George W. Comstock
Encyclopedia
George Wills Comstock MD PhD (1915–2007) was a public health physician, epidemiologist and educator. In his 2006 curriculum vitae http://www.jhsph.edu/comstockcenter/george_w_comstock_pubs.html, Dr. Comstock summarized his research as follows: Although I seem to be generally associated with tuberculosis, a review of my publications will show that my research interests have been very broad. The common thread through most of these studies has been that they are based on local communities— Muscogee county, GA; Bethel area of Alaska; and Washington County, Maryland. During the past 30 years, a major part of my research has dealt with the relationships of serum or plasma concentrations of micronutrients, hormones, and viral antibodies to the subsequent development of cancer. More recently, the interactions of gene and environmental characteristics have been a major focus. I have also been concerned with some of the elementary (but ignored)problems of long-term storage of biologic specimens— temperature variation within freezers, changes on concentrations of analytes with prolonged storage, and the degree of agreement of analyte concentrations in specimens from the same individual separated by years of storage. Another major portion of my research has been collaboration in studies of cardiovascular outcomes associated with serologic and clinical characteristics determined years earlier. Specifically, this has involved linkage of records from the Washington County portions of ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities) http://www.cscc.unc.edu/aric/ and CHS (Cardiovascular Health Study) http://www.jhsph.edu/agingandhealth/research/projects/chs.html with records from our two big blood collection projects, CLUE I and CLUE II http://www.jhsph.edu/comstockcenter/clue_research_activities.html. The combination is a unique resource.
Born in Niagara Falls, New York
, on January 7, 1915, George W. Comstock was the son of metallurgical engineer George Frederick Comstock and Ella Gardner Wills Comstock. He graduated from Antioch College
in 1937 with honors in biology and chemistry and obtained his medical degree from Harvard
in 1941. Dr. Comstock joined the U.S. Public Health Service in 1942 and served as a captain for 21 years. In this role, he ran the first trials of the BCG vaccine for tuberculosis
in Georgia and Alabama (1947–1951), the findings of which were crucial to the decision not to implement this vaccine in the United States. It was also one of the first, if not the first, use of a cluster-randomized study design. Dr. Comstock received a Master of Public Health
from the University of Michigan
, School of Public Health (1951) and Doctorate of Public Health in Epidemiology from Johns Hopkins
(1956). He subsequently joined the faculty at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health and taught there for more than 50 years. In 1957, he led research in Bethel, Alaska
, estimating the high burden of tuberculosis and demonstrating the drug isoniazid’s effectiveness in prevention of tuberculosis. In 1962, Dr. Comstock founded the Johns Hopkins Training Center for Public Health Research and Prevention in Hagerstown, Maryland. During this time, together with Abraham Lilienfeld, he came up with the pioneering idea of using biologic samples in cohort studies. For the next 42 years, Comstock oversaw community-based research studies on numerous diseases including cancer and heart disease. He also may have conducted, the first case-cohort study reported in the literature, four decades ago, dealing with the relationships of maternal smoking to risks of neonatal and post-neonatal death. Dr. Comstock also served as editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Epidemiology
from 1979 to 1988.
Dr. Comstock authored hundreds of scientific papers http://www.jhsph.edu/comstockcenter/george_w_comstock_pubs.html and received numerous awards, including the John Snow Award from the American Public Health Association
, the Edward Livingston Trudeau Medal from the American Thoracic Society
, the Maxwell Finland Award
for Scientific Achievement from the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute’s Career Research Award. His work influenced generations of students, many of whow now hold public health leadership positions throughout the world. His contributions to the science of epidemiology were notable. In his lectures For example, Dr. Comstock often mentioned “compensating bias” and the difference between the external validity of a measure of frequency and that of a measure of association, years before this concept was reported in the literature. He was also responsible for the notion that case-control studies test effectiveness, not efficacy, of interventions.
In 2005, the Hopkins center in Hagerstown, Maryland, was renamed The George W. Comstock Center for Public Health Research and Prevention http://www.jhsph.edu/comstockcenter.
George Comstock frequently quoted these words from Horace Mann’s 1859 commencement speech at Antioch College: “I beseech you to treasure up in your hearts these my parting words: Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity.” This struck him as the main purpose of living; as Comstock said, “Most of us aren't going to win any big victories, but we can win little ones every day, and they mount up.”
"Lucky all my life": a documentary about G.W. Comstock http://www.jhsph.edu/comstockcenter/george_w_comstocks_career.html
Born in Niagara Falls, New York
Niagara Falls, New York
Niagara Falls is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 50,193, down from the 55,593 recorded in the 2000 census. It is across the Niagara River from Niagara Falls, Ontario , both named after the famed Niagara Falls which they...
