Alfred Sommer
Alfred Sommer
Alfred Sommer (pronunciation: AL-fred SOM-er) is a renowned epidemiologist and ophthalmologist known for his groundbreaking work in vitamin A deficiency and child mortality.
Etymology
The name "Alfred" is of English origin, derived from the Old English name "Ælfræd", which means "elf counsel". The surname "Sommer" is of German origin, meaning "summer".
Biography
Alfred Sommer was born in 1943. He is an American epidemiologist and ophthalmologist, and a professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Sommer's research in the 1980s demonstrated that a dose of vitamin A could reduce child mortality by up to 34%, a finding that has since influenced public health policies worldwide.
Research and Contributions
Sommer's most significant contribution to the field of public health is his research on vitamin A deficiency. He discovered that this deficiency is not only a cause of blindness in children but also significantly increases their risk of severe infection and death. His research led to the widespread use of inexpensive, high-dose vitamin A supplements, saving millions of lives worldwide.
Sommer also made significant contributions to the field of epidemiology. He developed new methodologies for biostatistics and disease surveillance, which have been widely adopted in public health research and practice.
Related Terms
- Epidemiology: The study and analysis of the distribution, patterns and determinants of health and disease conditions in defined populations.
- Ophthalmology: A branch of medicine and surgery which deals with the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders.
- Vitamin A deficiency: A lack of vitamin A in the diet. It can lead to a series of ocular symptoms, including night blindness, and can also increase the risk of severe infection and death.
- Child mortality: Also known as under-5 mortality, refers to the death of infants and children under the age of five.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Alfred Sommer
- Wikipedia's article - Alfred Sommer
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