Devra Davis

Devra Davis (born June 7, 1946) is an American epidemiologist and writer. The focus of her work has been on the health effects of environmental pollutants and industrial chemicals. She is the author of several books, including "When Smoke Ran Like Water" and "The Secret History of the War on Cancer".

Early life and education

Davis was born in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Donora, Pennsylvania, a small town that was the site of a severe air pollution event in 1948 that killed 20 people and sickened half the town. This event had a profound impact on Davis and inspired her to pursue a career in public health.

She earned a B.S. in physiological psychology and an M.A. in sociology from the University of Pittsburgh. She later earned a Ph.D. in science studies at the University of Chicago as a Danforth Foundation Graduate Fellow, and a M.P.H. in epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins University as a Senior National Cancer Institute Post-Doctoral Fellow.

Career

Davis has had a distinguished career in public health, serving as the Founding Director of the Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology of the U.S. National Research Council, and as the Founding Director of the Center for Environmental Oncology, the first of its kind in the world, at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute.

She has also served as an advisor to the World Health Organization and has testified before Congress on multiple occasions. Her research has been covered in major media outlets around the world, and she is a regularly invited speaker at conferences and events.

Books

Davis is the author of several influential books on environmental health. "When Smoke Ran Like Water" (2002) details the history and personal story of air pollution in Donora. "The Secret History of the War on Cancer" (2007) looks at how the cancer epidemic has been mismanaged, with industrial interests trumping public health.

Awards and recognition

Davis has received numerous awards and recognitions for her work. She was a National Book Award Finalist for "When Smoke Ran Like Water", and her work has been translated into more than a dozen languages.

Personal life

Davis is married to Richard D. Morgenstern, a senior fellow at Resources for the Future. They have two children.