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An important historical link between vaccination(s) and the One Health concept…D.A. Henderson, MD, MPH of Smallpox Eradication Fame Supported One Health

September 7, 2019

An important historical link between vaccination(s) and the One Health concept...

Donald Ainslie Henderson was an American medical doctor, educator, and epidemiologist who directed a 10-year international effort that eradicated smallpox throughout the world and launched international childhood vaccination programs. From 1977 to 1990, he was Dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. Wikipedia

Dr. Henderson strongly supported the One World-One Medicine-One Health concept/approach.  See his message to the One Health Initiative team:

 




D.A.Henderson, MD, MPH
Professor of Medicine and Public Health, University of Pittsburgh. Resident Scholar, Center for Biosecurity, U. of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Johns Hopkins University Distinguished Service Professor. Dean Emeritus, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Pier IV Building, Suite 210, Baltimore,
Maryland 21202

April 22, 2007 Dr. D. A. Henderson, legendary leader of the worldwide smallpox eradication program.

I thank you for your email and congratulate you and your colleagues in promoting the "One Medicine" concept. It is an initiative that is long overdue but, at the same time, I don't personally identify dramatic solutions that are apt to change the landscape in the short term. I would note that when one has had the good fortune to have enjoyed the tutelage of *Jim Steele during my tenure at CDC and periodically ever since, as a friend, the one medicine concept becomes well engrained. Indeed, when I came to Hopkins as Dean in 1977, I cast about to determine how we might link up with a veterinary school for research and educational purposes. Unfortunately, geography was simply too great a hurdle to overcome.

Bottom line: I would be more than happy to do whatever I could in support of your efforts.

*James H. Steele, DVM, MPH http://www.onehealthinitiative.com/news.php?query=james+h.+steele%2C+dvm%2C+mph founded the veterinary division in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 1947.  Dr. Steele worked closely with Dr. Henderson while both served as leaders of the CDC’s renowned Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) along with Alexander Langmuir, MD, MPH, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Langmuir who established the EIS.

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