Jill Seaman
Encyclopedia
Jill Seaman is an American doctor with Médecins Sans Frontières
(MSF). She is a native of Moscow, Idaho
and a graduate of Middlebury College
and the University of Washington School of Medicine
.
Early in her career, she was a public health care provider to the Yup'ik Native American tribe of Alaska
. Her most notable work was eight years in the South Sudan
fighting an epidemic
of visceral leishmaniasis
, between 1989 and 1997.
The MSF clinic in Duar
, Unity State was destroyed by militia in June 1998 as part of a drive to clear the region of people so the Block 5A
oil concession could be developed.
Since that time she has been an advocate for increased aid and research for this and other parasitic diseases. She is the founder of Sudan Medical Relief (formerly the Sudan TB Project), launched in 2000.
In 2000 Jill Seaman and Sjoukje de Wit, RN, returned to Duar to provide treatment for tuberculosis.
Seaman was named a MacArthur Fellow
in 2009.
Médecins Sans Frontières
' , or Doctors Without Borders, is a secular humanitarian-aid non-governmental organization best known for its projects in war-torn regions and developing countries facing endemic diseases. Its headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland...
(MSF). She is a native of Moscow, Idaho
Moscow, Idaho
Moscow is a city in northern Idaho, situated along the Washington/Idaho border. It is the most populous city and county seat of Latah County and the home of the University of Idaho, the land grant institution and primary research university for the state...
and a graduate of Middlebury College
Middlebury College
Middlebury College is a private liberal arts college located in Middlebury, Vermont, USA. Founded in 1800, it is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges in the United States. Drawing 2,400 undergraduates from all 50 United States and over 70 countries, Middlebury offers 44 majors in the arts,...
and the University of Washington School of Medicine
University of Washington School of Medicine
The University of Washington School of Medicine is a public medical school located in Seattle, Washington.-Overview:UWSOM is a graduate school affiliated with the University of Washington, and is the only medical school in the states of Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho...
.
Early in her career, she was a public health care provider to the Yup'ik Native American tribe of Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. Her most notable work was eight years in the South Sudan
South Sudan
South Sudan , officially the Republic of South Sudan, is a landlocked country located in the Sahel region of northeastern Africa. It is also part of the North Africa UN sub-region. Its current capital is Juba, which is also its largest city; the capital city is planned to be moved to the more...
fighting an epidemic
Epidemic
In epidemiology, an epidemic , occurs when new cases of a certain disease, in a given human population, and during a given period, substantially exceed what is expected based on recent experience...
of visceral leishmaniasis
Visceral leishmaniasis
Visceral leishmaniasis , also known as kala-azar, black fever, and Dumdum fever, is the most severe form of leishmaniasis. Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by protozoan parasites of the Leishmania genus. This disease is the second-largest parasitic killer in the world , responsible for an...
, between 1989 and 1997.
The MSF clinic in Duar
Duar
Duar is a large village in Koch County, Unity State, South Sudan. It is on the main oil road leading south from Bentiu, and is close to the Thar Jath Central Processing Facility in the Block 5A oil concession.The village is in a Jagei Nuer region....
, Unity State was destroyed by militia in June 1998 as part of a drive to clear the region of people so the Block 5A
Block 5A, South Sudan
Block 5A is an oil concession in South Sudan.After oil field development began during the Second Sudanese Civil War, Block 5A was the scene of extensive fighting as rival militias struggled for control....
oil concession could be developed.
Since that time she has been an advocate for increased aid and research for this and other parasitic diseases. She is the founder of Sudan Medical Relief (formerly the Sudan TB Project), launched in 2000.
In 2000 Jill Seaman and Sjoukje de Wit, RN, returned to Duar to provide treatment for tuberculosis.
Seaman was named a MacArthur Fellow
MacArthur Fellows Program
The MacArthur Fellows Program or MacArthur Fellowship is an award given by the John D. and Catherine T...
in 2009.