Professor Creswell Eastman, a distinguished endocrinologist renowned for his groundbreaking work in iodine deficiency, passed away peacefully at his home at the age of 85. His decades of research and advocacy have spared millions from future cognitive deficits caused by iodine deficiency. His extraordinary success in saving lives has won him the moniker of “the man who saved a million brains.” Eastman was born in Narrandera, New South Wales, on 30 March 1940. His early life experiences instilled in him a lifelong commitment to advancing public health and nutrition.
As a child, Eastman went to local public schools in Lismore and was heavily engaged with community church activities. His family experienced struggles after World War II, relocating to Evans Head where they resided in a marquee. As girls fell around him, to be married off, it was the death of his grandfather when he was 11 that proved to be a turning point. His grandfather’s legacy gave Eastman the financial means to attend some of the best educational institutions. This support helped him become a ground-breaking leader of his field.
A Pioneering Career
His career was highlighted by many achievements in the mitigation and understanding of iodine deficiency. In the 1950s and 60s, he observed that Australians had high iodine levels due to seafood and milk consumption. In the early 1980s, he traveled to Sarawak across the border in Malaysia. There, he discovered a common lack that profoundly altered the course of his career.
This understanding sparked in Eastman a fierce devotion to the cause. He was convinced that access to iodine is a basic human right required to realize genetic potential. Through his work, his lens transitioned from primarily research to applications for use in the public health space.
“I went through some form of epiphany here, I thought, ‘what’s the point of just doing research here? We’ve got to translate that research into public health’” – Professor Creswell Eastman
Through his advocacy, Eastman shored up and enshrined highly detrimental policies in law. His work in China was staggering in its reach. Through him, salt iodisation was lobbied for and exerted influence on food stocks. Thanks to his efforts, China passed a national law requiring that most salt intended for human consumption be iodised.
Global Impact
Eastman’s influence extended beyond Australia. His program soon spread to encompass Tibetan refugee settlements. Through the distribution of iodised oil capsules to pregnant women, he achieved the elimination of new cases of children born with health defects associated with an iodine deficiency. As a doctor, his approach underscored the role of preventative health measures in tackling nutritional deficiencies.
He further rallied the efforts in Australia, leading iodised salt that became the common ingredient in bread in 90% of households. This significant evolution started back in 2009. This change helped protect public health and emphasizes the importance of community awareness about dietary iodine.
“We’ve got to change the world. We’ve got to change what’s happening in China. So I then started on a totally different mission” – Professor Creswell Eastman
Yet even Eastman’s remarkable career was met with significant pushback, including the food industry’s response from the political right. His fierce determination propelled huge progress. The World Health Organization went so far as to admit that iodine deficiency was becoming a serious problem, even in developed nations such as Australia.
“The World Health Organization started painting Australia on the map with iodine deficiency as a Third World country” – Professor Creswell Eastman
Family Reflections
Eastman’s daughter, Kate Eastman, reflected on her father’s dedication to public health and his strong opinions on dietary practices. She went on to tell how he never stopped promoting the use of iodised salt.
“My father’s message, if you had his words ringing in your ears, it’s use iodised salt. So if you’re in the supermarket … always get the iodised salt” – Kate Eastman
Kate sprinkled in funnier anecdotes from her childhood that illustrated how my father’s disdain for fancy salts was a constant.
“He accused me and my sister of our love of pink rock salt and fancy gourmet salts as being ‘an aberration’ … and his grandchildren were not suffering from any iodine deficiency” – Kate Eastman
We hope it can reach Creswell’s legacy of compassion and commitment, fulfilling his dream of an exceptional standard of global health. Today, his work continues to challenge and inspire medical communities and families around the world.
