William Foege
William Herbert Foege[2] M.D., M.P.H. (/ˈfeɪɡi/;[3] March 12, 1936 – January 24, 2026) was an American epidemiologist. He was seen as the person responsible for "the eradication of smallpox in the late 1970s".[4] He was the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 1977 to 1983 during the presidencies of Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan.
William H. Foege | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | |
| In office 1977–1983 | |
| President | Jimmy Carter Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | David Sencer |
| Succeeded by | James Mason |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 12, 1936 Decorah, Iowa[1] |
| Died | January 24, 2026 (aged 89) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse(s) | Paula Foege |
| Education | Pacific Lutheran University (BA) University of Washington (MD) Harvard School of Public Health(MPH) |
| Awards | Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize MacArthur Genius Grant |
Foege died from congestive heart failure in Atlanta, Georgia, on January 24, 2026, at the age of 89.[5]
William Foege Media
Directors of CDC Smallpox Eradication Program, from left: J. Donald Millar (1966-'70), William H. Foege (1970-'73), and J. Michael Lane (1973-'81) reading news of smallpox's eradication in 1980
References
- ↑ William H. Foege to receive Public Welfare Medal, Academy's highest honor (January 26, 2005)National Academy of Sciences. Retrieved September 26, 2009.
- ↑ The Crimson Staff (June 5, 1997). Eleven granted honorary degrees. http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=217756. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
- ↑ Hagen R. Say how? A pronunciation guide to names of public figures (May 8, 2006)National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress. Retrieved September 26, 2009.
- ↑ Paulson T (March 9, 2006). Carter hails UW's shy hero Foege. New building named for health leader is dedicated. http://www.seattlepi.com/local/262295_carter09.html. Retrieved September 26, 2009.
- ↑ Schneider, Keith; Gay Stolberg, Sheryl (24 January 2026). William H. Foege, Key Figure in the Eradication of Smallpox, Dies at 89. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/24/us/william-h-foege-dead.html. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
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