Public Health Heroes Awards Ceremony

D. A. Henderson, M.D., M.P.H., for his outstanding leadership in directing the World Health Organization’s global smallpox eradication program and his vision in establishing the organization’s global program of immunization.

Larry Brilliant, executive director of Google.org and founder of the Seva Foundation will present the award on behalf of the University of California, Berkeley.

In 1967 the World Health Organization mounted a worldwide smallpox eradication effort to address the more than 10 million cases annually from more than 30 countries. To direct the program and to serve throughout its existence, D.A. Henderson, on loan from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, was appointed. In 1977 the last "wild" case was recorded, and in 1980 a WHO Commission certified the worldwide eradication. Many individuals participated and contributed to the successful eradication program, none more influentially than Henderson.

Directing the WHO's smallpox eradication program was only part of a long and distinguished career serving the public good. Henderson has been dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, served in the Executive Office of the President as associate director of the Office of Science and Technology, founded the Johns Hopkins Center for Civilian Biodefense Strategies, and after the 9/11 attack, was appointed the first director of the Office of Public Health Preparedness.

Henderson has been influential in combating a new threat to the safety of the world’s citizens: the threat of infectious agents used as weapons by terrorist organizations. He is recognized worldwide as the preeminent expert on bioterrorism. He has consulted and advised the United States government and other nations on preparedness and protection of the public. Recently he has served as chairman of the Technical Advisory Group on Vaccines of the Pan American Health Organization; chairman of the National Advisory Council on Public Health Emergency Preparedness; and chairman of the WHO ad hoc Orthopoxvirus Advisory Committee.

In 2002 he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor. He has received the National Medal of Science; the National Academy of Sciences’ Public Welfare Medal; and the Japan Prize, shared with two colleagues. He holds honorary degrees from 16 universities and special awards from 19 countries.

AWARD PRESENTER Larry Brilliant, M.D., M.P.H.

Larry Brilliant is executive director of Google.org and founder of the Seva Foundation. As a medical officer with the World Health Organization in the 1970s, he managed the smallpox program in India, leading a team of more than 100,000 workers, who in two years successfully searched out the last cases of variola major. Inspired by this experience, Brilliant and his wife returned to the United States and founded the Society for Epidemiology and Voluntary Assistance (Seva), a foundation that restores sight to hundreds of thousands of people annually in Asia and Africa. In 2006 Brilliant became the first executive director of Google.org, the philanthropic arm of the renowned search engine company. He is also the founding vice chairman of Cometa Networks and a consulting physician epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for whom he is a volunteer "first-responder" in the event of smallpox bioterrorism. Brilliant received the International Public Health Hero award from UC Berkeley in 2004 and served on the School of Public Health’s Policy Advisory Council from 2004 to 2006. In 2006 he received the prestigous TED Prize.

THE CHALLENGEProtecting the World from Disease and Disaster

Technological advances in transportation and communication in the last hundred years have moved us closer to truly becoming a global community. However, with this increased mobility also comes the threat that emerging diseases can rapidly become worldwide epidemics. At the same time, much of the planet is still plagued by the known threats of HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, and a host of other diseases that destroy lives and jeopardize the health of individuals and nations.

The public health community has always advocated strongly for treating the sick and dying across borders, all over the globe. As disease and disaster strike even the remotest areas of the planet, public health workers are on the front lines, caring for the sick and the injured. When researchers search for cures in laboratories, government agents develop strategies for protecting communities from catastrophes, and dedicated health care professionals work to treat those in need, the world becomes a smaller, safer place for all of us.

THE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONDS

The School trains students to research the causes and transmission of diseases and to develop vaccines and cures for the sicknesses that plague our planet. In addition, the School provides training to public health professionals and organizations to enable effective response to disasters.

Researchers in the Environmental Health Sciences Division are investigating the transmission of schistosomiasis in China, including the impact of the Three Gorges Dam on the spread of the disease.

The School's Bixby Program in Population, Maternal Health, and Family Planning is developing practical means for fighting maternal death due to postpartum hemorrhage in sub-Saharan Africa, including the use of off-patent medications and low-tech garments.

In the Infectious Diseases Division, faculty and students are examining the relationship between latent and active tuberculosis in Brazil and India and developing new methods of disease detection and prevention.

Epidemiology researchers from the School are evaluating the threat posed by arsenic-contaminated drinking water in India and South America.

The Center for Infectious Disease Preparedness offers free and affordable training to frontline public health workers and students in emergency operations planning, field epidemiology, and infection control to prepare for natural disasters, epidemics, and bioterrorism.


