Steven A. Schroeder
Steven A. Schroeder | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 26, 1939 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Stanford University (BA) Harvard Medical School (MD) |
| Known for | Tobacco control advocacy, Palliative care advancement, Social determinants of health |
| Spouse | Sally Ross |
| Awards | Gustav O. Lienhard Award (2013) David E. Rogers Award (2008) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Medicine, Public Health, Health Policy |
| Institutions | University of California, San Francisco Robert Wood Johnson Foundation |
Steven A. Schroeder (born July 26, 1939) is an American physician and academic. He is a Distinguished Professor of Health and Healthcare at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and served as president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) from 1990 to 2002.[1]
Education and early career
Raised in El Cerrito, California,[2] Schroeder graduated from Stanford University in 1960. He earned his M.D. from Harvard Medical School in 1964.[1] From 1966 to 1968, he served as an Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) Officer for the CDC, where he led the Salmonellosis Unit.[3]
He held a faculty appointment at the George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences starting in 1971. In 1976, he joined the UCSF faculty, establishing the Division of General Internal Medicine there in 1980.[1]
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
As President and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Schroeder managed the distribution of approximately $4 billion in grants.[4] During his tenure, the foundation launched national tobacco control initiatives. Author Joel Fleishman later characterized these programs as among the most impactful foundation initiatives of the 20th century.[5]
Schroeder's administration also funded programs targeting end-of-life care, a move credited with helping establish palliative care as a recognized medical specialty.[6] Other efforts included the expansion of health insurance for children following the implementation of CHIP.[7]
Tobacco control and research
In 2003, Schroeder established the Smoking Cessation Leadership Center (SCLC) at UCSF.[1] The center focuses on cessation rates among high-prevalence populations, such as those with mental illness or substance use disorders.[8]
Schroeder has authored over 300 publications. His 2007 Shattuck Lecture, "We Can Do Better — Improving the Health of the American People," remains a seminal text regarding the social determinants of health.[9] In 2014, he was appointed to the federal Interagency Committee on Smoking and Health.[3]
Selected bibliography
- Schroeder SA. "The medically uninsured: will they always be with us?". New England Journal of Medicine. 1996; 334(17):1130-1133.
- Schroeder SA. "Tobacco control in the wake of the 1998 master settlement agreement". New England Journal of Medicine. 2004; 350(3):293-301.
- Schroeder SA, Morris CD. "Confronting a neglected epidemic: tobacco cessation for persons with mental illnesses and substance abuse problems". Annual Review of Public Health. 2010; 31:297-314.
Awards and honors
Schroeder is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.[3]
- Gustav O. Lienhard Award, National Academy of Medicine (2013)
- David E. Rogers Award, Association of American Medical Colleges (2008)
- Six honorary doctoral degrees, including from Rush University and Dartmouth College.
Personal life
Schroeder is married to Sally Ross and resides in Tiburon, California. They have two sons and four grandchildren.[2]
References
- ^ a b c d "Steven A. Schroeder - Biography". A History of UCSF. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
- ^ a b "Schroeder (Steven A.) Collection, 1970-2019". Online Archive of California. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
- ^ a b c "Steve Schroeder, MD". UCSF Center for Health and Community. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
- ^ "Person of the year. Steven A. Schroeder, MD". PubMed. 1999. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
- ^ Fleishman, Joel (2007). The Foundation: A Great American Secret. PublicAffairs. ISBN 978-1586484880.
- ^ "IOM Presents 2013 Lienhard Award". The ASCO Post. November 15, 2013. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
- ^ "An Interview with Steve Schroeder". UCSF Division of General Internal Medicine. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
- ^ "Helping Smokers Quit". PubMed Central. 2008. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
- ^ Schroeder, Steven A. (September 20, 2007). "We Can Do Better — Improving the Health of the American People". New England Journal of Medicine. 357 (12): 1221–1228. doi:10.1056/NEJMsa073350. PMID 17881753. Retrieved March 12, 2026.