This week, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and National Toxicology Program Director Linda Birnbaum, Ph.D., D.A.B.T., A.T.S., announced that she will retire on October 3, 2019. Birnbaum, the first woman to head the NIEHS, has served as director since 2009, and has been a federal government scientist with NIEHS and the EPA for 40 years.

Under Dr. Birnbaum’s leadership, NIEHS led trans-NIH efforts to research the health effects of climate change and the landmark NIH GULF study, which continues to study the health of 2010 Deepwater Horizon Gulf oil spill responders. In 2009, she opened the NIEHS’s Clinical Research Unit (CRU) to enhance the institute’s clinical and translational research infrastructure.  The ATS has enjoyed a strong partnership with the NIEHS under Dr. Birnbaum’s tenure, which includes collaboration on numerous ATS initiatives, including the ATS workshop reports on Climate Change and Health, Air Pollution Monitoring for Health Research and Patient Care, and Air Pollution as a Cause of Respiratory Disease. Rick Woychick, Ph.D., currently NIEHS Deputy Director, will serve as Acting Director until a new director is appointed.