Our Faculty

Dr. Irwin Redlener is a recognized national leader in disaster preparedness and the public health ramifications of terrorism and large-scale catastrophic events. He and his team have developed major programs to enhance public health and health systems readiness with respect to disasters. He has written and spoken widely on the response to Hurricane Katrina, U.S. readiness for pandemics and the concerns of children as potential targets of terrorism. Dr. Redlener has also had more than three decades of experience providing healthcare to medically underserved children in rural and urban communities throughout the U.S. As founder and president of the Children's Health Fund, he is a renowned advocate for access to healthcare for all children. Dr. Redlener served as a principal developer and president of the new Children's Hospital at Montefiore in the Bronx. He has been a formal and informal adviser to the president and various cabinet members since 1993, over the last few years working with key members of the U.S. Congress on disaster preparedness and child health access. In 1993 & 1994, Dr. Redlener served as special consultant to the National Health Reform Task Force for the Clinton White House. He has taught medical students in rural Honduras and has led or assisted in international disaster relief in Central America and Africa. Dr. Redlener has also created a series of direct medical relief programs and public health initiatives in the Gulf region ravaged by Hurricane Katrina.

Other, Hunter College, CUNY, 2001

MD, University of Miami, 1969

BA, Hofstra University, 1964

Mailman School Affiliations:

• National Center for Disaster Preparedness 

Additional Affiliations:

• Commissioner, National Commission on Children and Disasters

• Sabin Humanitarian Award, 2003
• Louis Z. Cooper Award for Child Advocacy, American Academy of Pediatrics, 2003
• President's Certificate for Outstanding Service, The American Academy of Pediatrics, 2000
• Robin Hood Foundation Hero of the Year Award, 1996 & 1990
• National Health Service Corps Director's Award, 1996

Selected Editorial Boards

• Founding Editorial Board Member, Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness (AMA)

President, The Children's Health Fund
NY-based organization providing health care to homeless children in New York and supporting a national network of mobile-based and fixed site facilities caring for some of the nation's most medically underserved children.

Childhood Asthma Initiative
Providing health care to indigent children with asthma throughout New York City and the national network of the Children's Health Fund.

Starting Right
A program designed to enhance identification of children at risk of diabetes type 2, providing a wide-range of services to these children and their families. Services include clinical intervention and screening, nutrition counseling and related issues.