Eugene Lindsay Bishop
Encyclopedia
Eugene Lindsay Bishop, M.D.
(1886-1951) served as the Commissioner for the Tennessee State Health Department from 1924-1935 and as the Director of the Health and Safety Department of the Tennessee Valley Authority
from 1935-1951. He was awarded a Lasker Award
in 1950.
Bishop was born in Nashville
, Tennessee
to Eugene Edgar Bishop (1869-1881) and Elizabeth Lindsay Crittenden Bishop. He received his medical degree from Vanderbilt University
in 1914 and his Master of Public Health
degree from Johns Hopkins
in 1923. Bishop spent almost the entirety of his career serving as a public health official for the state of Tennessee, but was also a consultant to the federal government and a scientific director and board member of the International Health Division of the Rockefeller Foundation
.
As health director for the TVA, Bishop sought to reduce the threat of malaria
along the 10,000 mile shore line of TVA's lakes, and devised a strategy that involved periodically raising and lowering the water level in each lake. For this innovation he was awarded the Mary Woodard Lasker Award for Public Service
in 1950. Bishop died in 1951, less than a year after receiving the award.
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
(1886-1951) served as the Commissioner for the Tennessee State Health Department from 1924-1935 and as the Director of the Health and Safety Department of the Tennessee Valley Authority
Tennessee Valley Authority
The Tennessee Valley Authority is a federally owned corporation in the United States created by congressional charter in May 1933 to provide navigation, flood control, electricity generation, fertilizer manufacturing, and economic development in the Tennessee Valley, a region particularly affected...
from 1935-1951. He was awarded a Lasker Award
Lasker Award
The Lasker Awards have been awarded annually since 1946 to living persons who have made major contributions to medical science or who have performed public service on behalf of medicine. They are administered by the Lasker Foundation, founded by advertising pioneer Albert Lasker and his wife Mary...
in 1950.
Bishop was born in Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
to Eugene Edgar Bishop (1869-1881) and Elizabeth Lindsay Crittenden Bishop. He received his medical degree from Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
in 1914 and his Master of Public Health
Master of Public Health
The Master of Public Health and the Doctor of Public Health are multi-disciplinary professional degrees awarded for studies in areas related to public health....
degree from Johns Hopkins
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
in 1923. Bishop spent almost the entirety of his career serving as a public health official for the state of Tennessee, but was also a consultant to the federal government and a scientific director and board member of the International Health Division of the Rockefeller Foundation
Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a prominent philanthropic organization and private foundation based at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The preeminent institution established by the six-generation Rockefeller family, it was founded by John D. Rockefeller , along with his son John D. Rockefeller, Jr...
.
As health director for the TVA, Bishop sought to reduce the threat of malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
along the 10,000 mile shore line of TVA's lakes, and devised a strategy that involved periodically raising and lowering the water level in each lake. For this innovation he was awarded the Mary Woodard Lasker Award for Public Service
Mary Woodard Lasker Award for Public Service
The Mary Woodard Lasker Award for Public Service is awarded by the Lasker Foundation. It was previously known as the Albert Lasker Public Service Award, but was renamed in 2000 in honour of his wife. Past Winners include:*2009 Michael Bloomberg...
in 1950. Bishop died in 1951, less than a year after receiving the award.