It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our dear board member and friend, Dr. Godfrey Oakley. Godfrey also known as the ‘Godfather of Spina Bifida’ was a true giant in the public health world and his legacy lives on in every child saved from spina bifida because of folic acid.

At ReachAnother, we were deeply honored to have Godfrey’s voice and vision shaping our mission in Ethiopia. His decades-long fight to make folic acid fortification a global standard changed the future for millions of mothers and babies around the world. To us, he was an expert on SBH prevention but also an inspiration, a mentor, and a passionate champion for our work with SBH children in Ethiopia.

Rest well, Godfrey. We will miss you. Your impact lives on in every healthy birth and in every corner of the world where your wisdom took root. 

Dr. Godfrey Oakley was the Director of the Center for Spina Bifida Research, Prevention and Policy and a Professor in the Department of Epidemiology of the Rollins School of Public Health of Emory University, and the former Director of the Division of Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

While at CDC, he and his team provided the scientific and policy leadership critical to persuading the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to mandate folic acid fortification of “enriched” flour to prevent spina bifida F, a serious and disabling birth defect. Acknowledged as a worldwide expert in the field, Dr. Oakley actively monitors the scientific and policy issues related to global prevention of spina bifida F, and provides accurate and timely information to those considering fortification. He was board certified in pediatrics, genetics, and preventive medicine and was an elected member of the Institute of Medicine.