Geek of the Week: Carlos Chagas

Brazilian physician, scientist, microbiologist, and public health worker Carlos Chagas discovered the organism that transmits the disease of trypanosomiasis. The disease now bears his name--Chagas disease--though Chagas named the parasite after his scientific mentor rather than himself.  

Working in primitive conditions, far from scientific and medical academic centers in Austria, Germany, and the US, Chagas made enormous scientific advances. In addition to discovering the previously unknown Chagas disease, he discovered the parasitic fungal genus Pneumocystis, which would later be linked to PCP in AIDS patients, and developed an effective method for malaria control that involved spraying houses with pyrethrum. 

Despite dying relatively young at the age of 55, Chagas made many contributions to public health later in his career. He organized preventative and special health care services involving everything from sexually transmitted diseases to leprosy to pediatrics. He also trained the next generation of health care professionals by creating a nursing school and developing a special course on hygiene and sanitary medicine.

Using knowledge and innovation to further the good of all, despite numerous challenges, makes Carlos Chagas a deserving Ravenclaw Geek of the Week!

Learn more about Carlos Chagas:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Chagas
http://www.invivo.fiocruz.br/cgi/cgilua.exe/sys/start.htm?UserActiveTemplate=english&infoid=1107&sid=45

Thanks to CathyCake for this nomination. 

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