Michael H Merson
Michael Howard Merson
Scroll
Interim Chair of the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Clinical Professor of Global and Environmental Health
-
Professional overview
-
Michael Merson is Interim Chair of the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences and a Clinical Professor of Global and Environmental Health at NYU. He also 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, MassachusettsM.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
The history and challenge of HIV prevention
AbstractMerson, M. H., O'Malley, J., Serwadda, D., & Apisuk, C. (n.d.).Publication year
2008Journal title
The LancetVolume
372Issue
9637Page(s)
475-488AbstractThe HIV/AIDS pandemic has become part of the contemporary global landscape. Few predicted its effect on mortality and morbidity or its devastating social and economic consequences, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Successful responses have addressed sensitive social factors surrounding HIV prevention, such as sexual behaviour, drug use, and gender equalities, countered stigma and discrimination, and mobilised affected communities; but such responses have been few and far between. Only in recent years has the international response to HIV prevention gathered momentum, mainly due to the availability of treatment with antiretroviral drugs, the recognition that the pandemic has both development and security implications, and a substantial increase in financial resources brought about by new funders and funding mechanisms. We now require an urgent and revitalised global movement for HIV prevention that supports a combination of behavioural, structural, and biomedical approaches and is based on scientifically derived evidence and the wisdom and ownership of communities.The HIV-AIDS pandemic at 25 - The global response
AbstractMerson, M. H. (n.d.).Publication year
2006Journal title
New England Journal of MedicineVolume
354Issue
23Page(s)
2414-2417Abstract~The magnitude of the global problem of acute diarrhoeal disease : A review of active surveillance data
AbstractMerson, M. H., Snyder, J. D., & Merson, M. H. (n.d.).Publication year
1982Journal title
Bulletin of the World Health OrganizationVolume
60Issue
4Page(s)
605-613AbstractData from 24 published studies were analysed in order to estimate the annual morbidity and mortality from acute diarrhoeal disease in the developing world. Twenty-two of the studies involved frequent surveillance through home visits to families in communities; the other two were multi-country studies in which diarrhoea mortality was calculated on the basis of death certificate information. Morbidity rates were found to be highest in the 6-11 month age group, while the mortality rates were greatest in infants under 1 year of age and children 1 year old. For children under 5 years old, the median incidence of diarrhoea was 2.2 episodes per child per year for all studies and 3.0 episodes per child per year for the studies that had the smallest populations and most frequent surveillance. Using 1980 population estimates, the estimated total yearly morbidity and mortality from diarrhoeal disease for children under 5 years of age in Africa, Asia (excluding China), and Latin America were 744-1000 million episodes and 4.6 million deaths.The president's Emergency Plan for AIDS relief : From successes of the emergency response to challenges of sustainable action
AbstractMerson, M. H., Curran, J. W., Griffith, C. H., & Ragunanthan, B. (n.d.).Publication year
2012Journal title
Health AffairsVolume
31Issue
7Page(s)
1380-1388AbstractThe Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has made a major contribution to the reduction of the global HIV/AIDS burden. The program initially focused on rapidly scaling up treatment and prevention services in fifteen low-income countries, then transitioned to an approach that emphasizes sustainability, defined as the capacity to maintain program services after financial, managerial, and technical assistance from the United States and other external donors essentially ceases. Today, PEPFAR continues to expand its HIV prevention, treatment, and care activities while also supporting capacity building initiatives, coordination efforts, and implementation science. The latter is research focused on improving service delivery, maximizing cost-effectiveness, and achieving public health impact. Recent advances in both scientific knowledge and the provision of prevention, treatment, and care services have bred cautious optimism about greatly reducing the spread of HIV. However, success will require a substantial increase in resources, strengthened health systems, renewed commitment to HIV prevention, and well-financed efforts to develop an effective HIV vaccine.The role of academic health science systems in the transformation of medicine
AbstractDzau, V. J., Ackerly, D. C., Sutton-Wallace, P., Merson, M. H., Williams, R. S., Krishnan, K. R., Taber, R. C., & Califf, R. M. (n.d.).Publication year
2010Journal title
The LancetVolume
375Issue
9718Page(s)
949-953Abstract~The Safety of Eating Shellfish
AbstractHughes, J. M., Merson, M. H., & Gangarosa, E. J. (n.d.).Publication year
1977Journal title
JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical AssociationVolume
237Issue
18Page(s)
1980-1981Abstract~Towards a common definition of global health
AbstractKoplan, J. P., Bond, T. C., Merson, M. H., Reddy, K. S., Rodriguez, M. H., Sewankambo, N. K., & Wasserheit, J. N. (n.d.).Publication year
2009Journal title
The LancetVolume
373Issue
9679Page(s)
1993-1995Abstract~Toxigenic Turista
AbstractMerson, M. H. (n.d.).Publication year
1975Journal title
New England Journal of MedicineVolume
