Alfred Sommer

Alfred Sommer is a renowned epidemiologist and ophthalmologist known for his groundbreaking work in vitamin A deficiency and child mortality. His research has had a profound impact on global public health policies and strategies.

Early Life and Education

Alfred Sommer was born in 1943 in New York City. He attended Union College in Schenectady, New York, where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1963. He then went on to earn his medical degree from Harvard Medical School in 1967. Following his medical training, Sommer pursued a Master of Health Science degree in Epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, which he completed in 1973.

Career

Sommer began his career as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer at the CDC in Atlanta. He then joined the Johns Hopkins University faculty in 1976, where he served as the Dean of the Bloomberg School of Public Health from 1990 to 2005.

Research

Sommer's most significant contribution to public health is his research on vitamin A deficiency. His studies in the 1980s demonstrated that a lack of vitamin A in the diet was a major contributor to child mortality in developing countries. He found that a single, annual dose of vitamin A could reduce child mortality by up to 34%. This discovery led to the widespread implementation of vitamin A supplementation programs worldwide.

Awards and Recognition

Sommer has received numerous awards for his work, including the Albert Lasker Award for Clinical Medical Research in 1997 and the Prince Mahidol Award in 2000. He is also a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine.

Personal Life

Sommer is married and has two children. He continues to live and work in Baltimore, Maryland.