Statement by Dr. Rajiv J. Shah, President of The Rockefeller Foundation, on the Death of Dr. William H. Foege

All of us at The Rockefeller Foundation were saddened by the news of Dr. William H. Foege’s passing last weekend. As director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, he led the United States’ battle against infectious diseases, including early response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. As a key player in the most successful public health initiatives in history — the eradication of smallpox — he helped revolutionize the way we face the world’s largest health threats. And as a part of The Rockefeller Foundation family, he led an effort called the “Task Force for Child Survival,” which helped quadruple the percentage of children receiving at least one immunization from 20% to 80%.

Early in my career, I had the honor of working alongside Bill at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where we collaborated on the continuing effort to protect children against preventable diseases. He had a special way of cutting through the complexity and scale of the challenges he faced to find the best path forward. Today, countless millions of children are alive thanks to his brilliance and resolve.

Even more than his work, Bill was an example of what it means to be a leader in public health and beyond. He was thoughtful, strategic, diplomatic, and — above all — optimistic. He had a way of reminding us all of what was possible and never letting us lose sight of the fact that public health is ultimately about compassion and kindness.

I am grateful for the example Bill set and for the legacy he leaves behind, which should inspire all of us.