We can thank Hunein “John” Maassab, MPH’54, PhD’56, for fewer needles at the doctor’s office. As a U-M student, he witnessed the 1955 announcement of the polio vaccine at Rackham Auditorium. Inspired, Maassab began his teaching career at the University in 1957, ascending to full professorship in 1973. He served as epidemiology chair from 1991 to 1997, founding the department’s Hospital and Molecular Epidemiology program. The Food and Drug Administration approved Maassab’s FluMist vaccine in 2002, bringing his life’s work to realization.
For a list of notable U-M grads, visit alumnus.alumni.umich.edu/notable-alumni.