LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ, February 04, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Daniel L. Shungu, PhD, has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
A renowned figure in the field of public health, Dr. Shungu is particularly known for his efforts in combating river blindness. As the founder and chief executive officer of the United Front Against Riverblindness (UFAR), established in 2004, he has dedicated his career to controlling and eliminating the debilitating disease. Since 2006 and in partnership with WHO and the Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), UFAR has planned and managed annual community-based mass distributions of Ivermectin (Mectizan®), a drug developed by Merck & Co. Inc. and provided free by the company to thousands in endemic villages in the DRC. Under his leadership, UFAR has achieved significant milestones, including reducing the need for annual drug distribution in certain health zones thanks to successful application of WHO-recommended evidence-based drug distribution strategy aimed at interrupting the vector transmission of the disease, resulting in disease elimination. The strategy has worked so well for river blindness that since 2015, the program has been expanded to include four additional major parasitic diseases that can be controlled and eliminated in the same way.
Before founding UFAR, Dr. Shungu served as the director of clinical microbiology services at Merck & Co. Inc. from 1980 to 2002. During his remarkable tenure, he founded a facility that supported the discovery, both basic and clinical developments, regulatory registrations and marketing of several new antimicrobial agents, including Primaxin®, Invanz®, Noroxin® and Cancidas®. His role at Merck also allowed him to facilitate connections with key stakeholders in the fight against river blindness, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and various nongovernmental organizations. The company recognized his success and contributions with the Special Management Award in 1985.
Dr. Shungu's professional affiliations include membership in the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards and the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. He also served as the vice-chair and chair of the NGDO Group for Onchocerciasis Elimination, chair of the Clinical Microbiology Committee of the New Jersey Branch of the ASM. These memberships reflect his commitment to advancing public health initiatives and collaborating with global partners to address tropical diseases.
Dr. Shungu laid a strong foundation for his career achievements with his equally impressive academic endeavors. Following earlier schooling in his country of the Democratic Republic of Congo, he pursued higher education in United States. He completed a fellowship in Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, earned a PhD in microbiology from the University of Maryland, along with a Master of Science in bacteriology from Wayne State University and a Bachelor of Science in liberal arts from Albion College. His education was significantly influenced by his family's Christian faith and the support of American missionaries, which he credits as pivotal in shaping his path.
In addition to his professional endeavors, Dr. Shungu is actively involved in civic activities. He supports various charities in the DRC and contributes to numerous other causes, reflecting his dedication to giving back to the community. He has accepted invitations to volunteer as a lecturer at New York Medical College (1985-1996), Rider University (since 2008) and the College of New Jersey (2021). His accomplishments in disease control have been highlighted with many accolades, including recognition as a John Harris Fellow of Rotary International in 2019, a Rotary Club Award in 2017 for significant progress toward river blindness elimination, a Purpose Prize Fellow nominee for outstanding humanitarian work in 2010 and the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Warren Wilson College, where he earned an Associate of Arts, in 1965.
Outside of his professional life, Dr. Shungu enjoys playing soccer, attending theaters, visiting museums, traveling, and singing and participating in church choirs. He is a proud father to two sons, both of whom have pursued successful careers in their respective fields, music education and medicine. Also a prolific writer, his work has appeared in textbooks, handbooks and a variety of scientific journals, spreading his research and knowledge to students and professionals across the field.
Inspired by the positive impact he has witnessed over two decades of work, Dr. Shungu remains convinced and committed to reaching the goals of eliminating river blindness and several other neglected tropical diseases as major public health and socio-economic problems, especially in the DRC. His storied journey is marked by a deep sense of purpose and a commitment to improving public health outcomes worldwide.
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