Title: Mervyn Susser to Receive Rema Lapouse Award for 2005
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Section/SPIG: Epidemiology
Issue Date:
Mervyn W. Susser, Sergievsky Professor of Epidemiology Emeritus of Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health and Faculty of Medicine, will receive the Rema Lapouse Award for 2005. Regarded one of the preeminent epidemiologists in the world, Susser has distinguished himself in numerous areas of scientific research over six decades.
Susser was born in Johannesburg South Africa, where he received his medical degree from Witwatersrand University in the early 1950s. He also completed a doctorate in public health in London. He began his research career at the Alexandra Clinic and University Health Centre, an African township outside Johannesburg. In collaboration with Zena Stein, his spouse and colleague, Susser initiated clinical epidemiological studies and epidemiological studies of obstetrics and reproduction. In the mid-1950s he joined the faculty at Manchester University Medical School, where he established his reputation in the areas of mental retardation, psychiatric disorders, and child development.
In 1966, he came to the United States as Professor and Head of Epidemiology at Columbia University’s School of Public Health. Here, his research focused on large scale studies of the epidemiology of nutritional effects on child development in New York’s Harlem and in the Netherlands. Another focus was research on miscarriage and related studies of reproduction. In 1978, Susser became Gertrude H. Sergievsky Professor of Epidemiology and Director of the newly endowed Sergievsky Center at Columbia University. During this period (1978-1990) his research centered mostly on neurodevelopmental epidemiology and reproduction. In the mid-1980s, he and Zena turned their attention to Africa and the HIV pandemic. In 1999, he was scientific director of the Africa Center for Population and Reproductive Research in rural South Africa.
Mervyn has authored more than 400 articles, approximately ¾ in peer-reviewed professional or scientific journals. There have been 12 books on such topics as: sociology in medicine, community psychiatry, prenatal development, and causal theory. From 1992 to 1998, he served the Association as Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Public Health.
During this distinguished and remarkable career there have been numerous honors: awards (Belding, Milbank Memorial, Human Rights, Distinguished Service, John Snow, Haven Emerson, Lilienfeld, 75th Jubilee); honorary degrees; memberships, fellowships; consultantships (WHO, PAHO); honorary professorships; visiting professorships; keynote addresses; special lectures; symposia; auditorium dedications; and a festschrift. In 1996 he was named senior member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Science.
He is well known also for his many outstanding personal qualities; an engaging speaker, a charming personality, and a gentle and kind man. He has also been recognized for his mentoring of colleagues and students. The Rema Lapouse Award Committee (comprised of Elizabeth Jane Costello, Ronald C. Kessler, Nan Laird and Anthony Kouzis) representing the APHA’s Mental Health, Epidemiology, and Statistics Sections is delighted to announce his acceptance of this prestigious award. I hope you will be able to attend the APHA Annual Meeting to meet Mervyn Susser and his family at a special session on Nov. 7, 2005, where he will present the 34th Rema Lapouse Lecture.