Dr. von Schirnding attributes her success to a combination of hard work, excellent mentors, a strong passion for her profession, and good fortune. Ea
SOUTHPORT, CT, July 18, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ — Yasmin von Schirnding has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who’s Who. As in all Marquis Who’s Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Dr. von Schirnding is an adjunct associate professor and on the teaching faculty in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences, at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, where she has served since 2017. Her career began with a focus on environmental health and epidemiology, leading her to various roles across the globe. She also holds the position of adjunct associate professor in the Department of Environmental Medicine and Climate Science at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, is on the faculty at Harvard University and served as an Advisor to the World Health Organization (WHO) in Health and Sustainable Development, while she was based at the UN office in New York.
Early in her career, Dr. von Schirnding served as a research associate and, prior to, that as a scientific research officer at the University of Cape Town, Department of Environmental and Geographical Science. She was subsequently based at the Research Institute for Environmental Diseases at the Medical Research Council in Cape Town, South Africa, where she served as a chief medical researcher and specialist scientist. She then moved to Johannesburg, where she was appointed as Director of Environmental Health for the City of Johannesburg in 1992.
Dr. von Schirnding subsequently worked in various capacities at WHO in Geneva, Switzerland, for many years, including serving as an interim director, point person for the global program on sustainable development, and manager of the Healthy Environments for Children Alliance.
Dr. von Schirnding’s academic background laid a strong foundation for her career in environmental health and sustainable development. She earned a PhD with a dissertation in the field of environmental epidemiology from the University of Cape Town (UCT), after completing her MSc degree, with distinction, from UCT. She also holds a BSc (Honors) degree in the Medical Sciences from Stellenbosch University, a BSc (Honors) degree from UCT and a Master’s degree from Harvard University in the field of sustainability. She also holds several graduate certificates, including in public health and climate change from Yale University. Her certifications as a Registered Medical Scientist with the South African Medical and Dental Council and as a Registered Environmental Scientist with the Southern African Institute of Ecologists and Environmental Scientists solidified her standing in the field early on.
As a commitment to her field, Dr. von Schirnding has served as a member of numerous organizations, including the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology, the International Association of Impact Assessment, and the New York Academy of Sciences. Born in London, but having spent her formative years in the US, South Africa and Austria, she enjoys a rich personal life filled with flute and piano playing, reading, photography, travelling, and spending time with her family.
Dr. von Schirnding attributes her success to a combination of hard work, excellent mentors, a strong passion for her profession, and good fortune. Early opportunities at the South African Medical Research Council and her work with exceptional colleagues at WHO also contributed significantly to her achievements, as has the love, encouragement and intellectual support of her husband Derek.
Looking ahead, she aims to expand her teaching commitments across various levels of higher education, while also sharing her knowledge and experience through involvement in the work of non-governmental organizations, and in consulting.
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