recent projects address pandemic-related disruptions and systemic racism’s effects on families.

Awards & Recognition:

• Institute of Medicine Membership (National Academy of Sciences)
• American Pediatric Society Election
• National Associate of the National Academies
• C. Anderson Aldrich Award in Child Development
• Society for Research in Child Development’s Distinguished Contributions Award

Grants & Initiatives: Shonkoff leads the Frontiers of Innovation collaboration and the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation-funded project to re-envision the early childhood ecosystem. His research aims to synthesize science for policymakers, practitioners, and communities, focusing on scalable interventions and systemic change.

Labs/Teams: Directs the Center on the Developing Child, a multidisciplinary hub integrating neuroscience, pediatrics, and public policy to advance child development science.