Adjunct professor Rosenberg killed in plane crash
December 9, 2014
Dr. Michael Rosenberg
Michael Rosenberg, MD, MPH, adjunct professor of epidemiology and of maternal and child health at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, died Dec. 8 when his small plane crashed near Montgomery County Airpark in Gaithersburg, Md.
“We were shocked and saddened to hear of Michael Rosenberg’s untimely passing,” said Andrew Olshan, PhD, chair and Barbara Sorenson Hulka Distinguished Professor in Cancer Epidemiology at the Gillings School. “He generously shared his extensive knowledge and experience with our students and faculty, and we will miss his wisdom and insights. Our hearts go out to his family and loved ones in this time of sorrow.”
Dr. Rosenberg, a respected physician formerly employed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was chief executive officer of Health Decisions, a clinical research organization based in Durham, N.C. He founded the organization in 1989 to improve efficiency in the development of new medicines and medical devices.
The Association of Clinical Research Professionals recognized Rosenberg’s contributions with the 2014 Innovation in Clinical Research Award. Earlier this year, The Triangle Business Journal honored him with its Life Sciences Chief Executive Officer of the Year Award. Rosenberg also was an award-winning author. His book, The Agile Approach to Adaptive Research: Optimizing Efficiency in Clinical Research (Wiley 2010) received the Journal for Clinical Studies’ JCS Library Award and was selected for the First Clinical Research Bookshelf by The Journal of Clinical Research Best Practices.
Originally from the San Francisco area, Rosenberg held degrees from the University of California and Harvard University.
“Everyone at Health Decisions is devastated by the loss of our friend and colleague,” said Patrick Phillips, DPhil, vice president of clinical affairs at Health Decisions, in a statement. “We can best honor Michael by carrying on and realizing his vision of a more efficient approach to clinical development. We are committed to that goal.”
