Japanese-American epidemiologist
Keiji Fukuda (福田 敬二 , Fukuda Keiji , born 1955)
[1] is a
Japanese-American
physician and
epidemiologist , specializing in
influenza epidemiology . He was an Assistant
Director-General of the
World Health Organization (WHO) from 2009 to 2016,
[5] and the Director of the School of Public Health at the
University of Hong Kong (HKU) between 2017
[6] and 2021.
[7]
Early life and education
Fukuda was born in
Tokyo ,
Japan ,
[8] to a physician family.
[9] His parents were
physicians ; his father, David Minoru Fukuda, was an
anesthesiologist and his mother, Michiko Fukuda (
née Nakamura) was an
obstetrician-gynecologist , although she did not practice in the
United States .
[3] The Fukudas immigrated from Japan to
Vermont in 1955, and the senior Fukuda started practicing
anesthesiology in
Barre , Vermont, in 1957.
[10] Fukuda's mother passed away in 1993 and his father in 2006.
[3] Fukuda's older
sister , Mariko, is a
teacher and his younger
brother , Christopher, is a
urologist .
[11]
At the urging of one of his
high school teachers, Fukuda went to
Oberlin College in 1973 for
undergraduate studies , finishing in 1978.
[5]
[9] Initially reluctant to follow in the family footsteps and hoping to become a
filmmaker , he eventually pursued
medicine at the
University of Vermont College of Medicine (now
Robert Larner College of Medicine ),
[9] obtaining his
MD degree in 1984.
[5]
He stayed in
Tamil Nadu in
South India for 6 months between his second and third year at
medical school , working with
indigenous tribes . It confirmed his interest in
international medicine . He next completed his
internal medicine
residency and then a chief residency at
Mount Zion Hospital (now part of the
UCSF Medical Center ) in
San Francisco .
[9] Fukuda entered the
University of California, Berkeley in 1988 and obtained a
Master of Public Health (MPH) in
epidemiology 1 year later.
[5]
Career
After completing his
MPH , Fukuda worked in
San Francisco Bay Area in clinics that focus on
leprosy and
tuberculosis , and then moved to
Atlanta ,
Georgia , where he spent 2 years studying in the
Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) program at the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[9]
Fukuda joined the
Viral
Exanthems and
Herpesvirus Branch at CDC after finishing the EIS program.
[5]
[15] Because of the idea that
chronic fatigue syndrome was related to chronic
infections of herpesvirus, this group was also responsible for this disease.
[9] In 1994, Fukuda led a committee that revised the definition of the disease,
[16]
[17] which has since become the most widely used clinical and research definition of the illness.
[18]
In 1996, Fukuda became the chief of the Epidemiology and Prevention Branch at the CDC Influenza Division, after the Division approached him.
[9]
[19] In this position, he has led investigations into outbreaks of
avian flu , including the
one in 1997
[20] in
Hong Kong and
another in 2004 in
Vietnam .
[9] He was on the
WHO expert panel investigating the
2003 SARS outbreak in
China .
[21]
[22]
Fukuda joined the WHO in 2005 and became a scientist at the
Global Influenza Program , and was promoted to coordinator in 2006 and director in 2008.
[5] In March 2009, Fukuda was appointed WHO Assistant
Director-General ad interim for Health Security and Environment.
[23] The
media referred to him as the WHO "flu chief" during the
2009 swine flu pandemic ,
[24]
[25] when he was the face of the WHO to the media.
[26]
[27]
[28] He admitted the communication from the WHO during the pandemic was inadequate.
[29] He was also the Special Adviser on Pandemic Influenza to the Director-General throughout the pandemic, from October 2009 to August 2010.
[30]
Fukuda officially became the Assistant Director-General for Health Security and Environment in 2010, until 2015 when he switched to the role of Assistant Director-General and Special Representative of the Director General for
Antimicrobial Resistance .
[5]
[31]
In December 2016, Fukuda joined the School of Public Health at
Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine ,
University of Hong Kong , as
clinical professor ,
[5]
[6] and also took up the position of School Director the next year.
[6] During the
COVID-19 pandemic , he was one of four government advisors
[32] and often gave global and local media interviews.
[4]
[33]
[34]
In October 2020, HKU reportedly would not renew his contract after it expired at the end of 2021,
[8]
[35] citing Fukuda's age has passed the university retirement age of 60.
[8] However, there were news that Fukuda has passed university's academic review, but the President and
Vice-chancellor
Xiang Zhang vetoed the renewal, as he did not meet the requirement of "top academic achievement".
