Michael Shannon (pediatrician)
Encyclopedia
Michael Shannon was an African American
pediatric
toxicologist
who specialized in the effect of toxins and poisonous substances in children. A dancer since his days in college, Shannon was known as the "dancing doctor".
. He attended that city's Washington University
, where he took his first dance classes, and graduated in 1974. In 1977, Shannon was simultaneously awarded a degree in medicine from the Duke University School of Medicine
, as well as a Master of Public Health
from the University of North Carolina
. After completing his medical degree, he was an intern at Duke University Hospital
, a resident
at Boston City Hospital
and performed a medical toxicology fellowship
at Children's Hospital Boston
. He also worked in the associated poison control center
.
, he was the first African-American to be named a full professor of pediatrics at the institution when he was named to the post in November 2004. Shannon had also been the first African American to serve as a division chief at Children's Hospital Boston and had served as chief of both the emergency medicine and clinical pharmacology departments since being added to the staff of the hospital in 1983. He achieved board certification
in medical toxicology
, emergency medicine
, pediatrics, and pediatric emergency medicine.
He was an expert on the toxicological effects of exposure of children to hazards such as alcohol and drugs, as well as lead paint, becoming a spokesman against the improper use by children of these substances. Shannon testified before Congress regarding cold medicines that could be dangerous for children. He also contributed to the toxicology literature by investigating different aspects of the toxicity of drugs such as cocaine
, theophylline
, and tricyclic antidepressant
s. He was a fellow
of the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology
and held the position of president of the American College of Medical Toxicology
.
With the American Academy of Pediatrics
, he wrote a 2003 recommendation that homes and schools within range of nuclear power plants should maintain stockpiles of iodine pills to prevent thyroid cancer
in case of an accidental release of radiation. In 2005, his testimony on the effects of lead paint in children led to a verdict against three paint manufacturers which was later overturned on appeal by the Rhode Island Supreme Court
.
in 1996 and continued running four to five days per week until his death. (wife Elaine Shannon)
On March 10, 2009, Shannon was returning with his wife from a dancing vacation in Argentina
. Arriving at John F. Kennedy International Airport
he collapsed after leaving the plane and was taken to nearby Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. Efforts to revive him were unsuccessful. The immediate cause of death has not yet been determined.
A resident of Brookline, Massachusetts
, Dr. Shannon was 55 years old.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
pediatric
Pediatrics
Pediatrics or paediatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. A medical practitioner who specializes in this area is known as a pediatrician or paediatrician...
toxicologist
Toxicology
Toxicology is a branch of biology, chemistry, and medicine concerned with the study of the adverse effects of chemicals on living organisms...
who specialized in the effect of toxins and poisonous substances in children. A dancer since his days in college, Shannon was known as the "dancing doctor".
Biography
Shannon grew up in St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. He attended that city's Washington University
Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis is a private research university located in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1853, and named for George Washington, the university has students and faculty from all fifty U.S. states and more than 110 nations...
, where he took his first dance classes, and graduated in 1974. In 1977, Shannon was simultaneously awarded a degree in medicine from the Duke University School of Medicine
Duke University School of Medicine
The Duke University School of Medicine is Duke University's medical school operating under the auspices of the Duke University Medical Center. Established in 1925 by James B...
, as well as a Master of Public Health
Master of Public Health
The Master of Public Health and the Doctor of Public Health are multi-disciplinary professional degrees awarded for studies in areas related to public health....
from the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina
Chartered in 1789, the University of North Carolina was one of the first public universities in the United States and the only one to graduate students in the eighteenth century...
. After completing his medical degree, he was an intern at Duke University Hospital
Duke University Hospital
Duke University Medical Center is a 924-bed academic tertiary care facility located in Durham, North Carolina. Since its establishment in 1930, the hospital has grown from a small regional hospital to an academic medical center...
, a resident
Residency (medicine)
Residency is a stage of graduate medical training. A resident physician or resident is a person who has received a medical degree , Podiatric degree , Dental Degree and who practices...
at Boston City Hospital
Boston City Hospital
The Boston City Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, was "intended for the use and comfort of poor patients, to whom medical care will be provided at the expense of the city, and .....
and performed a medical toxicology fellowship
Fellowship (medicine)
A fellowship is the period of medical training in the United States and Canada that a physician may undertake after completing a specialty training program . During this time , the physician is known as a fellow...
at Children's Hospital Boston
Children's Hospital Boston
Children's Hospital Boston is a 396-licensed bed children's hospital in the Longwood Medical and Academic Area of Boston, Massachusetts.At 300 Longwood Avenue, Children's is adjacent both to its teaching affiliate, Harvard Medical School, and to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute...
. He also worked in the associated poison control center
Poison control center
A poison control center is a medical facility that is able to provide immediate, free, and expert treatment advice and assistance over the telephone in case of exposure to poisonous or hazardous substances...
.
Medical career
A professor at Harvard Medical SchoolHarvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School is the graduate medical school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts....
