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Heroes of Public Health

Harry G. Day, ScD

Harry G. Day, ScD

Harry Day helped develop the process to incorporate stannous fluoride in toothpaste to reduce dental caries. The result was a product called Crest.

Dr. Day's research at Hopkins and the University of Indiana included the assessment of thiamin deficiency in humans, the factors affecting the conversion of carotene to vitamin A, the principles and regulations of food safety, and nutritional requirements of phosphorus, zinc, fluoride, boron and iron.

From 1952-62, he was chairman of the chemistry department at the University of Indiana. For decades, his Bloomington home has been a haven for students and alumni, and a lecture hall was named for him in 1990.

Dr. Day is the author of more than 200 scientific papers. He wrote The Newer Knowledge of Nutrition with E.V. McCollum, his teacher and colleague at the School.