Mayo Alumni Magazine 2010 Winter
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MAyo CLINIC ALUMNI ASSociatioN 66TH MEETINg 2009 Speaker h i g h l i g h t s The tradition of scientific presentations at Mayo Clinic Alumni Association biennial meetings is complemented by a lecture program that highlights individuals who have expertise in medical specialties or areas of research. Raymond D. Pruitt Lectureship Honors Raymond D. Pruitt, the first dean of Mayo Medical School Lecturer demonstrates qualities admired in Dr. Pruitt — integrity, scholarship, humility and the empathy of the truly concerned Dr. Hardman (P ’71) provides leadership may be the first parasitic disease to be for The Carter Center and its program eradicated and the first disease in history initiatives. The Carter Center is a to be eradicated through changes in not-for-profit nongovernmental human behavior — without a vaccine organization, founded in 1982 by former or a cure. Because this painful disease U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, occurs when a person drinks stagnant Rosalynn, in partnership with Emory water contaminated with guinea worm University to advance peace and health larvae, educating people about disease- worldwide. Dr. Hardman’s lecture focused prevention measures is critical. John Hardman, M.D. on the Center’s work to prevent diseases n The Carter Center has worked to President/CEO, The Carter Center in the world’s poorest countries in Asia, control or, in some cases, eliminate not neglecting neglected Diseases Africa and Latin America. trachoma, the world’s leading infectious for 24 years and Counting … n The guinea Worm Eradication cause of blindness, from six countries Program, The Carter Center’s leading in Africa. A preventable disease global campaign since 1986, has resulted eliminated from much of the developed in a reduction of guinea worm disease world, trachoma persists in developing from approximately 3.5 million cases in areas where water access and sanitation 20 countries to fewer than 3,500 cases are challenges. Carter Center efforts in four countries in 2009. The World include providing surgery to treat Health Assembly has declared that advanced cases, distribution of antibiot- guinea worm disease should be ics, health education and new latrines. eradicated, and many involved in As a result, a 55 percent reduction in international health efforts believe it the disease occurred from 2003 to 2007 Winter 2010 5 Former first lady Rosalynn Carter holds a feverish child after the child was tested for malaria during a visit to Centre Medico- Sociale in Ouanaminthe, Haiti, Oct. 7, 2009. Looking on (from left) are Vice President for Health Programs, Dr. Donald Hopkins; Carter Center President and CEO, Dr. John Hardman; Dr. Joanel Mondestin; and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. n The Carter Center/P. DiCampo 25 million Mectizan/albendazole treatments of lymphatic filariasis n 4 million bed nets distributed in Amhara, Ethiopia, one of the world’s snails infected with the parasite. In n 3 million treatments for schistoso- most trachoma-endemic regions. In Nigeria, the most schistosomiasis- miasis 2008, with support from The Carter endemic country in Africa, The Carter n 1 million household latrines Center, ghana became the first sub- Center provides critical health education constructed Saharan African country to eliminate and treatment. Studies of those treated trachoma as a public health problem. show that within six months of receiving n The Carter Center has led efforts to a dose of praziquantel, as much as eliminate the world’s second-leading 90 percent of the damage due to “Before The Carter Center began infectious cause of blindness, river schistosomiasis infection can be reversed. its work, diseases like Guinea blindness (onchocerciasis), in the In 2008, The Carter Center-assisted Americas since 1996 and strives to Schistosomiasis Program treated more worm and river blindness were stop all transmission of the disease than 1 million people. Since 1998, The seen as intractable — a fact in the Americas by 2012. Carter Center, in partnership with the of life in the world’s poorest n The Carter Center has assisted government of Nigeria, has worked to countries. The Carter Center Ethiopia in combating malaria with a eliminate lymphatic filariasis from two complete bed net coverage program by Nigerian states. This effort interrupted has turned conventional wisdom integrating malaria interventions into transmission of the disease in 10 of 30 on its head and reminded the already established river blindness and districts. This parasitic, infectious world that seemingly impossible trachoma prevention activities in disease has been declared one of six endemic communities. This involved potentially eradicable diseases. obstacles can be overcome assisting the country’s Ministry of Health Dr. Hardman summed up Carter with the right combination of Center efforts in the last 24 years as in free distribution of long-lasting innovation, dedication and insecticidal bed nets to protect all 50 having achieved: million Ethiopians at risk for malaria n 81 million guinea worm episodes community involvement.” — an effort completed in 2007. averted n After malaria, the most socioeco- n 125 million Mectizan® treatments Nils Daulaire, M.D. nomically devastating parasitic disease for onchocerciasis President and CEO is schistosomiasis. This chronic disease n 31 million Zithromax® treatments Global Health Council is found where water contains freshwater for trachoma 6 Mayo Alumni.