William Henry Sebrell (1901-1992) was a physician, researcher in nutrition, administrator, and educator. He is known for studies on vitamin B: riboflavin (1930-39), Pantothenic Acid (1939), Folic Acid (1942), and Thiamin. He also conducted research into pellagra and the role of diet in cirrhosis of the liver. He was the first to recognize and describe the dietary deficiency disease, ariboflavinosis.

Dr. Sebrell received his M.D. from the University of Virginia Medical School in 1925. He then worked at the United States Public Health Service from 1926-1955, becoming the Assistant Surgeon General in 1950. During World War II he served as Co-Director of the Nutrition Education Division of the War Food Administration from 1941-1945. Afterwards he took Nutrition Surveys in the U.S. Zone of Occupation in Europe from 1945-1947. Then he served as Director of the Experimental Biology and Medicine Institute from 1947-1950. Then he was the Director of the National Institutes of Health from 1950-1955. Dr. Sebrell then was Professor of Nutrition and Head of the Institute of Human Nutrition at Columbia University from 1957-1971; Emeritus, 1971. He served as Executive Director of Weight Watcher's International from 1971-1992.

He received the following awards: Mead Johnson Prize, 1940; Research Medal, Southern Medical Association, 1946; Legion of Merit, 1946; Joseph Goldberger Award, A.M.A., 1952; Conrad Elvehjem Award, American Society for Clinical Nutrition, 1968; National Order of the Cedar (Lebanon), 1971. Also Dr. Sebrell was a member of the following organizations: Fellow of American College of Physicians; American Public Health Association; American Academy of Arts and Sciences; American Institute of Nutrition (Pres., 1955); Associate Fellow, American Academy of Pediatrics; Member of American Society for Clinical Nutrition (Pres., 1963); Association of American Physicians; and American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.