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Dr. Joel Breman led the effort to eradicate smallpox in West Africa. Throughout his illustrious career in medicine, Dr. Breman has lived in multiple African countries and dedicated his life to eradicating tropical diseases.  His medical training includes internal medicine, infectious disease, and epidemiology.  Below are career highlights.

•         Advisor to the Guinean Smallpox Eradication-Measles Control Program from 1967-1969
•         Leader of  disease surveillance and vaccine research with the Organization for Coordination and  Cooperation in the Control of the Major Endemic Diseases in Burkina Faso from 1972-1976
•         Investigator of the first Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1976.
•         Head of the Smallpox Eradication Unit of World Health Organization (WHO) from 1977-1980
•         Deputy Director and Scientific Advisor the Division of International Training and Research and Senior Scientific Advisor of U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 1995.

Dr. Breman has authored more than 100 publications on infectious disease in developing countries and is now working on a textbook and a memoir. He has graciously donated the textiles he and his wife collected during their years in Africa to introduce Washington, DC to the creativity and history of the countries that they called home for four decades.

Also presented in this exhibit is the work of young artists from the FAN DC After School Program where Oyé Palaver Hut, led by Vera Oyé Yaa-Anna, introduces young people to West African culture through art, nutrition, and storytelling. After studying Dr. & Mrs. Breman’s textiles, her students were inspired to create their unique patterns. Each student has created a personal tapestry that pays homage to the African tradition of self-expression through textiles.

Please join us for this unique exhibit and reception to view our young students’ work alongside the Breman’s rare collection.