News Release

Dr. Harry A. Guess, leader in pharmacoepidemiology research, 
has died; scholarships have been established in his memory

CHAPEL HILL – Dr. Harry A. Guess, professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s School of Public Health and of pediatrics at UNC’s School of Medicine, died Jan. 1, after a battle with lung cancer. He was 65.

Two scholarships have been established at the School of Public Health in his memory. One, created by Merck Research Laboratories, is the Harry A. Guess – Merck Scholarship in Pharmacoepidemiology. The other, the Harry Guess Scholarship in Epidemiology, was established by his family and friends.

Guess, who received his medical degree from the University of Miami and his doctorate in mathematics from Stanford University, directed the UNC-GlaxoSmithKline Center of Excellence in Pharmacoepidemiology and Public Health within the School of Public Health. The center was created to prepare graduate students for careers addressing medication safety and effectiveness and to develop methodologic tools to advance the field of pharmacoepidemiology. Besides its drug focus, the center also examines broader epidemiologic questions arising in health services research.

"Harry was enormously dedicated to finding ways to help people live healthier lives," said Dr. Barbara K. Rimer, School of Public Health dean. "His success in academia and research was remarkable, and his research was accomplished while pursuing one of his great passions: teaching and advising graduate students.

"I have been moved by e-mails from graduate students who have written to tell me how important Dr. Guess’s mentoring was to them. Harry Guess was a model to all, not only as a researcher and teacher, but also for how he faced his illness with hope, dignity and courage. He was so dedicated to the mission of his work that even when his illness became extensive and debilitating, he continued to work and to seek the continuity of his research efforts after his own contributions would be ended by the disease.

"I was awed and humbled by Dr. Guess and will miss him greatly," Rimer said. "Our thoughts are with his family and all who have been touched by this wonderful man."

Born Dec. 24, 1940, in New York City, Guess was the son of the late Harry A. Guess and Vista Brabham Guess. He attended the Georgia Institute of Technology on a Navy ROTC scholarship and graduated in 1964 with both bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He served in the U.S. Navy for five years on Adm. Hyman G. Rickover’s staff at the Atomic Energy Commission, Division of Naval Reactors. He earned his doctorate and medical degree after completing his military service. He did his residence work in pediatrics at UNC.

Guess established the department of epidemiology at Merck Research Laboratories (MRL) in 1985 and worked there for nearly two decades. For 15 years, he also was an adjunct professor of epidemiology and, later, biostatistics at UNC. He retired as vice president of MRL in 2003 to lead the UNC center.

"Harry was an outstanding scientist who made major contributions to patients, to academia and to Merck," said Dr. Peter S. Kim, president of MRL. "Importantly, he was a superb teacher, so his impact was multiplied through his students, including me. And he was a terrific human being who will be missed greatly."

Guess was a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Preventive Medicine and the American College of Epidemiology. He co-wrote more than 150 research articles and served on the editorial boards of Epidemiology, the Journal of Clinical Epidemiology and the Journal of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. He was named to Who’s Who in Medicine and Health in 2003. In August 2005, he received the Award for Sustained Scientific Excellence from the International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology.

"Harry’s career has encompassed both public health and pharmacoepidemiology, and he strived to address practical issues facing the industry and clinicians with an academic and innovative approach to complex problems," said Dr. David Savitz, former chairman of UNC’s epidemiology department.

"He has made notable contributions to research on vaccines, the natural history of complex diseases, development and validation of clinical trial endpoints and patient reported outcomes, and pharmacoepidemiology, in many cases setting the industry standard."

Guess is survived by his wife of 41 years, Geraldine Guess; two daughters, Carol Guess of Seattle and Alison Guess Fitton and her husband, Bruce Fitton, of Burke, Va.; one grandchild, Jacob David Fitton; and a cousin, Evelyn Moore McGee, of Charleston, S.C.

Memorial contributions may be made to either scholarship established in his name. Merck Research Laboratories will match contributions made by Merck employees to the Harry A. Guess – Merck Scholarship. Gifts to either scholarship should have the checks written out to the UNC School of Public Health Foundation Inc., and sent to: UNC School of Public Health Foundation Inc., c/o Charlotte Parks, UNC Campus Box 7407, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7407.

Those sending contributions are asked to note that the gift is for the either the Harry A. Guess – Merck Scholarship in Pharmacoepidemiology or the Harry Guess Scholarship in Epidemiology.

The family will receive friends at the home, 104 Waterford Place, Chapel Hill, on Sunday (Jan. 8) from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Burial will be in New York.

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Photo URL: http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/faculty/former/guess_harry.jpg

School of Public Health contact: Ramona DuBose, (919) 966-7467 or ramona_dubose@unc.edu

UNC News Services contact: Deb Saine, (919) 962-8415 or deborah_saine@unc.edu