DOCSLIB.ORG

Sight and Life 3 2006

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Sight and Life 3 2006 SIGHT AND LIFE Magazine Issue No 1/2007 Carotenoid function Food vouchers Nutritional status in Guatemala DOHaD SLAN Education ANLP A Life in the Day Recent literature Publications News Food distribution by the United Nations World Food Programme Building bridges to combat malnutrition “The life science industry is able to make a major contribution to fighting global mal- nutrition and hunger,” stated Feike Sijbesma (President of SIGHT AND LIFE and incoming CEO of DSM) at a special session of the BioVision conference in Lyon. He announced a global humanitarian partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the largest provider of food aid to the world's hungry. SIGHT AND LIFE presented the book Nutritional Anemia at BioVision 2007. More on the book and the partnership can be found on page 60. SIGHT AND LIFE Contents Impact of vouchers for purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables among low-income The African Forum mothers 13 Lusaka, Zambia, May 2006 30 Correspondents Bruno de Benoist Philip Harvey Florentino S Solon William S Blaner Richard F Hurrell Alfred Sommer Martin Bloem Rolf D W Klemm David I Thurnham George Britton Donald S McLaren Andrew Tomkins Ian Darnton-Hill Regina Moench-Pfanner Emorn Wasantwisut Omar Dary Christine Northrop-Clewes Keith P West Jr Frances R Davidson Delia Rodriguez-Amaya Yu Xiaodong John W Erdman Jr Noel W Solomons Michael B Zimmermann 2 Contents Magazine Issue 1/2007 The fifth African Nutrition Leadership SIGHT AND LIFE presented the book Programme (ANLP) 36 Nutritional Anemia at BioVision 2007 60 Contents Welcome 4 From farming to human nutrition 34 Antioxidant nutrients and oxidative The fifth African Nutrition Leadership DNA damage in humans 6 Programme (ANLP) 36 Impact of vouchers for purchasing A Life in the Day of Parul Christian 39 fresh fruits and vegetables among low-income mothers 13 Erratum 41 The nutritional status of Guatemalan From vitamin A to multiple micronutrients 42 schoolchildren 18 Recent literature The 4th World Congress on Letters to the editors 52 Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) 21 Publications 56 The 14th Latin American Congress News 60 on Nutrition (SLAN) 27 Building bridges to combat malnutrition Outstanding Health Research Award The African Forum: An integrated Healthy Eyes Activity Book response to the dual epidemics of HIV/AIDS and food insecurity 30 3 SIGHT AND LIFE Welcome Welcome Malnutrition scandal At the end of last year I was distressed by an article on this account, we have initiat- malnutrition in Ethiopia that was published in the New ed a series of activities. York Times on December 28, 2006. It was titled SIGHT AND LIFE hosted a “Malnutrition Is Cheating Its Survivors and Africa’s workshop on nutritional Future.” The article’s author Michael Wines wrote, anemia last September with “In this corrugated land of mahogany mountains and the leading experts from academia and international tan, parched valleys, it is hard to tell which is the organizations (we reported on this in Issue 3/2006 of greater scandal: the thousands of children malnutrition SIGHT AND LIFE Magazine). We also recently kills, or the thousands more it allows to survive.” published a book, Nutritional Anemia, which provides Indeed, more than 200 million children under the age an account of the information communicatetd at the of 5, mostly living in sub-Saharan Africa and South workshop, and highlights for the first time all the crit- Asia, fail to reach their full cognitive, motor and ical factors of nutritional anemia in one volume. I had socioemotional potential because of micronutrient the pleasure of presenting the first copies of this book deficiencies and inadequate cognitive stimulation. to high-ranking representatives from UNICEF, the These children will probably fail at school, fail to World Food Programme, and the Dutch embassy in achieve their income potential, and remain trapped in France during a special session at BioVision, the poverty. A recent series of papers published in The World Life Sciences Forum, in Lyon on March 11, Lancet also addressed this topic, analyzing the link 2007. More on this topic can be found on page 60. But between compromised development of children and we have even more in mind: the Nutritional Anemia modifiable biological and psychosocial risk factors Guidebook, containing short summaries of the book (Lancet 2007;369:60–70, 145–57 and 229–42). The chapters, will be published shortly, and we are plan- authors call for immediate intervention in four key ning a satellite meeting with the experts who con- areas: