David Sheffield Bell
Encyclopedia
David Sheffield Bell is a retired physician
who established a private practice in general medicine
in the town of Lyndonville, New York
starting in 1979. He has researched extensively on the clinical aspects of chronic fatigue syndrome
(CFS). He has also conducted evaluations and research in pediatric CFS and written numerous articles about the condition.
Bell also served as Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the State University of New York at Buffalo, in Buffalo, New York
.
, class of 1967, with an AB degree in English Literature. He graduated in 1971 from Boston University
with an MD
degree, and in 1976 completed post-doctoral training in pediatrics
including Pediatric Behavior and Developmental Disorders.
Bell was involved in identifying the outbreak in Lyndonville, New York, of what was known at the time as chronic Epstein-Barr virus (now more commonly referred to as chronic fatigue syndrome
or CFS). When Bell was interviewed about the outbreak in a 1996 Prime Time Live episode, the reporter described Bell's appeal to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) for help with the illness, but Bell says the CDC didn't mention a similar outbreak in Lake Tahoe
, which he learned about later. He met with other CFS researchers at a 1987 conference, and joined an investigation with researchers Paul Cheney and Elaine DeFreitas involving a possible retrovirus association with chronic fatigue syndrome. In 1990, the researchers presented evidence they found DNA
sequences very similar to a known human retrovirus
in some CFS patients, at a conference in Kyoto, Japan. Their study was later published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
. A reporter on Prime Time Live stated the announcement made headlines all over the world. The CDC first ignored their findings, then later conducted a study and published a paper that refuted the hypothesis.
Bell wrote The Doctor's Guide to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, which was published in 1995. The book, which also refers to CFS as "chronic fatigue/immune dysfunction syndrome," or CFIDS, describes Bell's CFIDS disability scale. Various publications have used or proposed Bell's scale which is similar to the Karnofsky scale, for the documentation of severity of symptoms in chronic fatigue syndrome.
In the 2000 CFS documentary, I Remember Me
, Bell appeared in an interview recounting his experiences during the Lyndonville outbreak.
In 2003, Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy G. Thompson designated Bell chairperson of the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Committee
(CFSAC), a panel of 11 experts that provides advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services "on the development and implementation of programs to inform the public; health care professionals; and the biomedical, academic, and research communities about advances related to CFS."
Bell also served as a board member of the International Association for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME (IACFS/ME), a professional organization of about 300 members that advocates for the concerns of CFS researchers and clinicians around the world.
Bell has retired from private practice, but in 2011 was still doing research on the cause of the illness of CFS patients in Lyndonville NY.
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
who established a private practice in general medicine
General practitioner
A general practitioner is a medical practitioner who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. They have particular skills in treating people with multiple health issues and comorbidities...
in the town of Lyndonville, New York
Lyndonville, New York
Lyndonville is a village in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 862 at the 2000 census. The name was selected because some of the early settlers were from Lyndon, Vermont...
starting in 1979. He has researched extensively on the clinical aspects of chronic fatigue syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome is the most common name used to designate a significantly debilitating medical disorder or group of disorders generally defined by persistent fatigue accompanied by other specific symptoms for a minimum of six months, not due to ongoing exertion, not substantially...
(CFS). He has also conducted evaluations and research in pediatric CFS and written numerous articles about the condition.
Bell also served as Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the State University of New York at Buffalo, in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
.
Training
Bell is a graduate of Harvard UniversityHarvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, class of 1967, with an AB degree in English Literature. He graduated in 1971 from Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
with an MD
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
degree, and in 1976 completed post-doctoral training in pediatrics
Pediatrics
Pediatrics or paediatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. A medical practitioner who specializes in this area is known as a pediatrician or paediatrician...
including Pediatric Behavior and Developmental Disorders.
