D.A. Henderson, leader of campaign to eradicate smallpox, dead at 89

BALTIMORE, Aug. 20 (UPI) -- Donald Ainslie Henderson, a former dean of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health who led the campaign to eradicate small pox, died in Baltimore on Friday.

Henderson, who was known as D.A., died following complications from a hip fracture at the age of 89 the UPMC Center for Health Security reported.

"D.A. Henderson truly changed the world for the better," Director of the UPMC Center for Health Security Tom Inglesby said. "He led the effort to rid the world of smallpox. He advised presidents. He was honored by countries around the planet. He changed the way schools of public health teach the next generation. With all of that, he still took the time to be a mentor to countless young people, and was a great friend. He is truly irreplaceable, and I will miss him."

Henderson was born on Sept. 7, 1928 in Lakewood, Ohio to David Alexander Henderson, an engineer with Union Carbide, and Grace Eleanor Henderson, a nurse.

He graduated from Oberlin College, from University of Rochester School of Medicine and Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health in 1960 and served as a medical resident at the Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown, New York.

From 1966 to 1977 he served as Director of the World Health Organization's global smallpox eradication campaign where he and his team became the only group to ever successfully eradicate a human disease.

He received several accolades throughout his career including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2002, Thailand's Prince Mahidol Award for Public Health in 2015 and the Order of the Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon in 2013.

Henderson is survived by his wife Nana, daughter, Leigh, and sons Douglas and David.