In Memoriam: Dr. Godfrey Oakley
June 1, 1940 – October 22, 2025
Global champion for folic acid fortification and birth defects prevention
It is with a heavy heart that we share the passing of our colleague, Dr. Godfrey P. Oakley, Jr., MD, MSPM, on October 22, 2025. Dr. Oakley was a towering figure in public health whose pioneering work in folic acid fortification has saved hundreds of thousands of lives and transformed global birth defects prevention.
Dr. Oakley’s career spanned decades of leadership, research, and advocacy. He served as Director of the Division of Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and later as Director of the Center for Spina Bifida Prevention at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health. He was board certified in pediatrics, genetics, and preventive medicine, and was an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine.
A key part of Dr. Oakley’s legacy is his relentless advocacy for fortification with folic acid, a type of vitamin B9, to prevent neural tube defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly. His research was a major catalyst for the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) mandate in 1998 to fortify enriched grains with folic acid—a policy that cut the prevalence of these birth defects by 50%.
Dr. Oakley often described folic acid as “the vaccine to prevent spina bifida,” and his passion for birth defect prevention was unmatched. “The way you turn a flour mill into a birth-defect prevention factory,” he explained, “is you put a cube of vitamins that has folic acid in this little gizmo called a feeder.” He believed simple, scalable solutions like food fortification could transform nutrition.
His advocacy extended globally. Dr. Oakley’s research, leadership, and energy helped encourage countries to adopt mandatory folic acid fortification policies. Today, over 70 countries mandate the fortification of foods like wheat flour and rice with folic acid.
Dr. Oakley was “a shining example of a scientist who has translated the knowledge gained through his research into practical applications that have had a tremendous impact on the lives of his fellow human beings,” said James Curran, MD, MPH, former dean of the Rollins School of Public Health. “We [were] proud to have Dr. Oakley as a member of our faculty and to share in the legacy he has created as a tireless advocate for the health of children worldwide.”
His achievements were recognized with numerous honors, including the American College of Epidemiology’s first Outstanding Contributions to Applied Epidemiology Award, the Bowman Gray Medical Alumni Distinguished Achievement Award, and multiple accolades from the American Public Health Association.
He was named Man of the Week on ABC News in 1996 and won New Zealand’s Extra Mile Award in 2001. Also in 2001, the Governor of Oklahoma declared September 13 and 14 Godfrey Oakley Days. In 2003, the EP Maxwell J. Schleifer Distinguished Service Award was presented to Dr. Oakley on Disability Awareness Night at an Atlanta Braves Game in recognition of his lifelong advocacy for the role of folic acid in reducing the incidence of neural tube defects.
Dr. Vijaya Kancherla, Director of the Center for Spina Bifida Prevention, Rollins School of Public Health professor, and Dr. Oakley’s longtime friend commented, “Godfrey was a mentor’s mentor. He was well-loved by students and colleagues at Rollins School of Public Health. He truly cared for babies with spina bifida, and families affected by this condition.”
Dr. Oakley’s impact is embedded in the DNA of the Food Fortification Initiative (FFI), which helps countries plan, implement, and monitor large-scale food fortification programs. Even in his final years, he remained engaged with FFI’s mission and work, providing expertise and perspective. His dedication never wavered, and his spirit continues to inspire.
“Godfrey was a unique individual with a true passion to eliminate the burden of neural tube defects,” FFI Director Scott Montgomery reflected. “This mission continued even after he stopped officially working. Godfrey never retired from his passion. His work has transformed our work and saved so many lives. He will leave a legacy of kindness and caring.”
The FFI team is honored to carry forward his vision through its ongoing efforts in food fortification and birth defects prevention. Dr. Oakley was more than a scientist—he was a mentor, a friend, and a humanitarian. His work has touched lives in every corner of the globe, and his absence will be felt profoundly.
Dr. Oakley’s life was a testament to the power of public health to change the world, and we will honor him by continuing the work he so deeply believed in.
Honoring His Legacy
We invite you to explore the work and impact of Dr. Oakley through the following tributes and interviews:
