11 Facts About David Sencer

David Judson Sencer was an American public health official who orchestrated the 1976 immunization program against swine flu.

David Sencer completed his medical degree at the University of Michigan.

In 1951, David Sencer married Jane Blood David Sencer, with whom he had three children: Susan, a pediatric oncologist; Ann, an oncology nurse practitioner; and Stephen, chief legal officer for Emory University.

In 1960, David Sencer became the assistant director of the CDC, and in 1966, the director.

Additionally, David Sencer prepared instructions for the quarantine of astronauts returning from the Moon, which was suspected to harbor extraterrestrial pathogens.

David Sencer said you couldn't protect US citizens from smallpox without getting rid of it in the world, and that was a new approach.

David Sencer was trying to protect Americans had there been [a swine flu epidemic], and absent one, there was bound to be criticism.

David Sencer sent 20 epidemiologists there to investigate, and months later they attributed the disease to a type of bacteria in the air-conditioning system in the hotel where the conference was held.

Colgrove agreed with critics that David Sencer was a poor public educator.

David Sencer died from pneumonia on May 2,2011, at the age of 86, in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia.

David Sencer is the namesake of the David J Sencer CDC Museum.