
Christopher J. Gill, MD
Associate Professor, Global Health - Boston University School of Public Health
Biography
Christopher Gill has an MD from the University of Massachusetts Medical School and an MS from Tufts-Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Studies.Dr. Gill is an infectious disease specialist by training. From 2002-2008 he was a faculty member of the Department of Global Health at Boston University School of Public Health, engaged in a wide variety of clinical trials and investigations. His research interests have focused on child survival, and include diarrheal diseases, tuberculosis, pneumococcal and meningococcal disease, adherence to HIV medications, and neonatal survival. He was the principal investigator of the Lufwanyama Neonatal Survival Project in Northern Zambia (LUNESP), a prospective, cluster randomized and controlled effectiveness study designed to determine whether training traditional birth attendants to manage several common perinatal conditions could reduce neonatal mortality in the setting of a resource poor country with limited access to healthcare. The results demonstrated that training traditional birth attendants in neonatal resuscitation skills significantly reduces neonatal mortality by approximately 50%. From 2008-end of 2010 he was the Director of the Meningitis ACWY conjugate vaccine clinical trials group at Novartis Vaccines. There he was responsible for the design, implementation and analysis of Phase IIb, III and IV clinical trials in support of the vaccine, and played a key role in licensing this new vaccine in over 60 countries around the world, including the US. In 2011, he rejoined the faculty at the BU Center for Global Health and Development and the BU School of Public Health, working as the Director of the BUSPH Pharmaceuticals Program from 2011-15, teaching, mentoring, and conducting research in the areas of HIV medication adherence in China, advocacy around child mortality due to diarrhea and pneumonia, pertussis and RSV disease surveillance in Zambia, and capacity building of Vietnamese community health workers using SMS text messaging. Dr. Gill is the 2015 recipient of the Norman Scotch Award for excellence in teaching at Boston University School of Public Health, and the 2016 recipient of Boston University's Metcalf Cup and Prize. The Metcalf Cup and Prize is BU's highest teaching honor, and is awarded to one of BU's >3500 faculty across its 17 colleges and schools each year.
Other Positions
- Member, Evans Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research - Boston University
Education
- University of Massachusetts Medical School, MD Field of Study: Medicine
- Tufts University, MS Field of Study: Clinical Evaluation/Research
- Tufts University, BS Field of Study: Biology
Websites
Classes Taught
- SPHGH801
Publications
- Published on 4/1/2022
Lohman-Payne B, Koster J, Gabriel B, Chilengi R, Forman LS, Heeren T, Duffy CR, Herlihy J, Crimaldi S, Gill C, Chavuma R, Mwananyanda L, Thea DM. Persistent Immune Activation in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Pregnant Women Starting Combination Antiretroviral Therapy After Conception. J Infect Dis. 2022 Apr 01; 225(7):1162-1167. PMID: 33780543.
Read At: PubMed
- Published on 2/1/2022
Gill CJ, Mwananyanda L, MacLeod WB, Kwenda G, Pieciak R, Mupila Z, Murphy C, Chikoti C, Forman L, Berklein F, Lapidot R, Chimoga C, Ngoma B, Larson A, Lungu J, Nakazwe R, Nzara D, Pemba L, Yankonde B, Chirwa A, Mwale M, Thea DM. Infant deaths from respiratory syncytial virus in Lusaka, Zambia from the ZPRIME study: a 3-year, systematic, post-mortem surveillance project. Lancet Glob Health. 2022 02; 10(2):e269-e277. PMID: 35063114.
Read At: PubMed
- Published on 12/25/2021
Osei-Poku GK, Thomas S, Mwananyanda L, Lapidot R, Elliott PA, Macleod WB, Somwe SW, Gill CJ. A systematic review of the burden and risk factors of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in Africa. J Glob Health. 2021; 11:04075. PMID: 35003713.
Read At: PubMed
- Published on 12/25/2021
Osei-Poku GK, Thomas S, Mwananyanda L, Lapidot R, Elliott PA, MacLeod W, Somwe Wa Somwe, Gill CJ. Original publication. Assessing the burden and risk factors of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep related infant deaths in Africa: a systematic review. 2021; 11.
- Published on 12/15/2021
Mudenda V, Mumba C, Pieciak RC, Mwananyanda L, Chimoga C, Ngoma B, Mupila Z, Kwenda G, Forman L, Lapidot R, MacLeod WB, Thea DM, Gill CJ. Histopathological Evaluation of Deceased Persons in Lusaka, Zambia With or Without Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Infection: Results Obtained From Minimally Invasive Tissue Sampling. Clin Infect Dis. 2021 12 15; 73(Suppl_5):S465-S471. PMID: 34910177.