2007 International Hero - D.A. Henderson, M.D., M.P.H.		Related Links Henderson profile: Medal of Freedom Henderson profile: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
D. A. Henderson, M.D., M.P.H., for his outstanding leadership in directing the World Health Organization’s global smallpox eradication program and his vision in establishing the organization’s global program of immunization. Larry Brilliant, executive director of Google.org and founder of the Seva Foundation will present the award on behalf of the University of California, Berkeley. In 1967 the World Health Organization mounted a worldwide smallpox eradication effort to address the more than 10 million cases annually from more than 30 countries. To direct the program and to serve throughout its existence, D.A. Henderson, on loan from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, was appointed. In 1977 the last "wild" case was recorded, and in 1980 a WHO Commission certified the worldwide eradication. Many individuals participated and contributed to the successful eradication program, none more influentially than Henderson. Directing the WHO's smallpox eradication program was only part of a long and distinguished career serving the public good. Henderson has been dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, served in the Executive Office of the President as associate director of the Office of Science and Technology, founded the Johns Hopkins Center for Civilian Biodefense Strategies, and after the 9/11 attack, was appointed the first director of the Office of Public Health Preparedness. Henderson has been influential in combating a new threat to the safety of the world’s citizens: the threat of infectious agents used as weapons by terrorist organizations. He is recognized worldwide as the preeminent expert on bioterrorism. He has consulted and advised the United States government and other nations on preparedness and protection of the public. Recently he has served as chairman of the Technical Advisory Group on Vaccines of the Pan American Health Organization; chairman of the National Advisory Council on Public Health Emergency Preparedness; and chairman of the WHO ad hoc Orthopoxvirus Advisory Committee. In 2002 he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor. He has received the National Medal of Science; the National Academy of Sciences’ Public Welfare Medal; and the Japan Prize, shared with two colleagues. He holds honorary degrees from 16 universities and special awards from 19 countries. AWARD PRESENTER Larry Brilliant, M.D., M.P.H. Larry Brilliant is executive director of Google.org and founder of the Seva Foundation. As a medical officer with the World Health Organization in the 1970s, he managed the smallpox program in India, leading a team of more than 100,000 workers, who in two years successfully searched out the last cases of variola major. Inspired by this experience, Brilliant and his wife returned to the United States and founded the Society for Epidemiology and Voluntary Assistance (Seva), a foundation that restores sight to hundreds of thousands of people annually in Asia and Africa. In 2006 Brilliant became the first executive director of Google.org, the philanthropic arm of the renowned search engine company. He is also the founding vice chairman of Cometa Networks and a consulting physician epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for whom he is a volunteer "first-responder" in the event of smallpox bioterrorism. Brilliant received the International Public Health Hero award from UC Berkeley in 2004 and served on the School of Public Health’s Policy Advisory Council from 2004 to 2006. In 2006 he received the prestigous TED Prize. THE CHALLENGEProtecting the World from Disease and Disaster Technological advances in transportation and communication in the last hundred years have moved us closer to truly becoming a global community. However, with this increased mobility also comes the threat that emerging diseases can rapidly become worldwide epidemics. At the same time, much of the planet is still plagued by the known threats of HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, and a host of other diseases that destroy lives and jeopardize the health of individuals and nations. The public health community has always advocated strongly for treating the sick and dying across borders, all over the globe. As disease and disaster strike even the remotest areas of the planet, public health workers are on the front lines, caring for the sick and the injured. When researchers search for cures in laboratories, government agents develop strategies for protecting communities from catastrophes, and dedicated health care professionals work to treat those in need, the world becomes a smaller, safer place for all of us. THE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONDS The School trains students to research the causes and transmission of diseases and to develop vaccines and cures for the sicknesses that plague our planet. In addition, the School provides training to public health professionals and organizations to enable effective response to disasters. Researchers in the Environmental Health Sciences Division are investigating the transmission of schistosomiasis in China, including the impact of the Three Gorges Dam on the spread of the disease. The School's Bixby Program in Population, Maternal Health, and Family Planning is developing practical means for fighting maternal death due to postpartum hemorrhage in sub-Saharan Africa, including the use of off-patent medications and low-tech garments. In the Infectious Diseases Division, faculty and students are examining the relationship between latent and active tuberculosis in Brazil and India and developing new methods of disease detection and prevention. Epidemiology researchers from the School are evaluating the threat posed by arsenic-contaminated drinking water in India and South America. The Center for Infectious Disease Preparedness offers free and affordable training to frontline public health workers and students in emergency operations planning, field epidemiology, and infection control to prepare for natural disasters, epidemics, and bioterrorism.