[36]
[37]
[38] He left the government COVID-19 expert panel on December 1,
[39]
[40] and HKU on December 8, 2021,
[4]
[41] moving back to
Atlanta ,
Georgia for retirement.
[2]
[42]
Personal life
Fukuda
backpacked for nine months after his second year at the
University of Vermont , traveling across
Asia , the
Middle East and
Western Europe . He realized his love for traveling, and for "actually [doing] something", instead of simply being a
tourist .
[9] Fukuda was married in 1990.
[3] He and his wife, Holly,
[2] have 2 daughters.
[4]
References
^
a
b Reynolds, Gretchen (November 7, 2004).
"The Flu Hunters" .
The New York Times Magazine . Retrieved February 9, 2022 . ... At 49 , Fukuda, the top influenza epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ...
^
a
b
c
"Dean's Speech: State of the Faculty Address 2021" .
Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine ,
University of Hong Kong . Archived from
the original on February 11, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2022 .
^
a
b
c
d Barwood, Judeen (2012).
"Fukuda Family Papers" (PDF) .
Vermont Historical Society . Archived from
the original (PDF) on February 11, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2022 .
^
a
b
c
d Cheung, Elizabeth (December 5, 2021).
"Hong Kong's 'zero-Covid' strategy will not work in long term, city needs to switch to living with virus, says top epidemiologist" .
South China Morning Post . Archived from
the original on February 23, 2022. Retrieved February 22, 2022 .
^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
"Keiji Fukuda" .
ORCID . Archived from
the original on February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2022 .
^
a
b
c
"Fukuda, Keiji" .
University of Hong Kong . Archived from
the original on October 12, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2021 .
^
"I leave HK with pride: Keiji Fukuda" .
RTHK . December 6, 2021. Archived from
the original on February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2022 .
^
a
b
c Cheng, Lilian (October 7, 2020).
"Government Covid-19 adviser Keiji Fukuda to leave University of Hong Kong's public health school in late 2021 after contract not renewed: sources" . South China Morning Post . Archived from
the original on February 6, 2022. Retrieved February 6, 2022 .
^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i Pasanen, Melissa (2005).
"Walking the Tightrope" . Vermont Medicine .
Burlington ,
Vermont :
Robert Larner College of Medicine ,
University of Vermont . Retrieved February 6, 2022 .
^
"In Memoriam" (PDF) . UVM Anesthesia News . Burlington, Vermont: Robert Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont. 2007. Archived from
the original (PDF) on February 12, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2022 .
^
"Dr. David M. Fukuda" .
Barre Montpelier Times Argus . August 10, 2006. Archived from
the original on February 12, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2022 .
^
"Breaking Through Influenza Information Walls" (PDF) . Grenzüberschreitende Integrierte Qualitätssicherung e.V. Archived from
the original (PDF) on December 13, 2019. Retrieved September 6, 2017 .
^ Shadbolt, Peter (April 26, 2013).
"WHO: H7N9 virus 'one of the most lethal so far' " .
CNN . Archived from
the original on February 6, 2022. Retrieved September 6, 2017 .
^
"Ebola response needs to "scale up," World Health Organization official says" .
CBS News . August 10, 2014. Archived from
the original on February 10, 2022. Retrieved September 6, 2017 .
^
"Keiji Fukuda" . Asia Global Institute, University of Hong Kong. Archived from
the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved February 17, 2022 .
^ Fukuda, Keiji; Straus, Stephen E.; Hickie, Ian; Sharpe, Michael C.; Dobbins, James G.; Komaroff, Anthony; International Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Study Group (1994).
"The Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Comprehensive Approach to Its Definition and Study" .
Annals of Internal Medicine . 121 (12): 953–959.
doi :
10.7326/0003-4819-121-12-199412150-00009 .
PMID
7978722 .
S2CID
510735 . Retrieved February 17, 2022 .
^ Brody, Jane E. (December 21, 1994).
"Clearing Up Confusion on Fatigue Syndrome" .
The New York Times . Retrieved February 17, 2022 .
^ Afari, Niloofar; Buchwald, Debra (2003).
"Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Review" .
The American Journal of Psychiatry . 160 (2): 221–236.
doi :
10.1176/appi.ajp.160.2.221 .
PMID
12562565 .
S2CID
8210151 . Archived from
the original on February 18, 2022.
^ Fukuda, Keiji; Colmey, John (January 12, 1998).
" "This is Serious" " .
Time . Vol. 151, no. 1. Archived from
the original on August 16, 2000.
^ Richburg, Keith B. (December 28, 1997).
