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Dickson D. Despommier

Professor of Environmental Health Sciences

and:
Professor of Microbiology, College of Physicians and Surgeons

Biography:
Dr. Dickson Despommier is an infectious disease ecologist with a strong interest in West Nile Virus epidemics in the United States. He studies patterns of weather and tries to construct ecologically-based models that would best describe the conditions under which an epidemic might be triggered. Dr. Despommier also tracks other infectious diseases, such as malaria and trypanosomiasis, regarding their ecological requirements for transmission.
Education & Training:

PhD, University of Notre Dame, 1967

MS, Columbia University, 1964

BS, Fairleigh Dickinson University, 1962

Affiliation(s):

University Affiliations:

  • Urban Design Laboratory (Earth Institute)  member

Additional Affiliations:

  • American Society for Tropical Medicine
  • American Society for Parasitology
  • American Association for the Advancemment of Science
Honors and Awards:
    • 2003 National Teacher of the Year, American Medical Student Association
    • Distinguished Teacher Award, Columbia University School of Medicine, 2007

    Selected Editorial Boards

    • Senior Editor, Topley and Wilson's Microbiology textbook, 2005 edition
Selected
New York City
Activities:
    New York
    Dr. Despommier is a member of the New York City Department of Health's Food Safety Committee.

    The Vertical Farm Project
    Project URL: http://www.verticalfarm.com
    Growing food in high rise buildings in urban centers

    Medical Ecology
    Project URL: http://www.medicalecology.org
    Tracking environmental disturbance and human health risks

Selected
Global
Activities:
    4th Year Medicine in the Tropics Elective
    Dr. Despommier runs the medical elective in the tropics for the fourth year medical students. Students travel to various countries and carry out clinical work under the supervision of a resident physician in that country.


Selected Publications:
    senior editor; Chapter on Trichinella infection "Topley and Wislon's Microbial Infections and Parasitology" Arnold Pub.s, London UK  2006

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Contact Information

Office/Address:

Environmental Health Sciences Dept. 60 Haven Ave., Rm. 100

New York, NY 10032

Website Address:

Homepage URL

Phone:

212-781-6670

Fax:

212-781-1830

E-mail:

ddd1@columbia.edu