George Dehner, Dr.

Overview

Professor Dehner is a world environmental historian who examines the intersection of humans and disease in the modern era. His first book Influenza: A Century of Science and Public Health was published in April 2012 by the University of Pittsburgh Press. His second book Global Flu and You: A History of Influenza was published in December 2012 by Reaktion Press. His article “WHO Knows Best? National and International Responses to Pandemic Threats and the ‘Lessons’ of 1976” published in the Journal of the History of Medicine and Allied Sciences received the 2011 Margaret T. Lane/Virginia F. Saunders Memorial Research Award by the American Library Association Government Documents Roundtable. He is currently beginning a research project on Legionnaires’ Disease. Check out his “Influenza pandemics since Russian Flu: Do they provide insight to COVID-19?” as part of a Fairmont College of Liberal Arts and Sciences series, Perspective on the Pandemic.

Academic Interests and Expertise

• World History
• Environmental History
• 20th C. U.S.

Areas of Research Interest

Dr. Dehner researches the history of dieseases with an emphasis on empidemics and public health organizational responses. He is currently working on a book manuscript on Legionnaire’s Disease. 

Publications

• Global Flu and You: A History of Influenza (Reaktion Press, 2012)
• Influenza: A Century of Science and Public Health Response (University of Pittsburgh Press 2012)

Areas of Service

Department Service:

• Scholarship Committee, Chair
• Phi Alpha Theta, Faculty Advisor
• Acting Undergraduate Coordinator (AY 2022-2023)