The Safety and Health Hall of Fame International John Millar

Professional Experience:
In 1966, when he was named Director of CDC's new Smallpox Eradication Program for West and Central Africa, half the world's smallpox-endemic countries were in the target, Despite formidable obstacles, in 1970 the Program eliminated smallpox, 18 months sooner than expected. This provided strong impetus to the World Health Organization (WHO), which eliminated smallpox in the rest of the world in 1977; smallpox was the first disease in history to be eliminated by human intent. Appointed Director of CDC's Bureau of State Services in 1978, he lead national programs to prevent domestic diseases. He served as interim Director of NIOSH in 1978 during the search for a permanent Director and discovered a deep interest in protecting people from the hazards of earning a living. After two years as the inaugural Director of CDC's new Center for Environmental Health, in 1981 he was named Director of NIOSH, then much-beleaguered by Congress and the Administration. He began his assignment Friday, July 13, with no expectations of longevity. However, he was the first NIOSH Director of Complete a full term (in 1987), was reappointed, and served a second term. On August 1, 1993, he retired from the Public Health Service to enter the private sector.

Career Highlights:
If a single theme runs through Dr. Millar's career, it is "protecting people from involuntary risks." Early at CDC, he saw the threat to the United States of smallpox imported from overseas. He scrutinized the national defense strategy of universal vaccination and its cost in human suffering from complications of vaccinations. He concluded that the nation would be best served by assisting smallpox-endemic countries to eliminate smallpox as its source He saw vulnerability of smallpox to intelligent attack and given the chance to do so in Africa, finished the task ahead of schedule. The innovations he forged helped WHO assure global "Zeropox." Asked to replicate these successes against domestic diseases, his programs notably reduced measles and tuberculosis and pioneered methods to control gonorrhea; the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program eliminated fatal lead poisoning in U.S. cities. Never one to shy away from controversial actions in the public interest he vigorously implemented the "swine flu program" when asked to do so in 1976, immunizing more people in less time than ever in history; just as vigorously, he responded to the first inklings of the Guillain-Barre syndrome, which stopped the program. No Less controversial was his implementation in 1981 as new Director of NIOSH, of orders to move NIOSH headquarters to CDC-Atlanta, despite strident opposition from organized labor and some politicians. At NIOSH, he encouraged surveillance for occupational diseases and injuries and the public aware of mew occupational risks, such as occupational homicide among women. He focused the field by producing the "Suggested List of the Ten Leading Occupational Diseases and Injuries" and proposed a national prevention strategy for each. He enlarged the role of public health departments in occupational health. When the "modern occupational plaques" - cumulative trauma disorders, indoor air problems, stress, occupational asthma, violence - appeared during the 1980s, NIOSH defined them and proposed solutions. Always an advocate of research, his vision was especially fired by the application of science to prevention. Among his prized achievements was the NIOSH - supported project to prevent occupational fatalities in Alaska, the state with the highest occupational fatality rate. On a shoestring budget and with unusual cooperation between federal agencies in the state, the project was dramatically successful. Since leaving the Public Health Service, he continues to speak out for prevention. Recently, he proposed a national strategy for Legionnaires' disease based on hazard surveillance and control.