, on January 7, 1915, George W. Comstock was the son of metallurgical engineer George Frederick Comstock and Ella Gardner Wills Comstock. He graduated from Antioch College
Antioch College
Antioch College is a private, independent liberal arts college in Yellow Springs, Ohio, United States. It was the founder and the flagship institution of the six-campus Antioch University system. Founded in 1852 by the Christian Connection, the college began operating in 1853 with politician and...
in 1937 with honors in biology and chemistry and obtained his medical degree from Harvard
Harvard 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...
in 1941. Dr. Comstock joined the U.S. Public Health Service in 1942 and served as a captain for 21 years. In this role, he ran the first trials of the BCG vaccine for tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
in Georgia and Alabama (1947–1951), the findings of which were crucial to the decision not to implement this vaccine in the United States. It was also one of the first, if not the first, use of a cluster-randomized study design. Dr. Comstock received a Master of Public Health
Master of Public Health
The Master of Public Health and the Doctor of Public Health are multi-disciplinary professional degrees awarded for studies in areas related to public health....
from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, School of Public Health (1951) and Doctorate of Public Health in Epidemiology from Johns Hopkins
Johns Hopkins
Johns Hopkins was a wealthy American entrepreneur, philanthropist and abolitionist of 19th-century Baltimore, Maryland, now most noted for his philanthropic creation of the institutions that bear his name, namely the Johns Hopkins Hospital, and the Johns Hopkins University and its associated...
(1956). He subsequently joined the faculty at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health and taught there for more than 50 years. In 1957, he led research in Bethel, Alaska
Bethel, Alaska
Bethel is a city located near the west coast of the U.S. state of Alaska, west of Anchorage. Accessible only by air and river, Bethel is the main port on the Kuskokwim River and is an administrative and transportation hub for the 56 villages in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.Bethel is the largest...
, estimating the high burden of tuberculosis and demonstrating the drug isoniazid’s effectiveness in prevention of tuberculosis. In 1962, Dr. Comstock founded the Johns Hopkins Training Center for Public Health Research and Prevention in Hagerstown, Maryland. During this time, together with Abraham Lilienfeld, he came up with the pioneering idea of using biologic samples in cohort studies. For the next 42 years, Comstock oversaw community-based research studies on numerous diseases including cancer and heart disease. He also may have conducted, the first case-cohort study reported in the literature, four decades ago, dealing with the relationships of maternal smoking to risks of neonatal and post-neonatal death. Dr. Comstock also served as editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Epidemiology
American Journal of Epidemiology
The American Journal of Epidemiology is a peer reviewed journal for empirical research findings, opinion pieces and methodological developments in the field of epidemiological research. It is published semimonthly, and has an impact of 5.454, ranking it 6th out of 105 Journals in the field....
from 1979 to 1988.
Dr. Comstock authored hundreds of scientific papers http://www.jhsph.edu/comstockcenter/george_w_comstock_pubs.html and received numerous awards, including the John Snow Award from the American Public Health Association
American Public Health Association
The American Public Health Association is Washington, D.C.-based professional organization for public health professionals in the United States. Founded in 1872 by Dr. Stephen Smith, APHA has more than 30,000 members worldwide...
, the Edward Livingston Trudeau Medal from the American Thoracic Society
American Thoracic Society
American Thoracic Society , established in 1905, is an independently incorporated, international, educational and scientific society, serving its 18,000 members worldwide who are dedicated in respiratory and critical care medicine...
, the Maxwell Finland Award
Maxwell Finland Award
The Maxwell Finland Award for Scientific Achievement is an award given annually by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases to a scientist who has made "outstanding contributions to the understanding of infectious diseases or public health," based on criteria that include "excellence in...
for Scientific Achievement from the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute’s Career Research Award. His work influenced generations of students, many of whow now hold public health leadership positions throughout the world. His contributions to the science of epidemiology were notable. In his lectures For example, Dr. Comstock often mentioned “compensating bias” and the difference between the external validity of a measure of frequency and that of a measure of association, years before this concept was reported in the literature. He was also responsible for the notion that case-control studies test effectiveness, not efficacy, of interventions.
In 2005, the Hopkins center in Hagerstown, Maryland, was renamed The George W. Comstock Center for Public Health Research and Prevention http://www.jhsph.edu/comstockcenter.
George Comstock frequently quoted these words from Horace Mann’s 1859 commencement speech at Antioch College: “I beseech you to treasure up in your hearts these my parting words: Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity.” This struck him as the main purpose of living; as Comstock said, “Most of us aren't going to win any big victories, but we can win little ones every day, and they mount up.”
External links
American Journal of Epidemiology Commemoration of G.W. Comstock's life http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/168/7.toc"Lucky all my life": a documentary about G.W. Comstock http://www.jhsph.edu/comstockcenter/george_w_comstocks_career.html