Ralph R. Frerichs
{{Short description|American epidemiologist}}
{{Infobox writer
|image =
|imagesize=
| name = Ralph R. Frerichs
|birth_name=
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1942|10|3|mf=yes}}
| birth_place = Berlin, Germany
| Alma mater =
| education = DVM University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine
MPH & DrPH Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
| caption = Ralph R. Frerichs, 2014
| death_date =
| death_place =
| occupation = Epidemiologist
| nationality = American
| website =
| children = Peter and Christine
| spouse = Rita Flynn
}}
Ralph R. Frerichs is professor emeritus of epidemiology at UCLA where he was active as a full-time faculty member in the School of Public Health for 31 years and as the Epidemiology department chair for 13 years, before retiring in late 2008.{{Cite web |url=https://epi.ph.ucla.edu/ralph-r-frerichs |title=Ralph R. Frerichs | Department of Epidemiology |access-date=2016-03-10 |archive-date=2016-03-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311194440/https://epi.ph.ucla.edu/ralph-r-frerichs |url-status=dead }}
Both at UCLA and in international workshops he taught epidemiologic methods, the use of rapid community-based surveys,{{cite journal |pmid=3172323 | volume=34 | issue=4 | title=Rapid microcomputer surveys | year=1988 | journal=J. Trop. Pediatr. | pages=147–9 | last1 = Frerichs | first1 = RR | doi=10.1093/tropej/34.4.147}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.ph.ucla.edu/epi/rapidsurveys/RScourse/index.html|title = Rapid Survey Course}} epidemiologic simulation models for focused research, and screening and surveillance methods for HIV/AIDS and other diseases.{{cite journal|doi=10.1177/101053959500800105 | volume=8 | title=HIV Sentinel Surveillance in Thailand -- An Example for Developing Countries | journal=Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health | pages=20–26| year=2016 | last1=Frerichs | first1=Ralph R | last2=Ungchusak | first2=Kumnuan | last3=Htoon | first3=Myo T | last4=Detels | first4=Roger | s2cid=72699858 }}{{cite journal |pmid=2049138 | doi=10.1146/annurev.pu.12.050191.001353 | volume=12 | title=Epidemiologic surveillance in developing countries | year=1991 | journal=Annu Rev Public Health | pages=257–80 | last1 = Frerichs | first1 = RR| doi-access=free }}
In addition, he consulted on epidemiological and management-related issues with many international agencies including the Albert Schweitzer Foundation, Population Council, UN, WHO, USAID and CDC in 16 countries:Colombia, Bolivia, Honduras, Brazil, Kenya, Bangladesh, Myanmar (formerly Burma), Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Mongolia, Federated States of Micronesia and the country of Georgia.
Since retirement, he authored Deadly River: Cholera and Cover-up in Post-Earthquake Haiti (Cornell University Press, 2016),{{cite web |url=http://www.deadlyriver.com/ |title=Home |website=deadlyriver.com}} is engaged in panoramic photography,{{cite web |url=http://www.ralphfrerichs.com/ |title=Home |website=ralphfrerichs.com}} and continues to manage the popular John Snow website,{{Cite web|url=http://www.ph.ucla.edu/epi/snow.html|title=John Snow - a historical giant in epidemiology}} which he created to honor the historical father of epidemiology, known for his insightful research on cholera.
