Michael H Merson

Interim Chair and Clinical Professor of the Department of Global and Environmental Health

Professional overview

Michael Merson is Interim Chair of the Department of Global and Environmental Health and Clinical Professor of Global and Environmental Health. He is the William Joklik Emeritus Professor of Medicine and Global Health at Duke University, where he served as the founding director of the Duke Global Health Institute and as Vice President and Vice Provost for Global Affairs. His current research is focused on policy issues related to the response to pandemics, evaluating the rollout of Paxlovid in low-income countries and on ways to regain trust in public health.

Prior to NYU, he joined the faculty at Yale University as its first Dean of Public Health. Before entering academia, between 1980 and 1995, Dr. Merson served as director of the World Health Organization (WHO) programs on Diarrheal Diseases and Acute Respiratory Infections, and subsequently the WHO Global Program on AIDS. He has authored over 150 articles, is the senior editor of a leading global health textbook “Global Health: Disease, Programs, Systems, and Policies” and lead author of The AIDS Pandemic: Searching for a Global Response on the history of the global response to AIDS. He has served in advisory capacities for UNAIDS, WHO, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, World Bank, World Economic Forum, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and was an advisor to various private sector entities on the COVID-19 pandemic. He has two honorary degrees and is a member of the National Academy of Medicine.

Education

B.A., 1966, cum laude, Amherst College, Amherst, Massachusetts

M.D., 1970, summa cum laude, SUNY, Health Sciences Center at Brooklyn, New York

Honors and awards

Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH) Distinguished Leadership Award (2018)

Duke Medical Alumni Association Distinguished Faculty Award (2017)

Master Teacher Award in Preventive Medicine, Downstate Medical Center (2010)

Outstanding Contribution to the Campaign Against HIV/AIDS, Russian Association Against AIDS (2000)

Connecticut Health Commissioner’s AIDS Leadership Award (1998)

Connecticut Health Commissioner’s AIDS Leadership Award (1997)

Frank Babbott Alumni Award (1995)

Surgeon General's Exemplary Service Medal (1993)

Commendation Medal, US Public Health Service; (1986)

Arthur S. Flemming Award for Outstanding Federal Service (1983)

Commendation Medal, US Public Health Service (1975)

Publications

Publications

Low antibody levels associated with significantly increased rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection in a highly vaccinated population from the US National Basketball Association

The "Bubble": What Can Be Learned from the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s 2019-20 Season Restart in Orlando during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Mack, C. D., Merson, M. H., Sims, L., Maragakis, L. L., Davis, R., Tai, C. G., Meisel, P., Grad, Y. H., Ho, D. D., Anderson, D. J., Lemay, C., & Difiori, J. (n.d.).

Publication year

2023

Journal title

Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine

Volume

8

Issue

6

Page(s)

1017-1027

10.1093/jalm/jfad073

Abstract

Abstract

Background: The National Basketball Association (NBA) suspended operations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. To safely complete the 2019-20 season, the NBA created a closed campus in Orlando, Florida, known as the NBA "Bubble."More than 5000 individuals lived, worked, and played basketball at a time of high local prevalence of SARS-CoV-2. Methods: Stringent protocols governed campus life to protect NBA and support personnel from contracting COVID-19. Participants quarantined before departure and upon arrival. Medical and social protocols required that participants remain on campus, test regularly, physically distance, mask, use hand hygiene, and more. Cleaning, disinfection, and air filtration was enhanced. Campus residents were screened daily and confirmed cases of COVID-19 were investigated. Results: In the Bubble population, 148 043 COVID-19 reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) tests were performed across approximately 5000 individuals; Orlando had a 4% to 15% test positivity rate in this timeframe. There were 44 COVID-19 cases diagnosed either among persons during arrival quarantine or in non-team personnel while working on campus after testing but before receipt of a positive result. No cases of COVID-19 were identified among NBA players or NBA team staff living in the Bubble once cleared from quarantine. Conclusions: Drivers of success included the requirement for players and team staff to reside and remain on campus, well-trained compliance monitors, unified communication, layers of protection between teams and the outside, activation of high-quality laboratory diagnostics, and available mental health services. An emphasis on data management, evidence-based decision-making, and the willingness to evolve protocols were instrumental to successful operations. These lessons hold broad applicability for future pandemic preparedness efforts.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Reinfection: A Case Series From a 12-Month Longitudinal Occupational Cohort

