USAID’s Champion for Change: Remembering Aryc W. Mosher

This World Sight Day, in loving memory of Aryc W. Mosher—an extraordinary individual who dedicated his life to the fight against the leading infectious cause of blindness and other neglected tropical diseases (NTDs)—we are celebrating his accomplishments and the transformative progress made to date to eliminate trachoma. While trachoma has persisted for millennia, much of the progress towards elimination of this disease has taken place in the last few decades. Aryc was a key public health professional working alongside countries and partners to end trachoma in this timeframe.

His Deep, Evolving Interest in Public Health

Aryc was singularly curious about life. That inquisitiveness, combined with a deep interest in public health and science, drove him to train as an epidemiologist, studying the origins and impact of disease. Throughout his career, at organizations like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and The Carter Center, Aryc’s professional areas of interest included a variety of diseases, such as: trachoma, lymphatic filariasis, Guinea worm, and malaria.

Most recently, while at USAID, Aryc’s work concentrated on trachoma—a fittingly complex disease for his skill and curiosity—and one of the oldest diseases known to humanity. Trachoma is a public health problem in 42 countries. The disease persists in communities with less financial resources for health and inconsistent access to clean water. If untreated, this bacterial infection can eventually morph into a painful, permanently blinding condition that can affect an individual’s ability to learn and work.

A Commitment to Public Health Impact

A champion for change, Aryc led USAID’s efforts to combat trachoma, guiding the Agency’s investment seeking to achieve trachoma elimination in more than 19 countries. Incredibly, seven of those countries have achieved elimination of the disease to date, including: Cambodia, Laos, Nepal, Ghana, Togo, Mali, and Benin.

Through his dedication and passion, Aryc supported efforts to improve community distribution of Zithromax in complex settings, championed alternative treatment protocols, and strengthened quality control and assurance measures for trichiasis and hydrocele surgery. His commitment to people living with the chronic impacts of NTDs motivated him to ensure high-quality treatment and care was integrated into programming.

Experienced in Partnership and Scholarship

Aryc was also heavily invested in the global NTD community itself. He valued partnership, serving as the Agency’s lead representative across the global trachoma community and as the primary liaison to countries in Africa supporting USAID’s NTD investments, including: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ethiopia.

A thought-leader and persistent scholar, Aryc represented USAID at leading technical and research conferences and events. Known for his expressive presentation-style, Aryc delivered compelling, memorable presentations and speeches designed to further interest and investigation into diseases of neglect. He was a dedicated researcher who contributed to the health evidence base through dozens of published scientific articles. Aryc’s interest in his work and skill in photography also motivated him to photograph local health heroes and people living with NTDs and to help tell their stories.

Aryc’s legacy lives on in the lives he touched through his work in the NTD community. His commitment to fighting trachoma, and other diseases, has served as a catalyst for progress in pursuit of a healthier and more equitable world. He is missed and will always be remembered.

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Aryc W. Mosher passed away on July 1, 2023. Join us in honoring Aryc. Add a written tribute to his memory.