292Issue
18Page(s)
969-970AbstractBefore departing on their long awaited vacation, visit, or business trip to a foreign land, many Americans pack an ample supply of various pharmaceuticals for treatment of an anticipated diarrheal illness. The medications that they carry are as varied as the names given this affliction. Not to be taken lightly, this illness, most commonly referred to as travelers' diarrhea, has compromised the activity of American troops stationed in Europe and Vietnam, limited the performance of Olympic athletes, and altered the best laid plans of scientific visitors to international congresses. The clinical syndrome of travelers' diarrhea generally follows a typical pattern….Travelers' Diarrhea in Mexico : A Prospective Study of Physicians and Family Members Attending a Congress
AbstractMerson, M. H., Morris, G. K., Sack, D. A., Wells, J. G., Feeley, J. C., Sack, R. B., Creech, W. B., Kapikian, A. Z., & Gangarosa, E. J. (n.d.).Publication year
1976Journal title
New England Journal of MedicineVolume
294Issue
24Page(s)
1299-1305AbstractWe conducted a prospective study of travelers' diarrhea on 73 physicians and 48 family members attending a medical congress in Mexico City, in October, 1974. Fecal and blood specimens were collected before, during and after their visit and examined for enteric bacterial pathogens, viruses and parasites. In 59 (49 per cent) participants travelers' diarrhea developed. Median duration of illness was five days. Onset occurred a median of six days after arrival. An etiologic agent was found in 63 per cent of ill participants. Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli of different, non-“enteropathogenic” serotypes was the most common cause; other responsible pathogens included salmonellae, invasive Esch. coli., shigellae, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Giardia lamblia and the human reovirus-like agent. Consumption of salads containing raw vegetables was associated with enterotoxigenic Esch. coli infection (P = 0.014). Travelers' diarrhea in Mexico is a syndrome caused by a variety of pathogens, the most common of which is enterotoxigenic Esch. coli. (N Engl J Med 294:1299–1305, 1976) AMERICANS traveling in foreign countries often experience “travelers' diarrhea” shortly after arrival. This illness can be mild and short-lived but is sometimes prolonged and incapacitating. In travelers to Mexico the illness which is frequently called “turista” or ”Montezuma's revenge,” has an attack rate of 24 to 50 per cent.123The cause of “turista” was unknown until a recent study demonstrated that strains of Escherichia coli that produce heat-labile enterotoxin play an important part.3The vehicles responsible for this illness have not been identified, and thus preventive measures have been difficult to define. To characterize more clearly the clinical, epidemiologic and.Travelers’ Diarrhea
AbstractMerson, M. H., & Gangarosa, E. J. (n.d.).Publication year
1975Journal title
JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical AssociationVolume
234Issue
2Page(s)
200-201Abstract~Two-year impacts on employment and income among adults receiving antiretroviral therapy in Tamil Nadu, India : A cohort study
AbstractThirumurthy, H., Jafri, A., Srinivas, G., Arumugam, V., Saravanan, R. M., Angappan, S. K., Ponnusamy, M., Raghavan, S., Merson, M. H., & Kallolikar, S. (n.d.).Publication year
2011Journal title
AIDSVolume
25Issue
2Page(s)
239-246AbstractObjectives: To estimate the economic impact of antiretroviral therapy (ART) on employment and income of treated patients as well as a comparison group of pre-ART patients who receive care and support in Tamil Nadu, India. Methods: A cohort of 1238 HIV-infected patients was followed between 2005 and 2007. Socioeconomic data were collected at 6-month intervals. A total of 515 patients initiated ART during the study period, whereas a comparison group of 723 patients were pre-ART. The impact of ART on four employment outcomes was analyzed: participation in economic activities in the past week, number of hours worked in the past week, individual income earned in the past 30 days and 6 months. Regression models including patient fixed effects were estimated. Data from the comparison group of patients were used to adjust for time trends in employment outcomes. Results: At 6 months after initiation of ART, patients were 10 percentage points more likely to be economically active (P < 0.01) and worked 5.5 additional hours per week (P < 0.01). These increases were over and above those experienced by the comparison group. The estimated 24-month impacts represent a doubling of patients' employment levels at baseline. At 24 months after ART initiation, employment increases remained large and significant. Effects were almost twice as large for men compared with women. Income earned in the past 30 days and 6 months also rose significantly. Conclusion: ART resulted in a rapid and sustained increase in employment and income for patients. The results demonstrate that ART can improve the economic outcomes of HIV-infected patients.Type a botulism from commercially canned beef stew
AbstractBlake, P. A., Horwitz, M. A., Hopkins, L., Lombard, G. L., McCroan, J. E., Prucha, J. C., & Merson, M. H. (n.d.).Publication year
1977Journal title
Southern Medical JournalVolume
70Issue
1Page(s)