stunting, inadequate cognitive stimulation, tributed to the book to correspond with the iodine deficiency, and iron deficiency anemia, the evi- Micronutrient Forum in Istanbul. We need to define dence of which is overwhelming. the next steps in the global fight against anemia, including the specific role that SIGHT AND LIFE will For us at SIGHT AND LIFE, it is not a question of play. defining the greater scandal, but rather of responding to the problem behind it. We intend to champion the There are many factors that contribute to the appraisal fight against micronutrient deficiency, in particular of an organization such as SIGHT AND LIFE, for nutritional anemia, and to ensure that it receives the example the quality of correspondents and partners or recognition merited by the magnitude of the problem. the excellence of projects and publications. One indi- The main causes of anemia are a lack of iron, folic cator rarely recognized, but nevertheless crucial for acid, vitamin B12 and vitamin A, but infectious dis- success, is the willingness to change. We have eases such as malaria, worm infestations, and changed our logo and modernized the layout of our HIV/AIDS also play their part. A total of 818 million magazine to make it more attractive to our readers. women and children under the age of 5 are affected by Additionally, the current edition of the magazine con- anemia, according to recent WHO data. Most of them tains a new column, A Life in the Day of…. In the first live in the developing world and about one million die of this new series, Parul Christian from the Johns every year. Despite the severity of this problem, there Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has been little documented progress in the global fight describes her working day and what lies behind it against anemia over the last decades. Hence there is an (page 39). There are more changes to come, as out- urgent need to control this public health problem. On lined in SIGHT AND LIFE’s strategic framework 4 Welcome Magazine Issue 1/2007 ‘Expanding our Strengths,’ which you can read about Nutrition at the University of Ulster in Northern in the enclosed 2006 Annual Report. The recently Ireland. His first contribution, in which he genteelly announced global humanitarian partnership between introduces both the topic and himself, can be found on the United Nations World Food Programme, DSM, page 42. and SIGHT AND LIFE can also be regarded as a sig- nificant change (see page 60). Permit me to revert briefly to the malnutrition scandal which I mentioned at the outset. We need more advo- In the midst of these planned changes, however, we cacy communication on the fact that the damage to have to report one which comes as a surprise: Donald intellectual capacity cannot be reversed in later life, McLaren has announced that he is stepping down from quantifying the loss of gross domestic product when his position as editor of our literature digest. We wish micronutrient deficiencies are left untreated, which is to thank Don for his critical reviews and thoughtful estimated to cost 2–3% of annual growth in the devel- insight based on the ceaseless commitment to scien- oping world. The problem is not a lack of knowledge tific evidence that he has brought to the vitamin A about solutions but rather the absence of a clear polit- community. Fortunately, we will not have to fully do ical and financial commitment that matches the size of without Don’s wisdom because he is busy working on the malnutrition problem. The problem is clearly the 3rd edition of the SIGHT AND LIFE Manual on described. What remains is to take up the challenge Vitamin A Deficiency Disorders, to be published later and to take action. this year. Best regards, I am particularly pleased that we have been able to enlist David Thurnham to prepare a literature digest – extended not in size but in scope – on multiple micronutrients in the future. David is a widely re- spected figure in micronutrient research. Lately, he has been particularly interested in the influence of inflammation on micronutrients, especially vitamin A and iron. David is Emeritus Professor of Human 5 SIGHT AND LIFE Carotenoid function Antioxidant nutrients and oxidative DNA damage in humans* Kyung-Jin Yeum, Tufts University, Boston; Giancarlo Aldini, Instituto Chimico Farmaceutico e Tossicologico, University of Milan; Robert M. Russell, Tufts University, Boston Correspondence: Kyung-Jin Yeum, Jean Mayer, USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, 711 Washington St., Boston, MA 02111, USA Email: [email protected] * This research has been supported in part by the US Department of Agriculture, under agreement number 1950-51000-048-01A. The contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the US Department of Agriculture, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorse- ment by the US Government. Introduction etables against reactive oxygen is finely balanced and requires the species has led to the increased right amounts, possibly an optimal Oxidative stress has been impli- consumption of antioxidant supple- range, of both the hydrophilic and cated in the pathogenesis of chron- ments such as β-carotene, α-toco- lipophilic antioxidants to be work- ic diseases related to aging, such as pherol and/or multivitamins.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Curriculum Vitae
