Norman Topping
Encyclopedia
Norman Topping was the President of the University of Southern California
between 1958 and 1970. He succeeded Fred D. Fagg, Jr.
, and was succeeded by John R. Hubbard
. He was chancellor between 1971 and 1980. He became emeritus chancellor in 1980.
Dr. Topping was an BA
and MD
alumnus of USC and worked at the U.S. Public Health Service
on the typhus
vaccine
used in World War II
by more than fifteen million United States
, Canadian
, and British
soldiers, a treatment still in use today. He served in the Coast Guard
. Later he helped develop the first effective treatment against Rocky Mountain spotted fever
. He was an associate director of the NIH and Assistant Surgeon General
from 1948 to 1952. Topping was vice president for medical affairs at the University of Pennsylvania
from 1952 to 1958.
USC's Norman Topping Student Center was named in his honor.
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
between 1958 and 1970. He succeeded Fred D. Fagg, Jr.
Fred D. Fagg, Jr.
Fred Dow Fagg, Jr. was president of the University of Southern California between 1947 and 1957. Fagg attended the University of Redlands where he was a member of Kappa Sigma Sigma. He received a law degree in 1927 from Northwestern University and later taught there. He was the fourth dean of...
, and was succeeded by John R. Hubbard
John R. Hubbard
John Randolph "Jack" Hubbard was the eighth president of the University of Southern California between 1970-80. He succeeded Norman Topping and was succeeded by James Zumberge. He had served as USC vice president and provost in 1969 after spending four years in India as chief education adviser to...
. He was chancellor between 1971 and 1980. He became emeritus chancellor in 1980.
Dr. Topping was an BA
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
and MD
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
alumnus of USC and worked at the U.S. Public Health Service
United States Public Health Service
The Public Health Service Act of 1944 structured the United States Public Health Service as the primary division of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare , which later became the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The PHS comprises all Agency Divisions of Health and...
on the typhus
Typhus
Epidemic typhus is a form of typhus so named because the disease often causes epidemics following wars and natural disasters...
vaccine
Vaccine
A vaccine is a biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease. A vaccine typically contains an agent that resembles a disease-causing microorganism, and is often made from weakened or killed forms of the microbe or its toxins...
used in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
by more than fifteen million United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and British
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
soldiers, a treatment still in use today. He served in the Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
. Later he helped develop the first effective treatment against Rocky Mountain spotted fever
Rocky Mountain spotted fever
Rocky Mountain spotted fever is the most lethal and most frequently reported rickettsial illness in the United States. It has been diagnosed throughout the Americas. Some synonyms for Rocky Mountain spotted fever in other countries include “tick typhus,” “Tobia fever” , “São Paulo fever” or “febre...
. He was an associate director of the NIH and Assistant Surgeon General
Surgeon General of the United States
The Surgeon General of the United States is the operational head of the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and thus the leading spokesperson on matters of public health in the federal government...
from 1948 to 1952. Topping was vice president for medical affairs at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
from 1952 to 1958.
USC's Norman Topping Student Center was named in his honor.
External links
- http://www.usc.edu/about/factbook/history/ USC History
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ow890Y9gl9I&feature=related/ Norman Topping Interview on YouTube