Walter Spitzer

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For the Polish-born French artist, see Walter Spitzer (artist).
Walter O. Spitzer
Born(1937-02-19)February 19, 1937
Asuncion, Paraguay
DiedApril 27, 2006(2006-04-27) (aged 69)
NationalityCanadian
OccupationEpidemiologist

Walter O. Spitzer (1937–2006) was a Canadian epidemiologist and professor of epidemiology and health at McGill University, a position he held from 1975 until his retirement in 1995.[1]

Early life and education[edit]

Spitzer was born in Asuncion, Paraguay on February 19, 1937. He was the eldest son of Paul Rosenberg and Elsa Spitzer,[2] both of whom were Baptist missionaries.[3] He received his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Toronto in 1962 and his Master of Public Health degree from Yale University in 1970.[1]

Career[edit]

From 1969 to 1975, Spitzer was a faculty member at McMaster University.[1] He was appointed a faculty member at McGill in 1975, and was credited with bringing its Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics to "new, more collegial premises".[3] He chaired this department from 1984 to 1993.[4] He was the founding co-editor of the Journal of Chronic Diseases in 1982, which he and co-editor Alvan Feinstein renamed the Journal of Clinical Epidemiology in 1988. They served as the journal's co-editors until 1994.[5] Spitzer was also the chair of the Quebec Task Force on Spinal Disorders, convened in 1983.[6] He was elected to the Institute of Medicine in 1985.[7]

Research[edit]

Spitzer was noted for his research into the potential adverse effects of oral contraceptives.[8][9] He has also been credited as a major figure in the development of the modern system of evidence-based medicine, along with Archie Cochrane and David Sackett.[10]

Ableist remarks and attitudes[edit]

Spitzer's remarks revealed research rooted in ableism and disability discrimination, including a reference to people on the autism spectrum as having "a terminal illness... a dead soul in a live body."[11] These remarks were looked back on by both autism experts and by individuals on the autism spectrum with renewed scrutiny as a result of the neurodiversity and autism acceptance movements.

Death[edit]

Spitzer died on April 27, 2006, following complications of a car accident.[1]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Shapiro, S. (27 July 2006). "In Memoriam: Walter O. Spitzer (1937-2006)". American Journal of Epidemiology. 164 (6): 607. doi:10.1093/aje/kwj288.
  2. ^ Walter O. Spitzer
  3. ^ a b Sackett, Dave (June 2009). "Walter O. Spitzer 1937–2006". Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. 62 (6): 565–566. doi:10.1016/j.jclinepi.2008.12.007. PMID 19345562.
  4. ^ "Past Departmental Chairs". Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health. Retrieved 2018-01-28.
  5. ^ Chambers, Larry W. (October 2006). "Walter O. Spitzer 1937–2006, Co-Editor, Journal of Chronic Disease 1982–1988 and Clinical Epidemiology 1988–1994". Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. 59 (10): 1015–1016. doi:10.1016/j.jclinepi.2006.07.003.
  6. ^ Hadler, Nortin (2008). Worried Sick: A Prescription for Health in an Overtreated America. University of North Carolina Press. p. 279. ISBN 9780807882719.
  7. ^ "Walter Spitzer". Institute of Medicine Directory. 2014-11-30. Archived from the original on 2014-11-30. Retrieved 2017-11-28.
  8. ^ Dyer, C (3 August 2002). "Judge dismisses test case on third generation pill". BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.). 325 (7358): 237. doi:10.1136/bmj.325.7358.237. PMC 1123767. PMID 12153913.
  9. ^ "Safety boost for third generation Pill". BBC News. 30 August 2002. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  10. ^ Dahm, Phillip (2010). Evidence-based Urology. John Wiley & Sons. p. 18. ISBN 9781444390322.
  11. ^ Silberman, Steve (2005). Neurotribes.
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