Collections Fall 2019
For five decades, David Paige has fought to radically improve children’s nutrition in the U.S.—and amassed tangible evidence of the journey.
Hunger was a national health problem. After seeing low birthweight infants and undergrown children at a Cherry Hill clinic, David Paige, MD, MPH ’69, researched the health benefits of supplementing infant diets. His work led to the Iron Fortified Infant Formula Program and then a Maryland voucher program that served as the model for the Women, Infants and Children program. Today, WIC is the third-largest federal nutritional assistance program, after food stamps and school lunches.
MANUAL BREAST PUMP, 2010S
Paige’s research informed the 1980s campaign encouraging mothers to breastfeed infants for optimal health outcomes.
EVAPORATED MILK FORMULA ADVERTISEMENT, 1950
With formula vouchers, Paige sought to help poor families avoid having to water down baby formula to save money.
CLINICAL NUTRITION TEXTBOOK, 1983
Paige has served as editor-in-chief of the journal Clinical Nutrition and the landmark textbook.
FOOD MODELS, c. 1990s
WIC nutrition counseling included informing mothers about the types of food covered by the program.
PAIGE AS A PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE OFFICER, 1960s
Before coming to Baltimore, Paige served as chief of the Community Health Service at the Navajo Indian Reservation clinic in Chinle, Arizona.
CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY, 1971
Paige testified before Congress 23 times on behalf of federal aid to nutrition supplementation programs.
IRON-FORTIFIED INFANT FORMULA PROGRAM POSTER, 1970
Paige saw vouchers as prescriptions to treat iron deficiency and undernourishment.
LACT-AID ENZYME PACKAGE, 1979
LACTAID MILK CARTON, 1983
After identifying lactose intolerance in children as a widespread health problem, Paige influenced the development of Lactaid, the first reduced-lactose milk.