Eugène Aujaleu (29 October 1903 - 26 August 1990) is a French doctor and public health official. He was the first Director General of Health from 1956 to 1964, then the first Director General of the National Institute of Health and Medical Research (

INSERM The (Inserm, ) is the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research. History and organisation Inserm was created in 1964 as a successor to the French National Institute of Health. Inserm is the only public research institution ...

) from 1964 to 1969.

Early life, education and pre-war years

Eugène Aujaleu was born on 29 October 1903 in Nègrepelisse. Aujaleu studied medicine at the Faculty of Medicine of Toulouse (thesis in 1928). He turned to the field of infectiology. He became an associate professor at the Hôpital du Val-de-Grâce in 1936, where he directed the chair of epidemiology as well as the

phthisiology Phthisiology is the care, treatment, and study of tuberculosis of the lung. It is therefore considered a specialisation within the area of pulmonology. The term derives from the designation by Hippocrates Hippocrates of Kos (; ; ), also know ...

department of the Percy military hospital.

Second World War and early public service career

During the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, he took over the management of the hygiene and epidemiology services of the French Armed Forces and then, in 1941, was appointed Inspector General of Public Health. Present by chance in

Algiers Algiers is the capital city of Algeria as well as the capital of the Algiers Province; it extends over many Communes of Algeria, communes without having its own separate governing body. With 2,988,145 residents in 2008Census 14 April 2008: Offi ...

when the allied troops arrived in 1942, he joined them and became the civilian health officer for the liberated territories. He took on new responsibilities in the field of public health with the

French Committee of National Liberation French may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France ** French people, a nation and ethnic group ** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices Arts and media * The French (band) ...

. Upon release, he was appointed director of social hygiene at the Ministry of Public Health and Population.

Post-war years

In 1956, he was the first Director General of Health, a position in which he would be one of the great architects, with

Robert Debré Robert Debré (7 December 1882 – 29 April 1978) was a French physician (pediatrician) at Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital in Paris. The largest pediatric hospital in Paris, the Robert-Debré Hospital - located in the North-East part of Paris ...

, of the reform of medical studies, the health system, and the creation of CHUs (university hospital centres).. He plays a major role in reforming public psychiatry through the circular of 15 March 1960. When

was created, an offshoot of the National Institute of Hygiene headed by Louis Bugnard, he took over its first management in 1964 and laid all the foundations for the administrative operation and the objectives of the new institute which turned no longer just towards prevention and statistical studies, but now essentially towards research in biology and medicine. He left his post in 1969 and was replaced by Constant Burg. Aujaleu ended his career as State Councillor and representative of France at the

World Health Organization The World Health Organization (WHO) is a list of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations which coordinates responses to international public health issues and emergencies. It is headquartered in Gen ...

until 1982.

Personal life and death

In 1937, Aujaleu married Nadine Blanche Dumas, together they had two daughter. Aujaleu died on 26 August 1990.

Prizes and honours

Léon Bernard Foundation Prize World Health Organization (WHO) public health prizes and awards are given to recognise major achievements in public health. The candidates are nominated and recommended by each prize and award selection panel. The WHO Executive Board selects the w ...

(WHO) in 1971 * Grand Officer of the

Legion of Honor The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and civil. Currently consisting of five classes, it was ...

* Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit * Commander of the Order of the Crown

References

{{authority control Recipients of the Order of the Crown (Belgium) Recipients of the Ordre national du Mérite Léon Bernard Foundation Prize laureates Recipients of the Legion of Honour 1903 births 1990 deaths University of Toulouse alumni French physicians