5-7AbstractTwo of three persons who ate lunch together became ill with symptoms characteristic of botulism. One died before botulism was suspected and before specimens could be collected for laboratory testing, but a serum specimen from the other patient, who survived, yielded botulinal toxin, type A. The third person remained asymptomatic, but Clostridium botulinum type A was cultured from his stool. The three persons had shared two canned foods: home-canned green beans and commercially canned beef stew. The green beans were initially assumed to be the cause of the outbreak. However, the empty stew can was recovered from the garbage, and washings from the can yielded C botulinum, type A, and its toxin.Uganda's HIV/AIDS epidemic : Guest editorial
AbstractMerson, M. H. (n.d.).Publication year
2006Journal title
AIDS and BehaviorVolume
10Issue
4Page(s)
333-334Abstract~University engagement in global health
AbstractMerson, M. H. (n.d.).Publication year
2014Journal title
New England Journal of MedicineVolume
370Issue
18Page(s)
1676-1678Abstract~Unprotected intercourse for extra money among commercial sex workers in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
AbstractMerson, M. H., Ntumbanzondo, M., Dubrow, R., Niccolai, L. M., Mwandagalirwa, K., & Merson, M. H. (n.d.).Publication year
2006Journal title
AIDS Care - Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of AIDS/HIVVolume
18Issue
7Page(s)
777-785AbstractThis study assessed the extent and correlates of the practice of engaging in unprotected intercourse for extra money among commercial sex workers (CSWs) in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. We conducted a cross-sectional survey using a structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire among a convenience sample of 136 CSWs. More than one-quarter of CSWs (26.5%) engaged in unprotected intercourse for extra money. These CSWs charged about 3.5 times more for unprotected intercourse than for protected intercourse. Multivariate logistic regression showed that CSWs who engaged in unprotected intercourse for extra money were significantly more likely to live or work in non-downtown (lower socioeconomic) areas of Kinshasa (odds ratio [OR]=3.07), to have at least one child less than six years of age (OR=2.95), and to know other CSWs who engaged in the same practice (OR=9.38). We hypothesize that desperate socioeconomic conditions combined with peer/social norms drive the practice of engaging in unprotected intercourse for extra money. Additional circumstances under which Kinshasa CSWs engaged in unprotected intercourse included intercourse with clients who tore their condoms to increase sexual pleasure (58.8% of CSWs), episodes of condom failure (56.8% of CSWs), and unprotected intercourse with regular noncommercial partners (only 5.3% of CSWs with noncommercial partners always used condoms with these partners).USE OF ANTISERA FOR IDENTIFICATION OF ENTEROTOXIGENIC ESCHERICHIA COLI
AbstractMerson, M. H., Black, R. E., Gross, R. J., Rowe, B., Huq, I., & Eusof, A. (n.d.).Publication year
1980Journal title
The LancetVolume
316Issue
8188Page(s)
222-224AbstractThe usual methods for identifying enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strains involve testing for production of heat-labile and heat-stable enterotoxins. To simplify the identification of ETEC, antisera against common ETEC O serogroups were used to identify ETEC in the stools from 618 patients with acute diarrhœa and dehydration (≽5% loss of body-weight) receiving treatment at a hospital in Dacca, Bangladesh. Compared with enterotoxin testing the antisera had a sensitivity of 64%, a specificity of 96%, and a predictive accuracy of 89%. These antisera may be useful in the identification ETEC in clinical laboratories which are unable to perform toxin testing and should be evaluated in other geographical areas.Use of colony pools for diagnosis of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli diarrhea
AbstractMerson, M. H., Merson, M. H., Sack, R. B., Kibriya, A. K., Al-Mahmood, A., Adamed, Q. S., & Huq, I. (n.d.).Publication year
1979Journal title
Journal of Clinical MicrobiologyVolume
9Issue
4Page(s)
493-497Abstract~Village-based distribution of oral rehydration therapy packets in Bangladesh
AbstractMerson, M. H., Chen, L. C., Black, R. E., Sarder, A. M., Merson, M. H., Bhatia, S., Yunus, M., & Chakraborty, J. (n.d.).Publication year
1980Journal title
American Journal of Tropical Medicine and HygieneVolume
29Issue
2Page(s)
285-290AbstractThe distribution of sucrose-electrolyte oral therapy packets (1 liter)by community-based workers in a rural Bangladesh population of 157,000 was evaluated. A similar population of 134,000 served as comparison group. The locally-produced packets showed satisfactory chemical composition with a shelf-life of up to 3 months and a cost of U.S. $0.05. After 4 months the workers were distributing an average of 70 packets/1,000 population per month. Most patients used one packet for each episode of diarrhea; 13% of children used two packets, and 15% and 8% of adults used, respectively, two and three packets. The electrolyte composition of the oral fluids prepared by field workers and mothers showed substantial variation, but no hyperconcentrated solutions were noted. A comparison of the hospitalization rate from the two study areas suggested a 29% reduction in hospitalization for diarrhea during the 4 months of distribution.World Health Organization and knowledge translation in maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and nutrition
AbstractDuke, T., Albuhairan, F. S., Agarwal, K., Arora, N. K., Arulkumaran, S., Bhutta, Z. A., Binka, F., Castro, A., Claeson, M., Dao, B., Darmstadt, G. L., English, M., Jardali, F., Merson, M. H., Ferrand, R. A., Golden, A., Golden, M. H., Homer, C., Jehan, F., … Zlotkin, S. (n.d.).Publication year
2021Journal title
Archives of Disease in ChildhoodAbstractThe 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 of 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.