Honoring the Life of President Jimmy Carter, a Humanitarian and Public Health Hero
We join the world in mourning the loss of one of the pivotal figures in the fight for global public health. President Jimmy Carter, who died at age 100 on Sunday, lived a life dedicated to the causes of equity, peace, and health for all.
President Carter was an early champion of many of the public health initiatives that remain the foundation of our collective efforts today. From helping to eradicate global health threats and bringing a prominent voice to the impact of climate change to shining a light on mental health, women’s rights, and health equity, his impact was profound and enduring.
Among the initiatives President Carter will be remembered for most will be his focus on Guinea worm, which is spread through contaminated drinking water and can cause painful and debilitating symptoms. When he began a campaign working on the disease in the mid-1980s about 3.5 million cases occurred in 20 countries worldwide. As of 2023, there were just 14 cases globally.
Emory University and the Rollins School of Public Health were lucky to have had close and strong relationships with President Carter, former First Lady Rosalyn Carter, and the Carter Center for many years.
In 2020, during our school’s 30th anniversary, President Carter himself spoke of our special partnerships:
“The Carter Center’s Health Programs have enjoyed mutually beneficial and productive relationships with the Rollins School of Public Health from the very beginning. I have enjoyed the occasions when I have spoken to and held discussions with audiences at the school. Additionally, our Carter Center staff have lectured at the school, provided internships, and supervised theses. A few of our overseas staff have earned MPH degrees at Emory as recipients of Foege Fellowships, while four of our five current Health Program directors, several Carter Center country directors in Africa, and many others we work with in Africa are also proud alumni of the Rollins School of Public Health.”
We are also proud to host Hubert Humphrey Fellows at Rollins, a program President Carter established in 1978 to embody “the values of democracy, social justice, and a desire to assist the world’s developing nations."
President Carter lived a deeply meaningful life, filled with passion and purpose. We will treasure his memory, friendship, and lasting legacy in the world of public health.
