Background
Sommer, Alfred was born on October 2, 1942 in New York City. Son of Joseph and Natalie Sommer.
(Many studies over the past decade and a half have indicat...)
Many studies over the past decade and a half have indicated that vitamin A status is an important determinant of health. The World Bank now estimates that vitamin A intervention programs are some of the most cost-effective health strategies globally. This new book, written by leading investigators in the field, is the first to synthesize the many important studies to date. The authors identify and quantify the biological, clinical and public health impact of vitamin A deficiency on childhood growth, mortality and morbidity, including anemia and blindness. They deal with the epidemiologic and biological basis of these findings, and with the prevention and treatment of these disorders, particularly of measles, diarrhea and xeorophthalmia. Alternative approaches to identifying individuals and populations in need of intervention, alternative strategies for improving vitamin A and carotenoids, and the relationship between vitamin A and immunity are discussed. This comprehensive volume on a critically important and widespread nutritional deficiency will serve as a unique resource for nutritionists, physicians, public health workers and policy makers, and will be especially relevant to clinicians and researchers in international health.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0195088247/?tag=2022091-20
ophthalmologist researcher medical educator
Sommer, Alfred was born on October 2, 1942 in New York City. Son of Joseph and Natalie Sommer.
Bachelor of Science summa cum laude, Union College, 1963. Doctor of Medicine, Harvard University, 1967. MHS in Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University, 1973.
Teaching fellow in medicine Harvard University Medical School, Boston, 1968—1969. Director Nutritional Blindness Prevention Research Program, Bandung, Indonesia, 1976—1979. Visiting fellow Institute Ophthalmology University London, 1979—1980.
Founding director, Dana Center for Preventive Ophthalmology Johns Hopkins Medical Institutes, Baltimore, 1980—1990. Associate professor Johns Hopkins University, 1981—1985, professor ophthalmology, epidemiology and international health, 1985—2010, dean Johns Hopkins School Hygiene and Public Health, 1990—2005, dean emeritus, since 2005, university distinguished science professor, since 2010. Visiting professor ophthalmology University Padjadjaran, Indonesia, 1976—1979.
Consultant, advisor Helen Keller International, New York City, since 1973. Consultant, chairman committee National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, since 1981. Board directors International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, Geneva.
Consultant, committee member National Academy of Sciences, Washington, 1989. Chairman program advisory group on blindness prevention World Health Organization, Geneva, 1989—1990, committee member, 1978—1990, expert committee, 1990—2010. Chairman steering committee International Vitamin A Consultant Group Micronutrient Forum, Washington, 1975—2010.
President International Federation of Tissue Banks. Chairman science advisory board Edna McConnell Clark Foundation. Member & director International Council Ophthalmology.
Director Becton Dickenson Corporation, since 1998, T. Rowe Price Group, since 2003, International Trachoma Initiative Foundation, 2004—2009, chairman. Director Lasker Foundation, since 2004, chairman, since 2008. Chair expect community health global governance initiative World Economic Forum.
Lecturer in field; director Bloomberg Family Foundation, since 2010.
(Many studies over the past decade and a half have indicat...)
Member of IOM, National Academy of Sciences, Institute Medicine, International Council Ophthalmology, Chicago Ophthalmological Society, Association Schools of Public Health (president), International Association to Prevent Blindness (board directors 1978—2005), National Society to Prevent Blindness 1984-1994, American Academy Ophthalmology (chairman public health committee 1982-1988, chairman Quality of Care/Clinical Guidelines 1986-1990).
Married Jill Abramson Sommer, September 1, 1963. Children: Charles Andrew, Marni Jane.