Carl Brumback Oral History Interview

Clarence L. Brumback, MD, MPH (1914 - 2012) earned his medical degree from the University of Kansas and his master’s degree from the University of Michigan. In this oral history interview, Brumback describes his career in public health, including his work with the Army Medical Corps, his time as health director for the US Atomic Energy Commission at Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and his 36 years as director of the Palm Beach County Health Department. He recounts some of the major problems he confronted in Palm Beach County, including polio, migrant healthcare, pollution, and the absence of mental healthcare facilities. Brumback describes some of his major accomplishments in Palm Beach County, including the development of a school health program, the creation of its first mental health center, and the establishment of residency in preventive medicine. Throughout the interview, he stresses an epidemiological approach to public health as well as the importance of community partnership and collaboration