Michael H. Merson, M.D.
Dean of Public Health
Professor and Chairman
Department of Epidemiology
and Public Health
Yale University School of Medicine

Dean Merson is a graduate of Amherst College, received his medical degree from the State University of New York, and did his medical residency at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.

Dr. Merson is a medical epidemiologist. He worked at The Centers for Disease Control from 1972 to 1975 and as the Chief Epidemiologist at the Cholera Research Laboratory in Dhaka, Bangladesh, from 1977 to 1978.

In 1978, Dr. Merson joined the World Health Organization's Diarrheal Diseases Control Programme. He served as Director of that Programme from January 1984 until May 1990. In August 1987, he was also given responsibility for directing the WHO Acute Respiratory Infections Control Programme. These two global Programmes have greatly reduced mortality in infants and young children in developing countries.

In May 1990, Dr. Merson was appointed as Director of the WHO Global Programme on AIDS, and on July 1, 1993, as Executive Director of the Programme. This Programme was responsible for mobilizing and coordinating the global response to the AIDS pandemic.

In April 1995, Dr. Merson joined Yale University School of Medicine as the first Dean of Public Health and Professor and Chairman of the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health. He is also director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS at Yale University.

Dr. Merson has received two Commendation Medals from the United States Public Health Service, the Arthur S. Flemming Award, the Surgeon General's Exemplary Service Medal and two honorary degrees. He has published over 150 articles and other writings, has served on various review panels and advisory boards and is a member of many honorary and professional societies.

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