    CV – Alfred Sommer, MD, MHS 1 November 4, 2009 CURRICULUM VITAE NAME: ALFRED SOMMER, MD, MHS CITIZENSHIP: American BORN: October 2, 1942, New York, New York MARRIED: Jill Sommer CHILDREN: Charles Andrew Sommer Marni Jane Sommer PRESENT Dean Emeritus Professor, Epidemiology and International Health Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health 615 N. Wolfe Street, Room E6527 Baltimore, MD 21205 Telephone: 410-502-4167 Facsimile: 410-502-4169 [email protected] Professor, Ophthalmology, Wilmer Institute Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine PAST Dean, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 1990-2005 EDUCATION: MHS, Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, 1973 MD, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, 1967 BS, Summa Cum Laude, Union College, Schenectady, New York, 1963 PROFESSIONAL TRAINING: Resident and Fellow in Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, 1973-76 Fellow in Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene & Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, 1972-73 Medical Intern and Resident, Beth Israel Hospital, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, 1967-69 CERTIFICATION: Diplomate, American Board of Ophthalmology, 1977 Diplomate, National Board of Medical Examiners, 1968 CV – Alfred Sommer, MD, MHS 2 HONORS: National Academy of Sciences, elected 2001 Institute of Medicine, elected 1992 Gonin Medal, International Council of Ophthalmology (and the Swiss Ophthalmological Association), 2006 Pollin Prize in Pediatric Research (Columbia University), 2004 Lucien Howe Medal, American Ophthalmological Society, 2003 Warren Alpert Research Prize (Harvard Medical School), 2003 International Duke Elder Gold Medal, International Council of Ophthalmology, 1998 Albert Lasker Clinical Medical Research Award, 1997 Helmut Horten Medical Research Award, Helmut Horten Stiftung, Switzerland, 1997 Prince Mahidol Award for International Contributions to Medicine and Public Health, Thailand, 1997 Charles A.
    [Show full text]
  • 2004 World Food Prize International Symposium from Asia to Africa: Rice, Biofortification, and Enhanced Nutrition October 14-15 - Des Moines, Iowa ______
    2004 World Food Prize International Symposium From Asia to Africa: Rice, Biofortification, and Enhanced Nutrition October 14-15 - Des Moines, Iowa ______________________________________________________________________________ October 14, 2004 – 3:00 p.m. HIDDEN HUNGER: THE ROLE OF NUTRITION, FORTIFICATION, AND BIOFORTIFICATION Dr. Alfred Sommer Dean Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Good afternoon. I’m delighted to be here and given the opportunity to address this august audience. I’m going to talk a little bit differently than most of the other people have, from a clinical and a health perspective. So we’ve heard something about the role of the Rockefeller Foundation in moving forward an important agricultural agenda over the recent past. There’s also been reference made that the traditional area of interest of the Rockefeller Foundation had been in public health. And indeed the institution where I am Dean, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, was the first school of public health founded in this country, and it was founded with support of the Rockefeller Foundation. One of the first faculty members recruited to the school was this gentleman, E.V. McCullen, who we stole away from Wisconsin where he did work on an agricultural research station. He became the first professor and chair of biochemistry at the Hopkins School of Public Health. And as many of you probably know, he is the person who first described vitamin A. This is their paper from 1913. So what goes around comes around. E.V. McCullen’s portrait hangs in our board room. Now, one of the most important early observations of the classical deficiency, the one in which most public health and clinical research is focused, up until about two decades ago, was on the very striking ocular manifestations of the deficiency.
