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Harrison Spencer. Photo by ASPPH Donald“ D. A.” Henderson. Photo by UPMC Center for Health Security
In Memoriam
APHL was saddened to learn of the passing of two public health legends in August: Harrison C. Spencer, MD, MPH, DTM & H, CPH, president and CEO of the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health and Donald“ D. A.” Henderson, MD, MPH, former dean of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Nationally and internationally recognized for his clinical public health work, research endeavors in infectious disease prevention and control, and authorship of more than 100 publications, Dr. Spencer was a global health practitioner, serving in many capacities at CDC and WHO during his career. His years as dean of the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in New Orleans, LA and dean of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in the United Kingdom gave him invaluable insight into university politics, education and academic public health. He co-founded the Interprofessional Education Collaborative with his medical, nursing, pharmacy and dentistry peers in 2009, where he also served as chair of the board.
Dr. Henderson led the World Health Organization’ s successful campaign to eradicate smallpox in the 1960s and 1970s. Instead of mounting a massive campaign, Dr. Henderson vaccinated people who came in contact with victims to stop smallpox outbreaks at their source. He combined this strategy with a more efficient, cost-effective vaccination technology, the bifurcated needle. The result was a stunning achievement: eradication of smallpox in only 11 years. In addition to his global health work, Dr. Henderson provided support to Presidents George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush on response to health threats and served as dean of the Bloomberg School of Public Health. In 2002 he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his contributions to public health.
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