Life and career
Frerichs was born on October 3, 1942, in Berlin, Germany, the son of physicist Rudolf Frerichs known for development of the cadmium-sulfide photoconductive cell,{{Cite web|url=http://findingaids.library.northwestern.edu/catalog/inu-ead-nua-archon-363|title = Collection: Rudolf Frerichs (1901-1982) Papers | Archival and Manuscript Collections}} and artist and writer Gisela Frerichs. The family moved to the United States in 1947–48, where his father joined the faculty of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Frerichs obtained his DVM in 1967 from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine at Urbana-Champaign. Following two years in Birmingham, Alabama, as captain in the US Army Veterinary Corp, he obtained the MPH and DrPH (epidemiology) in 1970 and 1973, respectively from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in New Orleans. While working on his doctoral dissertation (development of a computer simulation model for the control of urban rabies){{Cite web|url=https://digitallibrary.tulane.edu/islandora/object/tulane%3A25398|title = Development of a computer simulation model for the control of urban rabies | Tulane University Digital Library}}{{Cite journal |doi = 10.1287/mnsc.22.4.411|title = A Computer Simulation Model for the Control of Rabies in an Urban Area of Colombia|journal = Management Science|volume = 22|issue = 4|pages = 411–421|year = 1975|last1 = Frerichs|first1 = Ralph R|last2 = Prawda|first2 = Juan}} he was both a research associate with the International Center for Medical Research and Training in Cali, Colombia and an instructor at Tulane University.{{Cite journal|jstor = 2630116|title = Back Matter|journal = Management Science|volume = 22|issue = 4|pages = 505–507|year = 1975|doi=10.1287/mnsc.22.4.505|doi-access = free}}
After graduation, Frerichs became assistant professor of preventive medicine at the LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans,{{Cite web|url=http://www.ph.ucla.edu/epi/faculty/frerichs2.html|title = Frerichs Description}}
and epidemiologist for the Bogalusa Heart Study, a longitudinal study of cardiovascular disease risk factors in children in the biracial community of Bogalusa, Louisiana. During his LSU years from 1973 to 1977, his publication topics included pediatric levels of blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels,{{Cite journal|last1=Frerichs|first1=R. R.|last2=Srinivasan|first2=S. R.|last3=Webber|first3=L. S.|last4=Berenson|first4=G. R.|date=August 1976|title=Serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels in 3,446 children from a biracial community: the Bogalusa Heart Study|journal=Circulation|volume=54|issue=2|pages=302–309|doi=10.1161/01.cir.54.2.302|issn=0009-7322|pmid=939028|doi-access=free}} lipoproteins,{{Cite journal|last1=Srinivasan|first1=S. R.|last2=Frerichs|first2=R. R.|last3=Webber|first3=L. S.|last4=Berenson|first4=G. S.|date=August 1976|title=Serum lipoprotein profile in children from a biracial community: the Bogalusa Heart Study|journal=Circulation|volume=54|issue=2|pages=309–318|doi=10.1161/01.cir.54.2.309|issn=0009-7322|pmid=181171|doi-access=free}} blood pressure,{{cite journal |pmid=939029 | volume=54 | issue=2 | title=Studies of blood pressures in children, ages 5-14 years, in a total biracial community: the Bogalusa Heart Study | year=1976 | journal=Circulation | pages=319–27 | last1 = Voors | first1 = AW | last2 = Foster | first2 = TA | last3 = Frerichs | first3 = RR | last4 = Webber | first4 = LS |author-link5=Gerald Berenson| last5 = Berenson | first5 = GS | doi=10.1161/01.cir.54.2.319| doi-access = free }} hemoglobin.{{cite journal |pmid=900323 | volume=67 | issue=9 | title=Hemoglobin levels in children from a biracial southern community | pmc=1653704 | year=1977 | journal=Am J Public Health | pages=841–5 | last1 = Frerichs | first1 = RR | last2 = Webber | first2 = LS | last3 = Srinivasan | first3 = SR | last4 = Berenson | first4 = GS | doi=10.2105/ajph.67.9.841}} and obesity.{{cite journal |pmid=216263 | volume=108 | issue=6 | title=Relation of serum lipids and lipoproteins to obesity and sexual maturity in white and black children | year=1978 | journal=Am. J. Epidemiol. | pages=486–96 | last1 = Frerichs | first1 = RR | last2 = Webber | first2 = LS | last3 = Srinivasan | first3 = SR | last4 = Berenson | first4 = GS| doi=10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a112647 }}
