Sand, René, 1877-1953

René Sand (3 January 1877 in Ixelles – 23 August 1953 in Brussels) was a Belgian doctor, social worker, promoter of social medicine, and co-founder of World Health Organization. Sand studied medicine at the Free University of Brussels and later became interested in social issues in medicine. He worked for the Belgian Red Cross during World War I, and after the war, he became an expert on contemporary trends in social work. He founded the first national training institute for social workers in Belgium and was appointed secretary-general of the League of Red Cross Societies in 1921. Sand was arrested by the Gestapo in September 1944 and sent to Dachau concentration camp. He was freed on 29 April 1945 by American troops. He also played a significant role in creating the World Health Organization. René Sand died in 1953, and the René Sand Prize was established in his honor.