James A. Shannon

James Augustine Shannon (August 9, 1904 – May 20, 1994) was an American nephrologist who served as director of National Institutes of Health (NIH) from August 1, 1955 to August 31, 1968. In 1962 he was awarded the Public Welfare Medal from the National Academy of Sciences, of which he was a member. He was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1965 and the American Philosophical Society in 1967. A collection of his papers is held at the National Library of Medicine in Bethesda, Maryland.

Early life and education
Shannon was born in New York City on August 9, 1904. He attended Brooklyn Preparatory School and matriculated at the College of the Holy Cross, graduating in 1925. He then enrolled at New York University, where he earned a Doctor of Medicine in 1929 and a Ph.D. in 1935.