In early 1978, Frerichs joined the epidemiology faculty at UCLA, rising through the ranks from assistant to full professor, while expanding his research interests both domestically and internationally. Nationally, he focused on airport noise and mortality,{{cite journal |pmid=7361953 | volume=70 | issue=4 | title=Los Angeles airport noise and mortality--faulty analysis and public policy | pmc=1619404 | year=1980 | journal=Am J Public Health | pages=357–62 | last1 = Frerichs | first1 = RR | last2 = Beeman | first2 = BL | last3 = Coulson | first3 = AH | doi=10.2105/ajph.70.4.357}} mental depression,{{cite journal |pmid=7234858 | volume=113 | issue=6 | title=Prevalence of depression in Los Angeles County | year=1981 | journal=Am. J. Epidemiol. | pages=691–9 | last1 = Frerichs | first1 = RR | last2 = Aneshensel | first2 = CS | last3 = Clark | first3 = VA| doi=10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a113149 }} spatial patterns of cardiovascular disease mortality,{{cite journal |pmid=6490299 | volume=13 | issue=3 | title=Mortality due to all causes and to cardiovascular diseases among seven race-ethnic populations in Los Angeles County, 1980 | year=1984 | journal=Int J Epidemiol | pages=291–8 | last1 = Frerichs | first1 = RR | last2 = Chapman | first2 = JM | last3 = Maes | first3 = EF | doi=10.1093/ije/13.3.291}} and the health impact of recycled wastewater.{{cite journal | doi=10.1016/0013-9351(82)90012-3 | volume=29 | title=Epidemiologic impact of water reuse in Los Angeles County | journal=Environmental Research | pages=109–122| year=1982 | last1=Frerichs | first1=Ralph R | last2=Sloss | first2=Elizabeth M | last3=Satin | first3=Kenneth P | issue=1 | pmid=7140702 | bibcode=1982ER.....29..109F }} Globally, his research included health status measures and costs of care in Bolivia,{{cite journal |pmid=6777313 | volume=9 | issue=3 | title=Prevalence and cost of illness episodes in rural Bolivia | year=1980 | journal=Int J Epidemiol | pages=233–8 | last1 = Frerichs | first1 = RR | last2 = Becht | first2 = JN | last3 = Foxman | first3 = B | doi=10.1093/ije/9.3.233| doi-access=free }} microcomputer applications in Bangladesh,{{cite journal |pmid=3934700 | volume=100 | issue=6 | title=Introduction of a microcomputer for health research in a developing country--the Bangladesh experience | pmc=1425319 | year=1985 | journal=Public Health Rep | pages=638–47 | last1 = Frerichs | first1 = RR | last2 = Miller | first2 = RA}} Burma{{Cite journal|last1=Frerichs|first1=R. R.|last2=Tar|first2=K. T.|date=1988-06-01|title=Use of Rapid Survey Methodology to Determine Immunization Coverage in Rural Burma|journal=Journal of Tropical Pediatrics|language=en|volume=34|issue=3|pages=125–130|doi=10.1093/tropej/34.3.125|pmid=2969981|issn=0142-6338|doi-access=}} and elsewhere,http://202.114.108.237/Download/0f0fc576-1c93-4353-ba50-138fb64acc4c.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311183331/http://202.114.108.237/Download/0f0fc576-1c93-4353-ba50-138fb64acc4c.pdf |date=2016-03-11 }} {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}} and pediatric health indicators in Burma.{{cite journal |pmid=2968087 | volume=2 | issue=1 | title=Breast-feeding, dietary intake and weight-for-age of children in rural Burma | year=1988 | journal=Asia-Pac J Public Health | pages=16–21 | last1 = Frerichs | first1 = RR | last2 = Tar | first2 = KT}} While in Burma (later renamed Myanmar), he developed an approach for quickly conducting community-based surveys,{{cite journal |pmid=2522230 | volume=104 | issue=1 | title=Computer-assisted rapid surveys in developing countries | pmc=1580285 | year=1989 | journal=Public Health Rep | pages=14–23 | last1 = Frerichs | first1 = RR | last2 = Tar | first2 = KT}} which soon became a component of international surveillance systems. Several years later he introduced a more advanced form of the rapid survey method for use in the United States.{{cite journal |pmid=11274520 | doi=10.1146/annurev.publhealth.22.1.231 | volume=22 | title=Small-community-based surveys | year=2001 | journal=Annu Rev Public Health | pages=231–47 | last1 = Frerichs | first1 = RR | last2 = Shaheen | first2 = MA| doi-access=free }}