    [Show full text]
  • Read Our 2020-2021 Annual Report
    2020-2021 ANNUAL REPORT TABLE OF CONTENTS LETTER FROM THE CENTER DIRECTOR ABOUT THE CENTER 3 As we eventually achieve some distance from 2020 much will be said about the extraordinary year. STRATEGIC VISION 7 Yet despite the unprecedented upheaval caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic, the TIMELINE 18 2020-21 academic year feels like the year the Johns Hopkins Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health really hit its stride. Our training and mentoring opportunities are NEW VENTURES 22 sought-after, and we have had exceptional cohorts of trainees. Our large epidemiological studies and clinical trials continue, with one randomized trial testing the efficacy of a RESEARCH 26 community health worker model of hearing care delivery completed this past year. And we TRAINING 32 are optimistic that this year the Food and Drug Administration will finalize their regulatory classification for over-the-counter hearing aids which were due to be released in August EVENTS 41 2020 but delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. FACULTY & STAFF 44 Some things remain necessarily paused: The Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI), National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), and other large epidemiological studies where NEWS & MEDIA 57 we’ve led the addition of hearing assessments are on hold until face-to-face interactions with research participants can be restarted safely. Other studies including the ACHIEVE trial, ARIC PRESENTATIONS & PUBLICATIONS 64 study, and a study of inpatient hearing care provision at Johns Hopkins are just now resuming in-person study visits after being on pause for the past year. Some things we expanded or improved: We developed an online format for our Fellows Program in Aging, Hearing, and Public Health which is designed for overseas clinicians and researchers, and in June 2021 we will debut this program with the Latin American fellows who were accepted to last summer’s in-person program which had to be cancelled.
    [Show full text]
  • Conversation Between Alfred Sommer, MD MHS and Daniel M. Albert, MD Chicago IL, October 15, 2010
    The Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology Museum of Vision & Ophthalmic Heritage Conversation Between Alfred Sommer, MD MHS and Daniel M. Albert, MD Chicago IL, October 15, 2010 Drs. Al Sommer and Dan Albert recorded this conversation on October 15, 2010 during the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, in Chicago, IL. Dr. Sommer is a glaucoma specialist from Baltimore and Dr. Albert is an ophthalmic pathologist living in Madison. You are invited now to listen to excerpts and read the complete transcript below. Here, Dr. Albert discusses why he chose to study both pathology and ophthalmology. In this excerpt, Dr. Sommer describes how he became involved with epidemiology and public health. The Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology Museum of Vision & Ophthalmic Heritage Conversation Between Alfred Sommer, MD MHS and Daniel M. Albert, MD Chicago IL, October 15, 2010 ALFRED SOMMER: I’m Al Sommer, and I am 68, and I am speaking with Dan Albert. DANIEL ALBERT: I’m Dan Albert, I’m 73, and I have the pleasure of speaking with Al Sommer. AL: So, Dan, should we start off with our roots? DAN: Okay. AL: So you grew up on the other side of the river from where I was born… DAN: Right. AL: I was born in Brooklyn and you were born in…? DAN: Newark, New Jersey. AL: Did you go to public schools there or… DAN: Yes, I did. And yourself? AL: Yes, same thing. They had good public schools in those days. I went to public schools in Brooklyn and then just my last two years of high school in Queens.