World Health Organization and knowledge translation in maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and nutrition

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Publication year

2022

Journal title

Archives of Disease in Childhood

Volume

107

Issue

7

Page(s)

644-649

10.1136/ARCHDISCHILD-2021-323102

Abstract

Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) has a mandate to promote maternal and child health and welfare through support to governments in the form of technical assistance, standards, epidemiological and statistical services, promoting teaching and training of healthcare professionals and providing direct aid in emergencies. The Strategic and Technical Advisory Group of Experts (STAGE) for maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and nutrition (MNCAHN) was established in 2020 to advise the Director-General of WHO on issues relating to MNCAHN. STAGE comprises individuals from multiple low-income and middle-income and high-income countries, has representatives from many professional disciplines and with diverse experience and interests. Progress in MNCAHN requires improvements in quality o services, equity of access and the evolution of services as technical guidance, community needs and epidemiology changes. Knowledge translation of WHO guidance and other guidelines is an important part of this. Countries need effective and responsive structures for adaptation and implementation of evidence-based interventions, strategies to improve guideline uptake, education and training and mechanisms to monitor quality and safety. This paper summarises STAGE’s recommendations on how to improve knowledge translation in MNCAHN. They include support for national and regional technical advisory groups and subnational committees that coordinate maternal and child health; support for national plans for MNCAHN and their implementation and monitoring; the production of a small number of consolidated MNCAHN guidelines to promote integrated and holistic care; education and quality improvement strategies to support guidelines uptake; monitoring of gaps in knowledge translation and operational research in MNCAHN.

Chinese medical teams in Africa: A flagship program facing formidable challenges

Chen, S., Pender, M., Jin, N., Merson, M., Tang, S., & Gloyd, S. (n.d.).

Publication year

2019

Journal title

Journal of Global Health

Volume

9

Issue

1

10.7189/jogh.09.010311

Drivers of the reduction in childhood diarrhea mortality 1980-2015 and interventions to eliminate preventable diarrhea deaths by 2030

Black, R., Fontaine, O., Lamberti, L., Bhan, M., Huicho, L., El Arifeen, S., Masanja, H., Walker, C. F., Mengestu, T. K., Pearson, L., Young, M., Orobaton, N., Chu, Y., Jackson, B., Bateman, M., Walker, N., & Merson, M. (n.d.).

Publication year

2019

Journal title

Journal of Global Health

Volume

9

Issue

2

10.7189/jogh.09.020801

Abstract

Abstract

Background Childhood diarrhea deaths have declined more than 80% from 1980 to 2015, in spite of an increase in the number of children in low-and middle-income countries (LMIC). Possible drivers of this remarkable accomplishment can guide the further reduction of the half million annual child deaths from diarrhea that still occur. Methods We used the Lives Saved Tool, which models effects on mortality due to changes in coverage of preventive or therapeutic interventions or risk factors, for 50 LMIC to determine the proximal drivers of the diarrhea mortality reduction. Results Diarrhea treatment (oral rehydration solution [ORS], zinc, antibiotics for dysentery and management of persistent diarrhea) and use of rotavirus vaccine accounted for 49.7% of the diarrhea mortality reduction from 1980 to 2015. Improvements in nutrition (stunting, wasting, breastfeeding practices, vitamin A) accounted for 38.8% and improvements in water, sanitation and handwashing for 11.5%. The contribution of ORS was greater from 1980 to 2000 (58.0% of the reduction) than from 2000 to 2015 (30.7%); coverage of ORS increased from zero in 1980 to 29.5% in 2000 and more slowly to 44.1% by 2015. To eliminate the remaining childhood diarrhea deaths globally, all these interventions will be needed. Scaling up diarrhea treatment and rotavirus vaccine, to 90% coverage could reduce global child diarrhea mortality by 74.1% from 2015 levels by 2030. Adding improved nutrition could increase that to 89.1%. Finally, adding increased use of improved water sources, sanitation and handwashing could result in a 92.8% reduction from the 2015 level. Conclusions Employing the interventions that have resulted in such a large reduction in diarrhea mortality in the last 35 years can virtually eliminate remaining childhood diarrhea deaths by 2030.