Read At: PubMed
- Published on 9/2/2021
Forman LS, Macleod W, Mwananyanda L, Kwenda G, Pieciak R, Mupila Z, Murphy C, Thea D, Chikoti C, Yankonde B, Ngoma B, Chimoga C, Gill CJ. Association of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection and Underlying Risk Factors for Death Among Young Infants Who Died at University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka Zambia. Clin Infect Dis. 2021 09 02; 73(Suppl_3):S180-S186. PMID: 34472569.
Read At: PubMed
- Published on 9/2/2021
Murphy C, MacLeod WB, Forman LS, Mwananyanda L, Kwenda G, Pieciak RC, Mupila Z, Thea D, Chikoti C, Yankonde B, Ngoma B, Chimoga C, Gill CJ. Risk Factors for Respiratory Syncytial Virus-Associated Community Deaths in Zambian Infants. Clin Infect Dis. 2021 09 02; 73(Suppl_3):S187-S192. PMID: 34472570.
Read At: PubMed
- Published on 9/2/2021
Caballero MT, Satav A, Gill CJ, Omer SB, Pieciak RC, Kazi AM, Simões EA, Polack FP. Challenges of Assessing Community Mortality Due to Respiratory Viruses in Children Aged Less Than 5 Years. Clin Infect Dis. 2021 09 02; 73(Suppl_3):S248-S254. PMID: 34472573.
Read At: PubMed
- Published on 9/2/2021
Mazur NI, Löwensteyn YN, Willemsen JE, Gill CJ, Forman L, Mwananyanda LM, Blau DM, Breiman RF, Madhi SA, Mahtab S, Gurley ES, El Arifeen S, Assefa N, Scott JAG, Onyango D, Tippet Barr BA, Kotloff KL, Sow SO, Mandomando I, Ogbuanu I, Jambai A, Bassat Q, Caballero MT, Polack FP, Omer S, Kazi AM, Simões EAF, Satav A, Bont LJ. Global Respiratory Syncytial Virus-Related Infant Community Deaths. Clin Infect Dis. 2021 09 02; 73(Suppl_3):S229-S237. PMID: 34472576.
Read At: PubMed
- Published on 7/1/2021
Gill CJ. Latest data from Lusaka morgue analysis shows spike in COVID-19 deaths. The Conversation. 2021.
View 130 more publications:View Full Profile at BUMC
News & In the Media
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Published on April 8, 2022
How a Zambian Morgue Is Exposing the Real COVID Toll in Africa
- Published on April 6, 2022
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Published on March 2, 2022
Combatting Vaccine Hesitancy by ‘Tackling Disinformation at Its Root’
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Published on March 1, 2022
COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: How Did We Get Here and What Do We Do Now?
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Published on January 28, 2022
Infant Deaths from RSV Are Much Higher Than Previously Known
- Published on January 28, 2022
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Published on July 12, 2021
Latest Data from Lusaka Morgue Analysis Shows Spike in COVID-19 Deaths
- Published on June 22, 2021
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Published on June 17, 2021
Asymptomatic Pertussis More Common in Infants than Previously Thought
- Published on June 16, 2021
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Published on May 12, 2021
Ask the Doctors: FDA Clears Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine for 12-15 Year Olds
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Published on May 4, 2021
Public Health Experts Push for Global Approach to Vaccinations
- Published on March 22, 2021
- Published on March 22, 2021
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Published on March 22, 2021
COVID-19 Vaccines in U.S. Do Not Contain Aluminum, despite Social Media Claims
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Published on March 22, 2021
Not Real News: False Stories from This Week about Biden, Atlanta Shooting, COVID Vaccine
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Published on March 18, 2021
Ask the Doctors: Answering Listener Questions about Vaccines and Variants
- Published on March 4, 2021
- Published on February 25, 2021
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Published on February 24, 2021
Debate Heats up Over Vaccinating More People With Just One Dose
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Published on February 23, 2021
Why Does the Pandemic Seem to Be Hitting Some Countries Harder Than Others?
- Published on February 22, 2021
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Published on February 18, 2021
Ask the Doctors: New Variants Arrive in Massachusetts, Vaccine Rollout
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Published on February 17, 2021
COVID-19 in Africa Is Severely Underestimated, Zambia Deaths Show
- Published on February 16, 2021
- Published on February 12, 2021
- Published on February 10, 2021
- Published on February 9, 2021
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Published on February 2, 2021
World Coronavirus Dispatch: Africa Deaths May Be Higher Than Official Count
- Published on January 22, 2021
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Published on January 21, 2021
While COVID Vaccine Supplies Are Limited, Should Anyone Be Getting a Second Dose?