    [Show full text]
  • Preventing Blindness and Saving Lives the Centenary of Vitamin A
    Clinical Review & Education Special Communication Preventing Blindness and Saving Lives The Centenary of Vitamin A Alfred Sommer, MD, MHS Within 20 years of its discovery 100 years ago, vitamin A was recognized as critical to normal eyes, growth, and survival. Clinical interest subsequently contracted to its importance in preventing xerophthalmia, until this ophthalmologist stumbled, quite accidently, on its role in fighting life-threatening infections. Repeated, large-scale randomized clinical trials eventually Author Affiliation: Johns Hopkins convinced (and reminded) the pediatric and nutrition communities of its importance for child Bloomberg School of Public Health, survival. Vitamin A distribution programs are now credited with saving the sight and lives of Baltimore, Maryland. nearly half a million children every year. Corresponding Author: Alfred Sommer, MD, MHS, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, JAMA Ophthalmol. 2014;132(1):115-117. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2013.5309 615 N Wolfe St, Ste E6527, Baltimore, MD 21205 ([email protected]). he first 2 decades of the 20th century witnessed a revolu- Organization’s(WHO)officiallyrecommendedtreatmentwithwater- tion in nutritional science. Hopkins1 and then Funk2 popu- miscible, injectable vitamin A (which was not even commercially T larized the notion that animals could not survive on fat, pro- available at the time!).15,16 tein, and carbohydrates alone, recognizing that small amounts of The latter discovery was my first lesson that data alone do not other substances, so-called accessory factors or vital amines (be- change global health policy.8 These treatment trial data were pre- cause they were erroneously thought to be nitrogen-containing de- sented at a WHO/United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) meet- rivatives of ammonia), were required for growth and survival.
    [Show full text]
  • Diabetes Complications
    Trusted Health Information from the National Institutes of Health ® MedlineNIHFall 2012 Plusthe magazine Preventing & Managing Diabetes Complications Movie and TV Star Anthony Anderson Educating About the Dangers of Diabetes Anthony Anderson and Tempestt Bledsoe star in the new NBC situation comedy, Guys with Kids. Plus! Time to Get Your Steady Advances in Turning the Tide Annual Flu Shot Cystic Fibrosis Research Against AIDS Protect yourself and others NFL star Boomer Esiason and son Elton John and NIH work to end during this flu season16 Gunnar fight CF together4 the AIDS pandemic 2 A publication of the NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH and the FRIENDS of the NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE FRIENDS OF THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE qOutgoing FNLM Chairman and Presi- dent Donald West King, MD, received a standing ovation for his many services to FNLM and the Library over the years. 2012 In mid-September, the FriendsAwards held its annual Awards GalaGala to celebrate advances Event! in public health, medicine, and health communications, as well as the individuals and organizations dedicated to these causes. The 2012 Gala brought together representatives from the public, professional, and business sectors in health care to show their support for the Library. Sincerely, Glen P. Campbell, Chairman Friends of the National Library of Medicine uGlen Campbell, FNLM Chairman, receives the Distinguished Health Communications Award for Karen Hunter, Senior Vice President Global Academic & Customer Relations, Elsevier, who was unable to attend. Hunter’s award recognized her for leadership in electronic delivery of information to libraries. Photos: Michael Spencer, NIH Michael Spencer, Photos: pAlfred Sommer (left), MD, MHS, Professor, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg pThe Honorable John Edward Porter (right), former School of Public Health, receives the pAnna Ercoli Schnitzer (center), MLIS, Disabilities Distinguished Medical Science Award Librarian, Taubman Health Sciences Library, University of U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Dreaming the Future of Health for the Next 100 Years
