Heroes of Progress: Virginia Apgar

Virginia Apgar, an American anesthesiologist and medical researcher, created a test to assess the health of new-born babies quickly and to find out if infants need immediate neonatal medical care.

The 'Apgar Score' continues to be used as a standard practice worldwide, and is accredited with saving the lives of millions of babies.

• She was born on June 7, 1909, in Westfield, New Jersey.
• Apgar focused on a career in the medical industry due to her two brother's medical problems. (One died due to tuberculosis, and the other lived with a chronic illness.)
• In 1929, Apgar earnt a degree in zoology, and in the same year, she began her medical training at Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons.
• She obtained her MD in 1933 and began a two-year surgical internship. She was advised to make a career in a new field of study, anesthesiology.
• She later became the director of the newly established division of anesthesia at the Presbyterian Hospital.
• In 1949, she became the first female to hold a full professorship in anesthesiology at P&S, affording her more time to do research.