Bio
Dr. Lori Hoepner is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine at St. George’s University School of Medicine. She holds a DrPH in Environmental Health Sciences with a concentration in Molecular Epidemiology from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, an MPH in Maternal and Child Health from the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, a BA in Biology from Barnard College, and a certificate in Artificial Intelligence from the Columbia University Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science.
Dr. Hoepner is an environmental exposure scientist with over 25 years of academic research, teaching, and data science experience. Her work focuses on understanding the health effects of environmental exposures across the life course, particularly prenatal and early childhood exposures, within a Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) framework. Her research has examined a wide range of exposures – including air pollutants (e.g. PAHs, PMs), endocrine-disrupting chemicals (e.g., BPA, phthalates), pesticides, and consumer product chemicals – and their associations with outcomes such as asthma, neurodevelopment, obesity, and other chronic conditions.
She has extensive expertise in the management and analysis of complex public health datasets, including large-scale integration and harmonization of multi-center epidemiologic and environmental monitoring data. Her work has contributed to major US national research initiatives, including the NIH-funded Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) program. With more than 100 peer-reviewed publications in environmental exposure science and population health, Dr. Hoepner is widely recognized for her contributions to the field and is regularly sought for her expertise by media, government agencies, industry, and legal stakeholders. Her work aims to translate environmental health research into actionable insights that inform policy, prevention strategies, and population health improvements.
Dr. Hoepner’s broader research portfolio also includes work on the health impacts of climate change, the World Trade Center disaster, COVID-19, HIV/AIDS behavioral science, and health disparities, with a focus on how environmental risks intersect with social determinants of health across diverse populations. Her current work at St. George’s University emphasizes environmental health challenges in Small Island Developing States, including climate-related exposures and population health in the Caribbean.
At St. George’s University, Dr. Hoepner serves as Coordinator of Research and Head of Research and Partnership Development for the Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine. In these roles, she collaborates with faculty and students to strengthen research capacity through mentorship and interdisciplinary scholarship, while also leading the department’s strategic portfolio in research partnership development. This includes advancing formal collaborations through memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with non-governmental organizations, non-profits, and the Grenadian Ministry of Health to support research, training, and public health initiatives. Her work contributes to expanding research opportunities, funding, and public health impact in Grenada and the wider Caribbean region.
Professional Philosophy
My teaching and mentoring philosophy is rooted in the belief that education should empower learners to become critical thinkers, effective collaborators, and independent problem-solvers capable of addressing complex public health challenges. As an educator and researcher with more than 25 years of experience in environmental health, epidemiology, data science, and public health practice, I strive to bridge theory and practice by helping students apply scientific evidence and analytical methods to real-world problems.
Mentorship is central to my academic mission. I view mentoring as a collaborative partnership in which I provide guidance, support, and opportunities while encouraging students to develop confidence, independence, and ownership of their work. I help learners navigate each stage of the research process, from study design and data analysis to scientific writing and presentation. A particular source of pride is supporting students and trainees in producing scholarly work and advancing their professional goals, as reflected in numerous publications and conference presentations developed with mentees.
Research & Interests
- Environmental epidemiology and molecular epidemiology
- Exposures and biomarkers: EDCs, plastics, air pollution, environmental tobacco smoke, personal care products/phthalates, climate change
- Maternal/Child Health outcomes: developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD), childhood obesity, neurodevelopmental outcomes, transgenerational effects
- Social Determinants of Health (SDoH)
- Use of geospatial analysis, big data, AI/ML in environmental health
In the Media
- EXPERT TESTIMONY:
- 2017 - NYC City Council Hearing, INT 0800-2015: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the use of pesticides by City agencies, Sept 26.
