Abe and Yak - The interactions of Abraham M. Lilienfeld and Jacob Yerushalmy in the development of modem epidemiology (1945-1973)

This paper explores the relationship between 2 persons much involved in the development of modem epidemiology, Jacob Yerushalmy and Abraham M. Lilienfeld. The formation of that relationship is described and the resulting influences by each individual on the other's professional work are discussed. Interactions between these 2 men contributed to several areas of epidemiologic development, including the effects of misclassification on observational study data, elements of epidemiologic causal inference, population-based linked databases, and the adaptation of statistical techniques by the epidemiology community. The impact of their association and its implications for modem epidemiologists are considered.