Dr. Virginia Apgar (born 1909) was an American obstetrical anaesthetist who developed the Apgar Score, introduced in 1952, a scoring system, a method of evaluating an infant shortly after birth to assess its well-being and to determine if any immediate medical intervention is required..
Apgar's innovation transformed neonatal care worldwide, providing a rapid, standardized means of identifying infants in need of immediate medical attention. Through her advocacy and research, she heightened awareness of the importance of early neonatal assessment and intervention, saving countless lives.
She graduated fourth in her class from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons (P&S) and completed a residency in surgery at P&S in 1937 and went on to specialise in anesthesiology and became the first women professor at P&S.She moved on from Columbia to become a major force and figure in the National Foundation, March of Dimes, and was a tireless campaigner for the prevention of birth defects through education.She carried out research in public health, birth defects and premature birth, promoted rubella vaccination and Rh testing.
She died in 1974 at age 65.
No comments:
Post a Comment