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Published on January 14, 2021
What We Know About the New COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout Strategy
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Published on January 14, 2021
Give More People One Dose of the Coronavirus Vaccine for Now? Nope, Washington Officials Say
- Published on January 13, 2021
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Published on January 11, 2021
Biden Administration Plans to Release Nearly All COVID-19 Vaccine Doses to Accelerate Distribution
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Published on January 8, 2021
Laat Je Niets Wijsmaken: COVID-19 Slaat Ook in Afrika Keihard Toe
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Published on January 7, 2021
As COVID-19 Cases Surge, Doctors Are Divided Over Changing Vaccine Dosages to Reach More People
- Published on January 7, 2021
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Published on January 5, 2021
Why Two Doses of the New COVID-19 Vaccines Are Better Than One
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Published on January 5, 2021
Possibility of One-Dose Vaccine Raises Hopes for Faster Rollout
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Published on January 5, 2021
US Debates Whether UK Approach Is Better on COVID-19 Vaccinations
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Published on January 5, 2021
Amid COVID-19 Vaccine Shortages, Scientists Weigh the Benefits of a Single Dose Versus Two
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Published on January 5, 2021
Slaoui Proposes Half-Doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 Vaccine to Speed Vaccinations
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Published on December 21, 2020
A Single Vaccine Dose Appears to Protect Against COVID-19. So Why Are We Giving Two?
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Published on December 18, 2020
As the FDA Reviews Moderna’s Vaccine, Scientists Are Already Celebrating
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Published on December 16, 2020
‘It’s Definitely a Relief’: Mass. Health Care Workers Begin Receiving Coronavirus Vaccine
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Published on December 11, 2020
‘The Light Is at the End of the Tunnel’: Experts Optimistic About Pfizer Vaccine Clinical Data
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Published on December 10, 2020
Medical Experts React To Massachusetts’ Vaccine Distribution Plan
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Published on December 2, 2020
Across the State, Families Downsize Thanksgiving and Try to Find New Ways to Connect
- Published on November 25, 2020
- Published on November 25, 2020
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Published on November 25, 2020
‘A Sense of Hope’: Experts Weigh in on Early Data From Pfizer’s Coronavirus Vaccine Trial
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Published on November 13, 2020
With COVID Vaccine News, ‘There Is Light at the End of the Tunnel’
- Published on August 20, 2020
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Published on July 20, 2020
Moderna Vaccine Looks Safe, May Need Two Doses. Now to Test It in 30,000 People
- Published on July 16, 2020
- Published on July 8, 2020
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Published on July 8, 2020
Looking for the Mothers: Grief Counselors in Zambia Trying to Connect with Bereaved Parents
- Published on June 3, 2020
- Published on May 18, 2020
- Published on May 4, 2020
- Published on April 15, 2020
- Published on April 1, 2020
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Published on March 31, 2020
How to Grocery Shop Safely during Coronavirus without Being a Jerk
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Published on March 30, 2020
How Can You Safely Grocery Shop in the Time of Coronavirus? Here’s What Experts Suggest
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Published on March 25, 2020
Postal Workers Say They Lack Supplies, Training to Protect Themselves from Virus
- Published on June 19, 2019
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Published on May 9, 2019
How BU Professors Are Integrating the #MeToo Movement into Curriculum
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Published on March 26, 2019
Pertussis and Other Diseases Could Return If Vaccination Rates Lag
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Published on February 14, 2019
SPH Talk Explores Multicultural Perspectives on Death, Grieving
- Published on January 24, 2019
- Published on May 9, 2018
- Published on May 9, 2018
- Published on March 1, 2018
- Published on February 27, 2018
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Published on October 18, 2017
Vaccines, Public Policy, and the Monetary Value of a Human Life
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Published on September 21, 2017
Resurgence of Whooping Cough May Owe to Vaccine’s Inability to Prevent Infections
- Published on September 8, 2017
- Published on November 21, 2016
- Published on June 20, 2016
- Published on May 16, 2016
- Published on May 11, 2016
- Published on January 6, 2016
- Published on June 29, 2015
- Published on June 15, 2015
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Published on February 25, 2015
Testing the Effectiveness of mHealth Apps in Training Health Workers
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Published on January 1, 2015
SPH Study Aims to Help Developing Countries Curb Childhood Pertussis
- Published on August 20, 2014
- Published on July 15, 2014