News & Events

Franklin Lakes, NJ (May 20, 1998) -- Becton Dickinson and Company (NYSE: BDX) recently announced the election of Alfred Sommer, M.D., M.H.S. to the Board of Directors.

Dr. Sommer is Dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health and Professor of Ophthalmology, Epidemiology and International Health. He was founding Director of the Dana Center for Preventive Ophthalmology at Johns Hopkins, which focuses on clinical epidemiology and public health aspects of blindness prevention and child health.

Dr. Sommer received his M.D. from Harvard Medical School in 1967 and his Master of Health Science in Epidemiology from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health in 1973. Dr. Sommer's current research includes clinical outcomes assessment and guidelines; the screening, diagnosis and management of glaucoma and other blindness prevention methods. He is also concerned with issues of health care cost containment and health interventions in developing countries.

Dr. Sommer has received numerous designations and awards for his contributions and achievements in public health. He recently received the Albert Lasker Award for Clinical Research for the work he has done to demonstrate the impact of vitamin A deficiency on childhood blindness and mortality in developing countries. His work has resulted in worldwide consensus and international initiatives for the "virtual elimination of vitamin A deficiency." His newest efforts are focused on the growing interface between medicine and public health.

"As a renowned clinician, researcher and dean of the world's largest school of public health, Dr. Sommer will bring to Becton Dickinson valuable hands-on knowledge and personal commitment as we drive to make a greater and more meaningful contribution to world health," said Clateo Castellini, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO.

Becton Dickinson manufactures and sells a broad range of medical devices and diagnostic systems for use by health professionals, medical research institutions and the general public. For its most recent fiscal year the company reported revenues of $2.8 billion.