Thomas Herald Rea (1929 – February 7, 2016) was an American dermatologist known for his research into treatments forleprosy.[1]
Rea was born in 1929 inThree Rivers, Michigan.[2] He graduated fromOberlin College in Ohio and theUniversity of Michigan in Ann Arbor's medical school, where he also completed his dermatology residency.[2]
Rea worked for theU.S. Army Medical Corps in Korea and in the dermatology department atNew York University before moving toLos Angeles in 1970.[2] From 1981 to 1996, he was the head of the dermatology division atUniversity of Southern California.[2]
Rea and his colleague Robert Modlin researched the role theimmune system played in symptoms of leprosy, which led to the development of new treatments for the disease that rendered it non-contagious and allowed leprosy patients to live normal lives.[2] Rea also supported the use ofthalidomide to treat a complication of leprosy.[2]
Rea died on February 7, 2016, at his home in theSan Gabriel Mountains, after a battle with cancer.[2]
