Paul Wehrle
Encyclopedia
Paul Francis Wehrle was a researcher and physician who helped develop of methods to prevent and treat polio and smallpox
.
He graduated from the University of Arizona
and received his M.D.
degree from Tulane in 1947. He then became acting chairman of the Microbiology Department of the State University of New York
's Upstate Medical Center at Syracuse, New York
.
As a pediatrician he took part in trials of the Salk
polio vaccine
in the 1950s.
From 1961 to 1988 he was chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Southern California
Medical School.
From 1969 to 1970 he was part of the World Health Organization
's campaign to eradicate smallpox. He performed vaccinations, presented lectures and did research into the disease. He also signed the WHO smallpox proclamation.
Wehrle was an advisor to the Surgeon General
on immunizations.
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
.
He graduated from the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
and received his M.D.
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
degree from Tulane in 1947. He then became acting chairman of the Microbiology Department of the State University of New York
State University of New York
The State University of New York, abbreviated SUNY , is a system of public institutions of higher education in New York, United States. It is the largest comprehensive system of universities, colleges, and community colleges in the United States, with a total enrollment of 465,000 students, plus...
's Upstate Medical Center at Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
.
As a pediatrician he took part in trials of the Salk
Jonas Salk
Jonas Edward Salk was an American medical researcher and virologist, best known for his discovery and development of the first safe and effective polio vaccine. He was born in New York City to parents from Ashkenazi Jewish Russian immigrant families...
polio vaccine
Vaccine
A vaccine is a biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease. A vaccine typically contains an agent that resembles a disease-causing microorganism, and is often made from weakened or killed forms of the microbe or its toxins...
in the 1950s.
From 1961 to 1988 he was chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
Medical School.
From 1969 to 1970 he was part of the World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
's campaign to eradicate smallpox. He performed vaccinations, presented lectures and did research into the disease. He also signed the WHO smallpox proclamation.
Wehrle was an advisor to the Surgeon General
Surgeon General of the United States
The Surgeon General of the United States is the operational head of the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and thus the leading spokesperson on matters of public health in the federal government...
on immunizations.