Shanna Swan

Shanna Swan is a renowned epidemiologist and Professor of Environmental Medicine and Public Health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She holds a PhD in Statistics from UC Berkeley (1963), an MA in Biostatistics from Columbia University, and a BA in Mathematics from City College of New York. Her career spans academia, public health institutions, and research on environmental health impacts. Notable roles include work at Kaiser Permanente, California Department of Health Services, University of Missouri, and University of Rochester.

Her research focuses on endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), sperm count decline, and reproductive health. Her groundbreaking 2017 study revealed a 50% sperm count drop in Western men over 40 years, later updated to show acceleration since 2000. She authored the influential book Count Down (2021), addressing environmental threats to human fertility. Key contributions include forming California’s reproductive health group and leading National Academy of Sciences committees on EDCs.

Swan advocates for science-driven public health policy, emphasizing the need to address chemical exposures. Her work bridges statistical rigor with real-world impact, influencing global discussions on fertility and environmental safety. Awards include the Ward Medal in Logic (CCNY). She remains active in advancing research, education, and community action to safeguard human health and reproduction.