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Heroes of Public Health

Ross Gauld, DrPH MPH

Ross Gauld, DrPH MPH

Ross Gauld fought World War II on two fronts and in both instances science was his weapon.

He was awarded the Legion of Merit for his epidemiological research under the worst of conditions. Dr. Gauld managed not only to stop outbreaks of debilitating diseases, but to add to what we know of those diseases.

The citation that accompanied his award reads: "…in services to Italy…he studied all major outbreaks of dysentery and food poisoning and by analysis of these directed their prevention. His exhaustive studies and observations regarding the etiology, incidence and transmission of jaundice, virus pneumonia, typhoid and sandfly fever added greatly to the knowledge of those diseases, thereby aiding in their prevention and contributing to the health of troops and to the war effort."