- MEDIA COVERAGE:
- "MAHA feels betrayed by RFK Jr. reversal on glyphosate" By Garrett Owens (interview) https://www.salon.com/2026/03/02/maha-feels-betrayed-by-rfk-jr-reversal-on-glyphosate/
- “Should hospitals reuse medical supplies. A new study says yes.” By Zoya Tierstein (interview) https://grist.org/climate/should-hospitals-reuse-medical-supplies-a-new-study-says-yes/
- “The world is drowning in used face masks. Should we turn them into fuel?” By Joseph Winters (interview) https://grist.org/climate/the-world-is-drowning-in-used-face-masks-should-we-turn-them-into-fuel/
- “Over 125 health experts defend safety of reusables during COVID-19 pandemic” Greenpeace press release https://www.greenpeace.org/international/press-release/43730/reusables-safety-covid-19-health-experts-statement/ https://storage.googleapis.com/planet4-international-stateless/2020/07/0c3a6a32-health-expert-statement_updated.pdf
- “How often do you need to wash the leggings and sweatpants you’re living in?” By Dana Rose Falcone (interview) https://www.huffpost.com/entry/how-often-wash-leggings-sweatpants_l_5ea04771c5b69150246b86c0
- “Coronavirus Testing Delays in US” – 2/27/2020 Newsy: The Briefing (interview) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jShIv8ST0-w
- “Study finds much higher BPA exposures, FDA dismisses safety concerns” By Carah Wertheimer MedTruth (interview) https://medtruth.com/articles/research-and-findings/bpa-exposure-study/
- “Common chemical used in plastics may be far more prevalent in humans than previously thought, says new study” By Jeffrey Kluger Time (interview) https://time.com/5744817/bpa-levels-in-humans/
- “Childhood obesity: is BPA free any better?” By Carah Wertheimer MedTruth (interview) https://medtruth.com/articles/research-and-findings/bpa-free-childhood-obesity/
- “How BPA affects your health is up for debate – here’s what to know.” By Syeda Khaula Saad Bustle (interview) https://www.bustle.com/p/how-bpa-affects-your-health-is-up-for-debate-heres-what-to-know-18845456
- “The scale of climate change can feel scary, so we asked 5 climate scientists to break it down.” By JR Thorpe Bustle (interview) https://www.bustle.com/p/the-scale-of-climate-change-can-feel-scary-so-we-asked-5-climate-scientists-to-break-it-down-17003173
- “The dish on plastics.” By Joanna Durham-Barnes On Raising Daughters (interview) https://onraisingdaughters.com/2018/10/19/the-dish-on-plastics/
- “Don’t worry, your cereal probably won’t poison you with pesticides.” By Marcus Gilmer Mashable (interview) https://mashable.com/2018/08/17/cereal-glyphosate-pesticide-study-debunk/#rxR8oCKV5mqA
- "Researchers link kids' weight gain to chemical exposures." By Alexis Temkin Environmental Working Group (interview) https://www.ewg.org/news-and-analysis/2017/11/researchers-link-kids-weight-gain-chemical-exposures#.Wi37l1WnGM8
- "The everyday chemicals you actually need to worry about." By Jenny Splitter The New York Post (interview) https://nypost.com/2017/05/02/the-everyday-chemicals-you-actually-need-to-worry-about/
- "The BPA debate is back, as workers exposed to levels 70 times the average." By Olga Oksman The Guardian (interview) https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2017/jan/22/bpa-plastics-chemicals-safety-health-concerns
- "More BPA exposure as a fetus leaves kids fatter at age 7 - NYC Study." By Brian Bienkowski Environmental Health News (interview) http://www.ehn.org/more_bpa_exposure_as_a_fetus_leaves_kids_fatter_at_age_7_-_nyc_study-2497217592.html
Academic Degrees
- DrPH, Columbia University
- MPH, Tulane University
- BA, Barnard College
Administrative Appointments
- Coordinator of Research, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine
- Head of Research and Partnership Development, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine
Memberships in Associations / Societies
- International Society for Environmental Epidemiology - Member
Journal Articles
- Click here for a Full Publication List back to 2003 on Pubmed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Lori+Hoepner&sort=date&size=20
- or on Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=RVLzijoAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate
- Hashemi F., Hoepner L., Hamidinejad F.S. et al. Exploring the association between environmental exposure to phthalates and bisphenol A and changes in reproductive hormones in women: a cross-sectional study. Sci Rep. 2026. https://doi.org/10.1038/ s41598-026-67569-9
- Geer LA, Nurse C, Williams J, Hollis M, Ehlke D, Valmont M, Hoepner LA. Evaluating youth preparedness and resilience from heat and climate impacts in Brooklyn, NY. Environ Res Health. 2026. doi:10.1088/2752-5309/ae6686.