    Dreaming the Future of Health for the Next 100 Years White paper from the Global Health Summit Beijing China, January 26-27 2013 “Without health, nothing is of any use, not money nor anything else” Democritus, 5th century B.C Acronyms Dreaming the Future of health in the next 100 years: White AI artificial intelligence AIDS acquired immune deficiency syndrome The word cloud shown above is paper from the Global Health Summit Beijing China, January CDC Centres for Disease Control generated from the text of all the 26‐27 2013 CEO chief executive officer plenary sessions of the Summit. The GE General Electric cloud gives greater prominence to Written by Dr Rene Loewenson Training and Research H1N1 influenza A virus subtype H1N1 words that appear more frequently. Support Centre ICN International Council of Nurses Generated by R Loewenson 2013 at Funded by the Rockefeller Foundation IP intellectual property http://www.wordle.net/ See page 26 for full delegate list JGSPH James Grant School of Public Health April 2013 JLI joint learning initiative MOOC massive online open courses NCD non communicable disease The views expressed in the report do not reflect those of the PHC primary health care Rockefeller Foundation and should not be attributed to any PUMC Peking Union Medical College individual delegate to the Global Summit except where a R&D research and development direct quotation is provided. Quotations from the Summit RF Rockefeller Foundation used with permission. Published quotes reference cited. SARS severe acute respiratory syndrome
    [Show full text]
  • Meet the Scholars Read the Profiles of Our 2020-2021 Scholars
    OVERCOMING GLOBAL CHALLENGES 2020-2021 JOHNS HOPKINS BLOOMBERG SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH Health equity. Social justice. Improving health systems so they work better for people around the world. These are driving passions that unite the sixteenth cohort of Sommer Scholars. And these are the things that the world needs now more than ever as we face the global crisis of COVID-19. Laura Haskins brought her expertise in oncology nursing to cancer centers in Haiti and Rwanda, training other nurses in delivering high-quality care. As an analyst for the Australia Treasury Department, Emily Stirzaker saw how economic and social policy decisions affected the health of millions, and how critical health economics and data were to these choices. Chao Long, a plastic and reconstructive surgery resident, helped build Nepal’s first skin bank, recognizing the gap in attention to surgery in the global health response. These Sommer Scholars are continuing their public health journeys at ORTY DIRECTCULOM THE FAFR DIRECTCULOM ORTY a unique moment in history. The COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare the inequities in our systems. It has also shown us, like never before, the importance of public health practitioners who can bring evidence-based authority and guidance to their work. With the School operating virtually, we have moved our Sommer Scholars leadership activities online. While COVID-19 public health safety measures prevented me from hosting a welcome party at my house for this year’s scholars, I have been amazed at the passion and dedication to making a difference that I see in the scholars through my screen.
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Report 2020
    Bloomberg Philanthropies Annual Report Philanthropies Bloomberg Annual Report 2020 Feeding NYC Convening Mayors to Strengthening Global Health Care Workers Support COVID-19 Recovery Climate Activism Improving Transportation Increasing the Number and Road Safety of Black Doctors Protecting the Oceans Ensuring better, longer lives for the greatest number of people Engaging Cultural Following the Data Audiences Digitally at Johns Hopkins Advancing College Supporting Communities with Training Health Care Access and Success Best of Bloomberg Volunteers Workers in Africa Discover More 2020 Spread Address Unmet Share Build Ideas Needs Data Partnerships Increasing Sustainability Advancing Cutting- Improving Fishing Practices in Cities Edge Research Retiring Coal Plants Globally Fighting for Clean Air Helping Cities Investing in Students at Spurring Community Respond to COVID-19 Johns Hopkins University Volunteering Creating Safe and Preventing Opioid Overdoses Engaging Public Spaces About Bloomberg Philanthropies Encompassing all of Mike Bloomberg’s giving, Bloomberg Philanthropies includes his foundation, corporate, and personal philanthropy as well as Bloomberg Associates, a pro bono consultancy that works with mayors in cities around the world. Mike has committed the vast majority of the profits from Bloomberg L.P., the global financial technology, data, and media company that he founded in 1981, to support the work of Bloomberg Philanthropies. Supporting Refugees Investing in Women’s Spreading Innovative Worldwide Economic Development Ideas to Help Cities Providing Relief to Convening Mayors to Advocating for Healthier Cultural Organizations Support COVID-19 Recovery Food Policy Creating Summer Spaces Mobilizing for Gun Safety Supporting Public Art for Kids Ensuring better, longer lives for Mission the greatest number of people Strengthening Career and Technical Training Bloomberg Philanthropies works to improve the lives of millions of people in 810 cities and 170 countries.