, he was the first African-American to be named a full professor of pediatrics at the institution when he was named to the post in November 2004. Shannon had also been the first African American to serve as a division chief at Children's Hospital Boston and had served as chief of both the emergency medicine and clinical pharmacology departments since being added to the staff of the hospital in 1983. He achieved board certification
Board certification
Board certification is the process by which a physician , dentist , or podiatrist in the United States demonstrates through either written, practical, and/or simulator based testing, a mastery of the basic knowledge and skills that define an area of medical specialization...
in medical toxicology
Medical toxicology
Medical toxicology, or clinical toxicology, is a subspecialty of medicine. It is practiced by toxicologists, but toxicologic knowledge is often used in emergency medicine, occupational medicine and pediatrics...
, emergency medicine
Emergency medicine
Emergency medicine is a medical specialty in which physicians care for patients with acute illnesses or injuries which require immediate medical attention. While not usually providing long-term or continuing care, emergency medicine physicians diagnose a variety of illnesses and undertake acute...
, pediatrics, and pediatric emergency medicine.
He was an expert on the toxicological effects of exposure of children to hazards such as alcohol and drugs, as well as lead paint, becoming a spokesman against the improper use by children of these substances. Shannon testified before Congress regarding cold medicines that could be dangerous for children. He also contributed to the toxicology literature by investigating different aspects of the toxicity of drugs such as cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
, theophylline
Theophylline
Theophylline, also known as dimethylxanthine, is a methylxanthine drug used in therapy for respiratory diseases such as COPD and asthma under a variety of brand names. Because of its numerous side-effects, the drug is now rarely administered for clinical use. As a member of the xanthine family, it...
, and tricyclic antidepressant
Tricyclic antidepressant
Tricyclic antidepressants are heterocyclic chemical compounds used primarily as antidepressants. The TCAs were first discovered in the early 1950s and were subsequently introduced later in the decade; they are named after their chemical structure, which contains three rings of atoms...
s. He was a fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
of the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology
American Academy of Clinical Toxicology
The American Academy of Clinical Toxicology is a non-profit multidisciplinary health association that promotes research, education, prevention, and treatment of diseases caused by chemicals...
and held the position of president of the American College of Medical Toxicology
American College of Medical Toxicology
The American College of Medical Toxicology , founded in 1993, is the largest organization of medical toxicologists in the United States and the world....
.
With the American Academy of Pediatrics
American Academy of Pediatrics
The American Academy of Pediatrics is the major professional association of pediatricians in the United States. The AAP was founded in 1930 by 35 pediatricians to address pediatric healthcare standards. It currently has 60,000 members in primary care and sub-specialist areas...
, he wrote a 2003 recommendation that homes and schools within range of nuclear power plants should maintain stockpiles of iodine pills to prevent thyroid cancer
Thyroid cancer
Thyroid neoplasm is a neoplasm or tumor of the thyroid. It can be a benign tumor such as thyroid adenoma, or it can be a malignant neoplasm , such as papillary, follicular, medullary or anaplastic thyroid cancer. Most patients are 25 to 65 years of age when first diagnosed; women are more affected...
in case of an accidental release of radiation. In 2005, his testimony on the effects of lead paint in children led to a verdict against three paint manufacturers which was later overturned on appeal by the Rhode Island Supreme Court
Rhode Island Supreme Court
The Rhode Island Supreme Court, founded in 1747, is the court of last resort in the U.S. State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. The Court consists of a chief justice and four associate justices. The current Justices of the Rhode Island Supreme Court are:*Chief Justice Paul A...
.
Personal life
He was a professional dancer and was known as the "dancing doctor". He appeared in performances of Black Nativity and starred in the role of Drosselmeier from 2001 to 2008 in the production of the Urban Nutcracker, having appeared in the annual performance for eight years. He ran the Boston MarathonBoston Marathon
The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the U.S. city of Boston, Massachusetts, on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest...
in 1996 and continued running four to five days per week until his death. (wife Elaine Shannon)
On March 10, 2009, Shannon was returning with his wife from a dancing vacation in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. Arriving at John F. Kennedy International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport is an international airport located in the borough of Queens in New York City, about southeast of Lower Manhattan. It is the busiest international air passenger gateway to the United States, handling more international traffic than any other airport in North...
he collapsed after leaving the plane and was taken to nearby Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. Efforts to revive him were unsuccessful. The immediate cause of death has not yet been determined.
A resident of Brookline, Massachusetts
Brookline, Massachusetts
Brookline is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States, which borders on the cities of Boston and Newton. As of the 2010 census, the population of the town was 58,732.-Etymology:...
, Dr. Shannon was 55 years old.
Family
In addition to his wife, Shannon is survived by two college-aged children, son Evan and daughter Lila.External links
- http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090312/NEWS/903120326
- http://www.blackamericaweb.com/?q=articles/news/the_state_of_black_america_news/7623