- Wheless H, Hoepner LA. Access to interpretable data to support disproportionate health risks from industrial releases: a case study on the Environmental Protection Agency's datasets and their application to the Latinx communities of Houston, Texas. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2025 Feb 16;22(2):291. doi: 10.3390/ijerph22020291. PMID: 40003516; PMCID: PMC11855917.
- Jimenez, C, Hoepner, LA. Exploring methods to evaluate HPAI transmission risk in Iowa during peak HPA incidence, February 2022–December 2023. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2025, 22, 400. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22030400.
- Caravello SM, Helzner E, Hall MN, Hoepner LA. Awareness and Perception of Plant-Based Diets at an Urban Community College. J Hunger & Environ Nutr. 2023 Dec 22. doi: 10.1080/19320248.2023.2296016
- Medozile M, Lovasi GS, Kolokotronis SO, Hoepner LA. Excess mortality in northern Haiti during the 2010 cholera epidemic. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2023 Dec 6;17(12):e0011750
- Rom WN, Rao A, Hoepner L, Dickey C. A new model of learning: environmental health in a global world. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Jun 16;20(12):6146. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20126146. PMID: 37372732; PMCID: PMC10297959
- Hashemi F, Hoepner L, et. al. A comprehensive health effects assessment of the use of sanitizers and disinfectants during COVID-19 pandemic: a global survey. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2023 May 11:1–21. doi: 10.1007/s11356-023-27197-6. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37166731; PMCID: PMC10173232
- Veenema RJ, Hoepner LA*, Geer LA*. Climate change-related environmental exposures and perinatal and maternal health outcomes in the U.S. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Jan 17;20(3):1662. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20031662. PMID: 36767030; PMCID: PMC9914610. *co-senior authors
- Gardener H, Nguyen V, Hoepner L. Phthalate and bisphenol a exposures during pregnancy: findings from the National Children’s Study. Environmental Research. 2022 Nov;214(Pt 4):114122. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114122. Epub 2022 Aug 19. PMID: 35995224
- Hashemi F, Hoepner L, Hamidinejad FS, Abbasi A, Afrashteh S, Hoseini M. A survey on the correlation between PM2.5 concentration and the incidence of suspected and positive cases of COVID-19 referred to medical centers: A case study of Tehran. Chemosphere. 2022 Apr 19;301:134650. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134650. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35452646; PMCID: PMC9016534
- Hoepner LA, Halden RU, Pycke BF, Ablafia O, Sherer DM, Geer LA. Prenatal bisphenol A (BPA) exposure in a Brooklyn study of Afro-Caribbean women. Environ Res Commun, 2020, 2:041001. https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/ab8272
- Blackwell TM, Dill LJ, Hoepner LA, Geer LA. Using text messaging to improve access to prenatal health information in urban African American and Afro-Caribbean immigrant pregnant women: mixed methods analysis of Text4baby usage. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth, 2020, 8(2):e14737
- Hoepner, LA. Bisphenol a: A narrative review of prenatal exposure effects on adipogenesis and childhood adiposity via peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma. Env Res, 2019, 173:54-68
Books
- Lewis A, Jumbo AE, Trimmingham-Aina A, Hoepner LA, Katz JS, Fraser-McCleary S, Thompson F, Tribble D, Desport BC, Boutin-Foster C, Daniels-Osaze A. Cultural competency in rehabilitation counseling and other health professions. In: Harley D, Flaherty C, editors. Disability Studies for Human Services: An Interdisciplinary and Intersectionality Approach. New York (NY): Springer Publishing Company; 2021. Chapter 9. doi:10.1891/9780826162847.0009.
Reviewer/Editorships
- Editorial Board Member, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
- Guest Editor, Atmosphere
Selected Projects
- Geospatial Analysis of Secondary School Proximity to Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) Retailers in Grenada
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