William Foege, public health icon, dies at 89.

William Foege, a former CDC director and a leading figure behind the effort to eradicate smallpox, died on January 24 at age 89.

William Foege, a prominent public health leader and former director of the Centers for Disease Control, died on January 24 at age 89. He served as CDC director from 1977 to 1983 and later cofounded the Task Force for Global Health and led the Carter Center from 1986 to 1992. Foege was also an adviser to philanthropic organizations and was Professor Emeritus at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health. Key details: - Foege is widely credited with strategic contributions that helped bring about the global eradication of smallpox, a milestone formally declared by the World Health Organization in 1980. - He held leadership roles at the CDC, the Carter Center, and the Task Force for Global Health, and advised major global health organizations. - His later work included efforts toward eliminating other diseases; the Carter Center noted a sharp decline in Guinea worm cases to 15 in 2024. - Among honors he received was the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012, and colleagues describe him as a mentor to generations of public health professionals. Summary: Foege's career is described as having had a significant and long-standing influence on global public health through program leadership and mentorship. Undetermined at this time.