Board Member Bios

Deirdre Imus is President and Founder of The Deirdre Imus Environmental Health Center® at Hackensack University Medical Center. The Center’s mission is to identify, control & ultimately prevent toxic exposures in the environment that threaten our children's health. Under Deirdre’s leadership, the Center has undertaken important research on environmental chemicals in newborn cord blood, the efficacy and safety of nontoxic treatment of head lice in children, and the effects of hormone disrupting chemicals on children’s health, to name a few.

In her quest to clean up the environment for our kids, Deirdre developed the award-winning Greening The Cleaning® program and product line, which replaces the hazardous ingredients commonly found in cleaning agents with environmentally-responsible, less toxic products wherever possible.  The program and products are used throughout the country in schools, healthcare facilities, and businesses.

Deirdre is also the Founder of ImusEnvironmentalHealth.org, a resource for healthy green living where Deirdre shares tips on how to "green" the way you care for yourself, your family and the planet. You’ll find practical tips, the latestenvironmental news, research, and in-depth articles from Deirdre on everything from the food you eat and the clothes you wear to baby care essentials, cosmetics, and personal care products. Deirdre is a vegetarian for life!

Deirdre is Co-Founder/Co-Director of the Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids with Cancer, and has multiple books on the New York Times bestseller list. Her books include “Green This! Greening Your Cleaning;” “Growing Up Green,” “The Essential Green You;” and “The Imus Ranch: Cooking for Kids and Cowboys.”

Deirdre has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors for her impact as a leader in the field of environmental health and for raising awareness about childhood chronic illnesses.  She was named “Woman of the Year” by the USO in 2008, and one of Glamour Magazine’s Eco Heroes in 2009. Deirdre received The Rachel Carson Award from the National Audubon Society in 2007 for her contributions to conservation, and that same year Pace University bestowed her with an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters.  Also in 2007, Deirdre was presented with the National Autism Association’s BELIEVE award and was honored as a “Champion for Autism” by The Autism Education Foundation of MUJC in New Jersey.  She was named Person of the year in 2007 by Spectrum Magazine, a news source for families affected by autism.  In 2013 Deirdre received the Canary Award for her efforts toward creating a healthy and sustainable future for our children.  She serves on the boards of several children’s health organizations, including the National Autism Association, Safe Minds, Generation Rescue, SKIP of New York, East Harlem Council for Human Services, Inc.,Boriken Neighborhood Health Center.