Jonathan M Samet MD, MS

Jonathan M. Samet, a pulmonary physician and epidemiologist, is Dean of the Colorado School of Public Health. Previously, he was Flora L. Thornton Chair, Department of Preventive Medicine at the University of Southern California and Director of the USC Institute for Global Health.  Dr. Samet received a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and Physics from Harvard College, an M.D. degree from the University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry, and a Master of Science degree in Epidemiology from the Harvard School of Public Health.  His research has focused on the health risks of inhaled pollutants—particles and ozone in outdoor air and indoor pollutants including secondhand smoke and radon.  He has also investigated the occurrence and causes of cancer and respiratory diseases, emphasizing the risks of active and passive smoking. 

For several decades, he has been involved in global health, focusing on tobacco control, air pollution, and chronic disease prevention.  He has served on and chaired numerous committees of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine. He also chaired the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) of the U.S. EPA and the FDA’s Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (TPSAC). Dr. Samet has served as editor and author for Reports of the Surgeon General on Smoking and Health since 1984, receiving the Surgeon General’s Medallion in 1990 and 2006 for these contributions. He was the Senior Scientific Editor for the 50th Anniversary 2014 report. Dr. Samet received the 2004 Prince Mahidol Award for Global Health awarded by the King of Thailand, the Edward Livingston Trudeau Medal from the American Thoracic Society/American Lung Association, the Luther L. Terry Award for Distinguished Career from the American Cancer Society, and the Fries Prize for Health.  He was elected to the National Academy of Medicine (Institute of Medicine) of the National Academy of Sciences in 1997 and received the Academy’s David M. Rall Medal for his contributions in 2015.