Robert S. Desowitz (1926–2008)
Author of New Guinea Tapeworms and Jewish Grandmothers: Tales of Parasites and People
About the Author
Robert S. Desowitz, a leading epidemiologist lives in Pinehurst, North Carolina
Image credit: American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Works by Robert S. Desowitz
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- Desowitz, Robert S.
- Birthdate
- 1926-01-02
- Date of death
- 2008-03-24
- Gender
- male
- Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- New York, New York, USA
- Place of death
- Pinehurst, North Carolina, USA
- Places of residence
- Hawaii, USA
Pinehurst, North Carolina, USA - Education
- Niagara Falls High School
University of Buffalo (B.A., 1948)
London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (Ph.D., parasitology and medical biology, 1951)
University of London (D.Sc., parasitology, 1961) - Occupations
- parasitologist
epidemiologist
professor of Tropical Medicine and Medical Parasitology
researcher
writer - Organizations
- University of Hawaii School of Medicine (1968-1995)
SEATO Laboratory, Department of Parisitology, Bangkok (chief ∙ 1965-1968)
University of Singapore School of Medicine (1960-1965)
British Foreign Service (1951-1960)
United States Army (1944-1946)
University of North Carolina School of Public Health (show all 7)
West African Institute for Trypanosomiasis Research, Nigeria - Short biography
- Prof. Desowitz was once described by a book reviewer as "a veritable Sherlock Holmes of parasites and pathogens."
Dr. Robert S. Desowitz is internationally renowned as a teacher, lecturer, and researcher of malaria and other diseases. He is Emeritus professor of Tropical Medicine and Medical Microbiolgy at the University of Hawaii and is currently Adjunct Professor of Epidemiology at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He lives in Pinehurst, North Carolina. [adapted from Who Gave Pinta to the Santa Maria (1996)
Members
Reviews
The malaria capers more tales of parasites and… by Robert S. Desowitz
Really enjoyed this, both the introductory section on leishmaniasis and the main section on malaria. It's a bit out of date at this point, but still a great read for anyone who enjoys the processes and personalities involved in infectious disease research
Fascinating look at parasites and our battles against them. Once again, I am reminded how interconnected the world is. If you pull one string (or do one thing to try to help people), you get all kinds of consequences that you did not anticipate. I fear some of the scientific data is outdated in this book, since it is copyright in the eighties, but it was a fun look at the topic, and the author has a good sense of humor.
I LOVE BOOKS LIKE THIS.
A look into what /actually/ happened when scientists went abroad to study Malaria, how Malaria works, and how it is a crisis still happening, silently to Americans/1st world countries. Malaria has no cure.
Such an interesting look at it, and a definite MUST READ.
A look into what /actually/ happened when scientists went abroad to study Malaria, how Malaria works, and how it is a crisis still happening, silently to Americans/1st world countries. Malaria has no cure.
Such an interesting look at it, and a definite MUST READ.
Federal Bodysnatchers and the New Guinea Virus: Tales of People, Parasites, and Politics by Robert S. Desowitz was originally published in 2002. The title refers to a legal case involving the patenting of a virus based on genetic information obtained from the Hagahai people of New Guinea. What this book actually covers is ten different essays by epidemiologist Desowitz. Desowitz is informative, humorous, passionate, but always knowledgeable about his topic. Actually my one problem with his book is one he noted in the prologue, he didn't include any bibliography of references. I guess I personally would have liked to see more of his information footnoted or referenced. Although other fans of non-fiction virus books may likely enjoy it more than this score suggests, I'm rating it a 3.9 as some of the essays were more interesting, compelling reading than others.
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Statistics
- Works
- 5
- Members
- 466
- Popularity
- #52,775
- Rating
- 3.9
- Reviews
- 6
- ISBNs
- 19
- Languages
- 1
- Favorited
- 1