Suzanne Robotti
Suzanne Robotti founded MedShadow Foundation in 2012 after two major health issues drove her to become engaged in patient advocacy.
Robotti’s mother, like millions of other women in the 1950s and 1960s took the prescription drug DES (diethylstilbestrol), which was thought to prevent future miscarriages. The drug was widely used despite earlier publication of a study that linked DES to reproductive organ malformation and even cancer. DES was eventually taken off the market in 1971. When Robotti reached childbearing age herself, she discovered she was infertile due to DES exposure. This prompted her to join DES Action, a patient advocacy group. In 2010, her son’s physician prescribed Ritalin for his ADD, but was unable to explain the medication’s side effects. Robotti was concerned about the long-term effects of this stimulant on her son’s developing brain. These two experiences prompted Robotti to form MedShadow Foundation as a means of bringing the issue of medication side effects into the public discourse.
An active participant in community life, Su serves on the boards of numerous New York City-based organizations including Community Board 7, Westside YMCA, Mount Sinai Queens, Pace University and Variety Boys and Girls Club of Queens. Prior to founding MedShadow Foundation, she had a successful publishing industry career as founder of Baby Publishing, LLC which she later sold to Gruner+Jahr Bertelsmann, the global publishing company.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from the University of Maryland at College Park. Su has been honored for her extensive contributions to community service from The President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation.
Follow Suzanne Robotti on Twitter @MedShadow_Su.