Becoming increasing involved with HIV/AIDS, he realized the need for a simple saliva test to assist screening and surveillance activities.{{cite journal |pmid=1361596 | volume=340 | issue=8834–8835 | title=Comparison of saliva and serum for HIV surveillance in developing countries | year=1992 | journal=Lancet | pages=1496–9 | last1 = Frerichs | first1 = RR | last2 = Htoon | first2 = MT | last3 = Eskes | first3 = N | last4 = Lwin | first4 = S | doi=10.1016/0140-6736(92)92755-5| s2cid=43211596 }} His 1994 call in The Lancet for personal HIV screening in developing countries invoked controversy during a time when detection was viewed as worse than the disease,{{cite journal |pmid=7911208 | volume=343 | issue=8911 | title=Personal screening for HIV in developing countries | year=1994 | journal=Lancet | pages=1506 | last1 = Frerichs | first1 = RR | doi=10.1016/s0140-6736(94)92617-4| s2cid=10715335 }} as did his Epidemiology commentary on HIV winners and losers,{{cite journal |pmid=7619946 | volume=6 | issue=3 | title=HIV winners and losers | year=1995 | journal=Epidemiology | pages=329–31 | last1 = Frerichs | first1 = RR | doi = 10.1097/00001648-199505000-00025 | doi-access=free }} and his AIDS article on the harm of not permitting personal HIV screening in developing countries.{{cite journal |pmid=9189225 | volume=11 | issue=7 | title=Harm of not permitting personal HIV screening in developing countries | year=1997 | journal=AIDS | pages=936–7 | last1 = Frerichs | first1 = RR}} Controversy continued in his retirement years, when he wrote of the United Nations involvement in the origin of the world's largest cholera epidemic in Haiti,{{cite journal |pmid=22510219 | doi=10.1111/j.1469-0691.2012.03841.x | volume=18 | issue=6 | title=Nepalese origin of cholera epidemic in Haiti | year=2012 | journal=Clin. Microbiol. Infect. | pages=E158–63 | last1 = Frerichs | first1 = RR | last2 = Keim | first2 = PS | last3 = Barrais | first3 = R | last4 = Piarroux | first4 = R| doi-access=free }} later expanded in his book Deadly River featuring French epidemiologist Renaud Piarroux.{{Cite book|url=http://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/?GCOI=80140100094160&fa=author&person_id=5298|title=Deadly River: Cholera and Cover-Up in Post-Earthquake Haiti|last=Frerichs|first=Ralph R.|date=2016-05-01|publisher=Cornell University Press|isbn=9781501713583|series=The Culture and Politics of Health Care Work|location=Ithaca, NY}}
Honors included the Delta Omega Public Health Honor Society (1970); the American Epidemiological Society (1982, an honorary society of epidemiologists since 1927);{{Cite journal|last=Paul|first=O.|date=1998-07-01|title=The Last Twenty-Five Years of the American Epidemiological Society: 1972-1996|journal=American Journal of Epidemiology|language=en|volume=148|issue=1|pages=104–130|doi=10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a009550|pmid=9663413|issn=0002-9262|doi-access=}} UC Berkeley's 1988 invitation as Ralph Sachs Visiting Scholar for his work in computer technology in developing countries; outstanding alumnus in 1992 of Tulane's School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine;{{Cite web|url=https://tulane.edu/alumni/upload/potpourri.pdf|title=Tulane University|access-date=2016-03-10|archive-date=2016-03-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303181750/http://tulane.edu/alumni/upload/potpourri.pdf|url-status=dead}} and in 1997 the Prestigious Plaque for HIV/AIDS Education from Thailand's Ministry of Public Health and Bangkok's College of Public Health at Chulalongkorn University.
Professor Frerichs has two adult children, Peter and Christine and one grandson, Michael. He was married in Florence, Italy to Rita J. Flynn, following the death of wife Marcy M. Frerichs after 34 years of marriage. The couple resides in Sierra Madre, California at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains.
References
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Category:American epidemiologists
Category:American non-fiction writers
Category:Emigrants from Allied-occupied Germany to the United States
Category:Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine alumni
Category:University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine alumni
Category:UCLA School of Public Health faculty