Eugene Roland Kellersberger, MD, DTM&H (1889-1966), an American doctor, was the first medical general secretary of American Leprosy Missions from 1940 to 1953. He established the Bibanga Agricultural Leprosy Colony in the Congo in 1930 and, as a result of his pioneer work among the victims of leprosy in Africa, in 1957 he was awarded the Croix de l’Officier de la Couronne, one of Belgium’s highest awards for meritorious service in the Congo. He was one of the authors of the resolution adopted at the 5th Leprosy Conference in 1948 urging that the term “leper” be abandoned. In 1953 he advocated the advanced ideas that all leprosy patients should be assured of rehabilitation techniques to prevent deformities and that training for a useful occupation and assurance of job opportunities should be made available. The book Doctor of Happy Landings, which he coauthored with his wife, described his travels and visits to leprosaria and leprosy patients throughout the world.
International Journal of Leprosy, Centennial Festskrift edition, Vol 41, No 2. 1973.