Walter O. Spitzer | |
---|---|
Born | (1937-02-19)February 19, 1937 Asuncion, Paraguay |
Died | April 27, 2006(2006-04-27) (aged 69) |
Nationality | Canadian |
Occupation | Epidemiologist |
Walter O. Spitzer (1937–2006) was a Canadian epidemiologist and professor of epidemiology and health at McGill University, a position he held from 1975 until his retirement in 1995.
Early life and education
Spitzer was born in Asuncion, Paraguay on February 19, 1937. He was the eldest son of Paul Rosenberg and Elsa Spitzer, both of whom were Baptist missionaries. He received his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Toronto in 1962 and his Master of Public Health degree from Yale University in 1970.
Career
From 1969 to 1975, Spitzer was a faculty member at McMaster University. He was appointed a faculty member at McGill in 1975, and was credited with bringing its Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics to "new, more collegial premises". He chaired this department from 1984 to 1993. He was the founding co-editor of the Journal of Chronic Diseases in 1982, which he and co-editor Alvan Feinstein renamed the Journal of Clinical Epidemiology in 1988. They served as the journal's co-editors until 1994. Spitzer was also the chair of the Quebec Task Force on Spinal Disorders, convened in 1983. He was elected to the Institute of Medicine in 1985.
Research
Spitzer was noted for his research into the potential adverse effects of oral contraceptives. He has also been credited as a major figure in the development of the modern system of evidence-based medicine, along with Archie Cochrane and David Sackett.
Death
Spitzer died on April 27, 2006, following complications of a car accident.
References
- ^ Shapiro, S. (27 July 2006). "In Memoriam: Walter O. Spitzer (1937-2006)". American Journal of Epidemiology. 164 (6): 607. doi:10.1093/aje/kwj288.
- Walter O. Spitzer
- ^ Sackett, Dave (June 2009). "Walter O. Spitzer 1937–2006". Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. 62 (6): 565–566. doi:10.1016/j.jclinepi.2008.12.007. PMID 19345562.
- "Past Departmental Chairs". Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health. Retrieved 2018-01-28.
- Chambers, Larry W. (October 2006). "Walter O. Spitzer 1937–2006, Co-Editor, Journal of Chronic Disease 1982–1988 and Clinical Epidemiology 1988–1994". Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. 59 (10): 1015–1016. doi:10.1016/j.jclinepi.2006.07.003.
- Hadler, Nortin (2008). Worried Sick: A Prescription for Health in an Overtreated America. University of North Carolina Press. p. 279. ISBN 9780807882719.
- "Walter Spitzer". Institute of Medicine Directory. 2014-11-30. Archived from the original on 2014-11-30. Retrieved 2017-11-28.
- Dyer, C (3 August 2002). "Judge dismisses test case on third generation pill". BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.). 325 (7358): 237. doi:10.1136/bmj.325.7358.237. PMC 1123767. PMID 12153913.
- "Safety boost for third generation Pill". BBC News. 30 August 2002. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
- Dahm, Phillip (2010). Evidence-based Urology. John Wiley & Sons. p. 18. ISBN 9781444390322.