Honoring a Legend:
Dr. Bill Foege
Mentor, Visionary, and the Ultimate Good Ancestor
The world lost a "Babe Ruth of public health" on January 24, 2026, but the ripples of his life will be felt for generations to come. Dr. William H. Foege was more than the principal architect behind the eradication of smallpox; he was a man who redefined our moral obligation to the future.
At 6-foot-7, Bill stood a head taller than most, but his true stature was found in his humility and his "patient manner". He didn't just fight diseases; he fought the "fatalism" that convinces us we cannot change our destiny.
A Legacy of Mentorship
Bill Foege understood that "no one does anything by themselves". Throughout his career—from the mud-walled huts of Nigeria to the director’s chair at the CDC—he was a mentor to thousands. He taught us that:
Integrity is paramount: He famously told a health minister that to stop a life-saving strategy, "You have to fire me".
Curiosity is a tool: He urged us to "avoid certainty," calling it the "Achilles’ heel of science" that stops us from searching for the truth.
Empathy is essential: He reminded us that we must be "culturally competent" and "respect the culture," because in the end, "culture will always win".
The 9 Lessons: A Living Legacy
The 9 Lessons from Global Health to Change the World are not just academic principles; they are Bill’s living legacy. They provide a "good, solid ground" for tackling any problem, from pandemics to climate change.
By teaching us to Know, Share, and Act on the Truth, and to strive for Global Health Equity, Bill gave us a blueprint for how to leave this world in better shape than we found it. He showed us that the "ultimate in global health equity" is when the risk for a disease like smallpox becomes "zero for everyone".
Being a "Good Ancestor"
Bill spoke frequently of the moral obligation to be a "good ancestor". He believed public health has a basic responsibility to take care of "everybody who's going to be born in the future".
Thank you, Bill. Thank you for your "steel determination," your wit, and your unwavering belief that "evolution will be what we want it to be". You have given us your "proxy vote" for the future, and we promise to make the right decisions.
““Bill Foege was a pre-eminent public health practitioner who dedicated his life to what he called science in the service of humanity... He saved the lives of millions of people around the world.””
The World Has Lost
A Great Leader
Memories of Dr. Bill Foege