#020 - Dr. AnneMarie Stroustrup on Environmental Exposures, Research Persistence, and Leadership in Neonatology

In this episode of At the Bench, hosts Dr. Misty Good and Dr. Betsy Crouch sit down with Dr. AnneMarie Stroustrup, Chair of Pediatrics at Zucker School of Medicine, Physician-in-Chief at Cohen Children’s Medical Center, and senior vice president of the pediatric service line at Northwell Health.Dr. Stroustrup reflects on her path from early work in biotechnology to training as a neonatologist and physician scientist. She shares how volunteer experiences in an under-resourced emergency department shaped her decision to pursue medicine, and how her MPH in epidemiology provided the tools to investigate critical questions about fetal and neonatal exposures.The conversation highlights her research on environmental chemicals—particularly phthalates—and their links to outcomes such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia, work within the NIH ECHO program, and the importance of large-scale, collaborative science. Dr. Stroustrup also discusses the persistence required in research, navigating funding rejections, and translating epidemiologic findings back to bench models.The discussion concludes with her insights on leadership in neonatology, from directing divisions and fellowships to now serving as chair, balancing research, clinical duties, and family life while advocating for sustainable staffing models in pediatrics.