Hal Morgenstern, BArch, MRP, PhD

Hal Morgenstern, Ph.D., professor of epidemiology, professor of environmental health sciences, School of Public Health, and professor of urology, Medical School, will retire from active faculty status on December 31, 2016.

Professor Morgenstern received his B.Arch. (1969) degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his M.R.P. (1974) and Ph.D. (1978) degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He served on the faculties of Yale University (1978-85) and the University of California, Los Angeles (1985-2003). Professor Morgenstern joined the University of Michigan faculty as a professor of epidemiology in 2003 and served as chair of the Department of Epidemiology from 2003-08. He held additional appointments as professor of environmental health sciences and professor of urology.

Professor Morgenstern is widely recognized as a leader in the development and teaching of epidemiologic methods and their applications to the study of chronic diseases, injuries, occupational and environmental health, and clinical research. He coauthored more than 240 peer-reviewed publications, many technical reports, and the innovative textbook Epidemiologic Research: Principles and Quantitative Methods (1982). This influential textbook established a framework for understanding study design and estimation validity that has become standard in the teaching and practice of contemporary epidemiology. Professor Morgenstern championed the teaching of epidemiologic concepts, principles, and methods; established a mentoring program for junior faculty in the department; and developed a new M.S. training program in clinical research. He personally mentored several fellows and junior faculty in the School of Public Health and the Medical School, and served on a number of task forces, scientific committees, and editorial boards in the U.S. and abroad. Professor Morgenstern received the Herman A. Tyroler Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2003.

The Regents now salute this distinguished faculty member by naming Hal Morgenstern, professor emeritus of epidemiology, professor emeritus of environmental health sciences, and professor emeritus of urology.