Work on chronic fatigue syndrome
The pediatrician's interest in CFS began in 1985 when an apparent cluster outbreak of 216 persons occurred in his rural community in upstate New York. He has written extensively on the condition, including a thirteen year follow-up study of the children who became ill during the original outbreak.Bell was involved in identifying the outbreak in Lyndonville, New York, of what was known at the time as chronic Epstein-Barr virus (now more commonly referred to as chronic fatigue syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome is the most common name used to designate a significantly debilitating medical disorder or group of disorders generally defined by persistent fatigue accompanied by other specific symptoms for a minimum of six months, not due to ongoing exertion, not substantially...
or CFS). When Bell was interviewed about the outbreak in a 1996 Prime Time Live episode, the reporter described Bell's appeal to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are a United States federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services headquartered in Druid Hills, unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, in Greater Atlanta...
(CDC) for help with the illness, but Bell says the CDC didn't mention a similar outbreak in Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada of the United States. At a surface elevation of , it is located along the border between California and Nevada, west of Carson City. Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America. Its depth is , making it the USA's second-deepest...
, which he learned about later. He met with other CFS researchers at a 1987 conference, and joined an investigation with researchers Paul Cheney and Elaine DeFreitas involving a possible retrovirus association with chronic fatigue syndrome. In 1990, the researchers presented evidence they found DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
sequences very similar to a known human retrovirus
Retrovirus
A retrovirus is an RNA virus that is duplicated in a host cell using the reverse transcriptase enzyme to produce DNA from its RNA genome. The DNA is then incorporated into the host's genome by an integrase enzyme. The virus thereafter replicates as part of the host cell's DNA...
in some CFS patients, at a conference in Kyoto, Japan. Their study was later published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, usually referred to as PNAS, is the official journal of the United States National Academy of Sciences...
. A reporter on Prime Time Live stated the announcement made headlines all over the world. The CDC first ignored their findings, then later conducted a study and published a paper that refuted the hypothesis.
Bell wrote The Doctor's Guide to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, which was published in 1995. The book, which also refers to CFS as "chronic fatigue/immune dysfunction syndrome," or CFIDS, describes Bell's CFIDS disability scale. Various publications have used or proposed Bell's scale which is similar to the Karnofsky scale, for the documentation of severity of symptoms in chronic fatigue syndrome.
In the 2000 CFS documentary, I Remember Me
I Remember Me
I Remember Me is a is a biographical documentary about chronic fatigue syndrome, filmed in the United States by Kim A. Snyder. The film attempts to show just how devastating the illness can be to persons afflicted with the illness....
, Bell appeared in an interview recounting his experiences during the Lyndonville outbreak.
In 2003, Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy G. Thompson designated Bell chairperson of the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Committee
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Committee
The Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Committee was formed in response to the use of funds by the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention in the study of chronic fatigue syndrome . The CFSAC was charted under the Public Health Service Act of the US and funded by the United States...
(CFSAC), a panel of 11 experts that provides advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services "on the development and implementation of programs to inform the public; health care professionals; and the biomedical, academic, and research communities about advances related to CFS."
Bell also served as a board member of the International Association for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME (IACFS/ME), a professional organization of about 300 members that advocates for the concerns of CFS researchers and clinicians around the world.
Bell has retired from private practice, but in 2011 was still doing research on the cause of the illness of CFS patients in Lyndonville NY.
Books
- CFIDS: A Disease of a Thousand Names. D.Pollard, (1988)
- The Doctor's Guide To Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Understanding, Treating, And Living With Cfids, Da Capo Press (January 17, 1995) ISBN 978-0201407976
- Curing Fatigue, Berkley (September 1, 1996), ISBN 978-0425149836
- A Parent's Guide to Cfids: How to Be an Advocate for Your Child With Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction, Informa HealthCare; (March 8, 1999), ISBN 978-0789006318
- Faces of CFS, MZR Publishing (August 30, 2000), ISBN 0970770200
- Cellular Hypoxia and Neuro-Immune Fatigue, WingSpan Press (July 10, 2007), ISBN 978-1595941794
Selected Articles
- Be sure to distinguish CFS from depression, Clinical Psychiatry News, April 1, 2005, Volume: 33 Issue: 4 Page: 14(1)