" 'Bird Flu' Origin, How It Spreads Remain Mysteries" .
The Washington Post . Archived from
the original on February 18, 2022. Retrieved February 18, 2022 .
^
"Professor Fukuda, Keiji 福田敬二 - Biography" . University of Hong Kong. Archived from
the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2022 .
^ Lev, Michael A. (May 18, 2003).
"Man who blew lid off SARS kept under wraps" .
Chicago Tribune . Archived from
the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2022 .
^
"Keiji Fukuda" .
World Health Organization . Archived from
the original on April 3, 2009. Retrieved April 3, 2009 .
^ Jordans, Frank (July 24, 2009).
"Pandemic still in early stages: WHO flu chief" .
Associated Press . Archived from
the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2020 .
^
"Swine flu epidemic still spreading, says WHO" .
Irish Examiner . May 5, 2009. Archived from
the original on February 6, 2022. Retrieved February 6, 2022 . ... The World Health Organisation began to ship 2.4 million treatments ..., and its flu chief said the swine flu epidemic was still spreading.
^
"Five new UK flu cases confirmed" .
BBC . April 28, 2009. Archived from
the original on February 6, 2022. Retrieved April 28, 2009 .
^
"Transcript of Virtual Press conference with Dr Keiji Fukuda, Assistant Director-General ad. Interim for Health Security and Environment World Health Organization" (PDF) . World Health Organization. April 27, 2009. Archived from
the original (PDF) on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2022 .
^ O'Regan, Eilish (June 12, 2009).
" 'No increased risk' after declaration of swine flu pandemic" .
Irish Independent . Archived from
the original on February 21, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2022 .
^ Nebehay, Stephanie (April 12, 2010).
"WHO admits shortcomings in handling flu pandemic" .
Reuters . Archived from
the original on February 21, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2022 .
^
"Introduction to the World Health Assembly: A Briefing for New Delegates - KEIJI FUKUDA" (PDF) .
Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies . Archived from
the original (PDF) on February 22, 2022. Retrieved February 21, 2022 .
^ Zhao, Ruinan (March 11, 2020).
"Bio of Keiji Fukuda" (PDF) .
China Daily . Archived from
the original (PDF) on February 22, 2022. Retrieved February 21, 2022 .
^
"Expert Opinion" .
Government of Hong Kong . Archived from
the original on February 22, 2022. Retrieved February 22, 2022 .
^ Wang, Vivian (March 6, 2020).
"As Death Toll Mounts, Governments Point Fingers Over Coronavirus" . The New York Times . Retrieved February 22, 2022 .
^ Uehara, Akiko (May 21, 2021).
"WHO has no means to impose multilateral response to pandemics" .
Swissinfo . Archived from
the original on February 23, 2022. Retrieved February 22, 2022 .
^ Lau, Joyce (October 23, 2020).
"Departure of COVID-19 Expert Raises Questions About Retirement Rules" .
Inside Higher Ed . Archived from
the original on February 23, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2022 .
^ Hui, Sophie (October 8, 2020).
"Disease expert's contract blow called loss for HK" .
The Standard . Archived from
the original on February 25, 2022. Retrieved February 24, 2022 .
^ 陳, 倩婷 (October 7, 2020).
"抗疫專家福田敬二不獲港大公共衞生學院續約 消息:不符頂尖要求" .
HK01 (in Chinese). Archived from
the original on February 24, 2022. Retrieved February 24, 2022 .
^
"抗疫專家福田敬二傳不獲續約 港大:不評論個別人事個案" .
Sing Tao Daily (in Chinese). October 7, 2020. Archived from
the original on February 25, 2022. Retrieved February 24, 2022 .
^
"CE thanks Professor Keiji Fukuda for his contributions in anti-epidemic works" (Press release).
Hong Kong : Government of Hong Kong. November 25, 2021. Archived from
the original on February 24, 2022. Retrieved February 24, 2022 .
^
"政府專家顧問福田敬二12月1日退任 年底離港大返美退休 林鄭月娥感謝其貢獻" .
Ming Pao (in Chinese). November 25, 2021. Archived from
the original on February 25, 2022. Retrieved February 24, 2022 .
^
"福田敬二周三離任港大 驚訝被拒續約" . Singtao Daily (in Chinese). December 6, 2021. Archived from
the original on February 25, 2022. Retrieved February 24, 2022 .
^
"消息:福田敬二 12 月港大完約後將離港 赴美退休 本港失抗疫專家顧問" .
Stand News (in Chinese). September 29, 2021. Archived from
the original on December 29, 2021.
External links
International National Academics