Evolution of the world health organization's programmatic actions to control diarrheal diseases

Factors associated with the decline in under-five diarrhea mortality in India: A LiST analysis

Introductory commentary: a strategic review of options for building on lessons learnt from IMCI and iCCM

Jacobs, M., & Merson, M. (n.d.).

Publication year

2018

Journal title

BMJ (Clinical research ed.)

Volume

362

Page(s)

bmj.k3013

10.1136/bmj.k3013

Corporate citizenship, aids and Africa

Global hearing health care: new findings and perspectives

Partnership Conference

The AIDS pandemic: Searching for a global response

The Future Role of the United States in Global Health: Emphasis on Cardiovascular Disease

Research in action: From AIDS to global health to impact. A symposium in recognition of the scientific contributions of Professor Joep Lange

University engagement in global health

Merson, M. H. (n.d.).

Publication year

2014

Journal title

New England Journal of Medicine

Volume

370

Issue

18

Page(s)

1676-1678

10.1056/NEJMp1401124

The president's Emergency Plan for AIDS relief: From successes of the emergency response to challenges of sustainable action

Informing the 2011 UN session on noncommunicable diseases: Applying lessons from the AIDS response

Lamptey, P., Merson, M., Piot, P., Reddy, K. S., & Dirks, R. (n.d.).

Publication year

2011

Journal title

PLoS Medicine

Volume

8

Issue

9

10.1371/journal.pmed.1001086

Perspective: Global medicine: Opportunities and challenges for academic health science systems

Surgical capacity building in uganda through twinning, technology, and training camps

Two-year impacts on employment and income among adults receiving antiretroviral therapy in Tamil Nadu, India: A cohort study

A summary of the literature on global hearing impairment: Current status and priorities for action

Results of the NIMH collaborative HIV/Sexually transmitted disease prevention trial of a community popular opinion leader intervention

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Publication year

2010

Journal title

Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes

Volume

54

Issue

2

Page(s)

204-214

10.1097/QAI.0b013e3181d61def

Abstract

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether community populations in community popular opinion leader intervention venues showed greater reductions in sexual risk practices and lower HIV/sexually transmitted disease (STD) incidence than those in comparison venues. METHODS: A 5-country group-randomized trial, conducted from 2002 to 2007, enrolled cohorts from 20 to 40 venues in each country. Venues, matched within country on sexual risk and other factors, were randomly assigned within matched pairs to the community popular opinion leader intervention or an AIDS education comparison. All participants had access to condoms and were assessed with repeated in-depth sexual behavior interviews, STD/HIV testing and treatment, and HIV/STD risk-reduction counseling. Sexual behavior change and HIV/STD incidence were measured over 2 years. RESULTS: Both intervention and comparison conditions showed declines of approximately 33% in risk behavior prevalence and had comparable diseases incidence within and across countries. CONCLUSIONS: The community-level intervention did not produce greater behavioral risk and disease incidence reduction than the comparison condition, perhaps due to the intensive prevention services received by all participants during the assessment. Repeated detailed self-review of risk behavior practices coupled with HIV/STD testing, treatment, HIV risk-reduction counseling, and condom access can themselves substantially change behavior and disease acquisition.

Diagnosis of Acute HIV infection in Connecticut

Identifying acute HIV infection in Rhode Island.

Beckwith, C. G., Cornwall, A. H., Dubrow, R., Chapin, K., Ducharme, R., Rodriguez, I., Velasquez, L., Merson, M. H., Sikkema, K. J., & Mayer, K. (n.d.).

Publication year

2009

Journal title

Medicine and health, Rhode Island

Volume

92

Issue

7

Page(s)

231-233