James A. Shannon

James Augustine Shannon (August 9, 1904 – May 20, 1994) was an American nephrologist who served as director of National Institutes of Health (NIH) from August 1, 1955 to August 31, 1968.^[1] In 1962 he was awarded the Public Welfare Medal from the National Academy of Sciences, of which he was a member.^[3][4] He was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1965 and the American Philosophical Society in 1967.^[5][6] A collection of his papers is held at the National Library of Medicine in Bethesda, Maryland.

James A. Shannon
8th Director of the National Institutes of Health
In office August 1, 1955 – August 31, 1968
President	Dwight Eisenhower John F. Kennedy Lyndon Johnson
Preceded by	William H. Sebrell, Jr
Succeeded by	Robert Q. Marston
Personal details
Born	(1904-08-09)August 9, 1904 New York City, U.S.
Died	May 20, 1994(1994-05-20) (aged 89) Baltimore, Maryland[1]
Spouse	Alice M. Waterhouse
Children	2
Education	College of the Holy Cross (BA) New York University (MD, PhD)
Awards	Public Welfare Medal (1962) President's Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service (1966) National Medal of Science[2] (1974)
Scientific career
Fields	Nephrology
Institutions	National Institutes of Health

Early life and education

Shannon was born in New York City on August 9, 1904. He attended Brooklyn Preparatory School and matriculated at the College of the Holy Cross, graduating in 1925. He then enrolled at New York University, where he earned a Doctor of Medicine in 1929 and a Ph.D. in 1935.^[7]