    [Show full text]
  • Climate Change Poses Serious Risks to U.S. Health Care System
    Climate Change Poses Serious Risks to U.S. Health Care System Donna E. Shalala, Ph.D., University of Miami, and Alfred Sommer, M.D., Johns Hopkins University July 8, 2014 During July 1995, Chicago was gripped The views expressed in this commentary are by a heat wave that still ranks as one of the those of the authors and not necessarily of deadliest in U.S. history.1 the authors’ organizations or of the Institute Estimates vary, but more than 700 of Medicine. The commentary is intended to people, many of them elderly and isolated, help inform and stimulate discussion. It has may have died as a result of the heat, which not been subjected to the review procedures soared as high as 106 degrees.2 The federal of the Institute of Medicine and is not a government dispatched refrigerator trucks to report of the Institute of Medicine or of the store the deceased, hospitals shut down National Research Council. emergency rooms (ERs) for lack of space, roads buckled from the heat, and the Midwest, the Rocky Mountains, and the Chicago Fire Department had to hose down Pacific Northwest will see declining mortality 3 children who were overcome by dehydration. rates due to warmer winters. But the Now, imagine if we experienced Southwest, Southeast, and lower Midwest multiple Chicago heat waves every summer, could see sharply higher mortality rates from in cities all across the country. That is the extreme temperatures. The elderly and infirm direction we are headed unless we change will be especially vulnerable. course and take strong, decisive action to Overall, by century’s end, the combined curb climate change.
    [Show full text]
  • Dr. Alfred Sommer ANDREW F. HOLMES DEAN of MEDICINE DISTINCTION LECTURES
    Dr. Alfred Sommer ANDREW F. HOLMES DEAN OF MEDICINE DISTINCTION LECTURES Dr. Alfred Sommer, MD, MHS Professor of Epidemiology and International Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Professor of Ophthalmology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Dean Emeritus of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Winner of numerous awards, including the Albert Lasker Award for Clinical Research, the Laureate Award of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Helmut Horten Medical Research Award, the Warren Alpert Foundation Prize and the Prince Mahidol Award from His Majesty the King of Thailand Past chair of scientific and advisory commitees of the National Institutes of Health, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, World Economic Forum, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology Title An Ophthalmologist Takes a Wrong Turn: Vitamin A, Blindness, and Child Survival When Monday, May 27, 2019 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. Where McGill Faculty Club 3450 McTavish Street Montreal, QC Alfred Sommer, MD, MHS Dr. Sommer is an inaugural Johns Hopkins University Gilman Scholar, a Johns Hopkins University Distinguished Service Professor, and Dean Emeritus of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He is a Professor of Epidemiology and International Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Professor of Ophthalmology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He served as Dean of the Bloomberg School from 1990-2005. Sommer received his Medical Doctorate from Harvard Medical School (1967) and his Master of Health Science in Epidemiology from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health (1973). His research interests include outcomes assessment; blindness prevention strategies; child survival; and the growing interface between medicine and public health.
    [Show full text]
  • 2018-2019 Johns Hopkins Bloomberg SCHOOL of Public Health
    JOHNS HOPKINS BloomBERG SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH S OM MER 2018-2019 SCHO LARS 1 From THE DEAN s I approach the anniversary of my first year as Dean, I am thrilled to welcome the School’s 2018-2019 Sommer Scholars A fourteenth cohort of Sommer Scholars. Collectively, they embody qualities of leadership, ingenuity and persistence that are integral to the work of public health. As 14 individuals from eight countries, they bring a wealth of diversity in backgrounds, interests and perspectives that will inform their unique journeys in life and enrich the Bloomberg School community. They have already demonstrated a commitment to urgent and complex health issues through achievements that reflect the passion, curiosity and drive of public health leaders in the making. Maia Ramarosandratana, for example, founded Projet Jeune Leader in Madagascar, where she was raised, to modernize sex education in the country by placing trained young adult educators in schools. Launched with seven employees, the nonprofit now works with 41 educators. While in Ghana for an undergraduate mental health research project, Daniel Arias witnessed patients in chains at “prayer camps” for mental health treatment. The troubling experience led him to work with a global health nonprofit and cemented his goal to improve mental health care in developing settings. Emily Cumbie-Drake’s work in Georgia on the sustainable agriculture movement illuminated her interest in food system impacts on human and environmental health, and her desire to improve nutrition for people who lack access to high-quality food. Some scholars, like Rupali Sood, come to the School having experienced some of the very challenges that they hope to address as future physicians, policymakers, lawyers and researchers.
    [Show full text]