Daniel Kass is the Senior Vice President of Environmental, Climate and Urban Health at Vital Strategies, where he leads a team working to use the tools of public health to address environmental threats and ensure healthy and sustainable outcomes for people living in an increasingly urbanized world.
Kass is a notable expert on environmental health and environmental disease prevention, with nearly 30 years of experience in enforcement, policy and research programs. Achievements include founding and directing the Hunter College Center for Occupational and Environmental Health and creating and serving as Assistant Commissioner for the Bureau of Environmental Surveillance and Policy with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, prior to his appointment as Deputy Commissioner for the Division of Environmental Health Service where he oversaw a staff of more than 900. He brings this expertise to provide technical capacity and consultative services to help address environmental threats, especially in low- and middle-income countries—reducing air pollution, mitigating climate change, and improving water, sanitation, and transportation systems. His team also helps governments prioritize investments that can amplify health gains in urban areas and engage the public to recognize the immediate and long–term health impacts of environmental threats.
Kass also currently serves on the Board of Scientific Counselors of NIEHS’ National Toxicology Program and is the former Chair of the CDC Board of Scientific Counselors for the National Center for Environmental Health/ATSDR. He also serves on the advisory committee for the Columbia University Children’s Environmental Health Center.
Prior to joining Vital Strategies, Kass was Deputy Commissioner for the Division of Environmental Health Service at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Dan completed doctoral studies (ABD) in Public Administration at NYU, having earned his Master of Science in Public Health degree from the UCLA School of Public Health and Bachelor of Science degree from Brown University.
