CME INDIA Presentation by ⚜ Dr. M. Gowri Sankar, MD, Senior Assistant Professor, Dept. of General Medicine, Government Medical College and ESI Hospital, Coimbatore.
Today’s History Feature:
Dr. Virginia Apgar
(Jun 7, 1909 – Aug 7, 1974)
💠American Obstetrical Anaesthesiologist
💠Inventor of APGAR Score
Her contributions…
🔸Apgar was brought up in a family of musicians. She learned to play violin during her childhood and continued to play till her last days.
🔸Her medicine interest might have come through her father as he was an amateur inventor of homemade telescopes and radios.
🔸Unfortunately, she had seen her elder brother die due to tuberculosis. Another brother was struggling with chronic illness. These painful experiences would also have stimulated her to get into medicine.
🔸She completed her medical studies and graduated from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1933.
🔸Her mentor Dr. Allen Whipple encouraged her to practice anaesthesiology, after seeing her energy level and ability.
🔸In a short time, she got trained in anaesthesiology in 1937 and got appointed as a Director in newly established Division of Anaesthesia in Columbia University.
🔸She was the first woman to became a Professor at the Columbia University in 1949 and continued her service until 1959.
🔸During her service period, she initiated her clinical research. In 1950, she introduced the APGAR Score. This was the first standard method to assess the viability of new-born babies.
🔸The methodology was simple and prompt and was thus quickly adopted by all Obstetricians. Thereby the Infant mortality rate was greatly reduced and the Foundation of Neonatology was placed.
🔸Her last name APGAR was used as a mnemonic in APGAR Score:
A – Appearance
P – Pulse rate
G – Grimace
A – Activity
R – Respiration
🔸Further, she served as a Vice President for “March of Dimes,” which is an organization focusing on the prevention of polio, premature death and birth defect. She held the position from 1959 to 1974 – until her death.
🔸Additionally, she promoted Universal Vaccination during the Rubella epidemic in 1964 and then effectively promoted the use of Rh testing for mothers.
🔸Apart from all the above, she had a great love for music. She even made her own violin and used to carry it wherever she went to play with the local musicians.
A Day to Commemorate…
An Innovative Physician Who Devoted Her Life to Save the New-born
Dr. Virginia Apgar 🙏🏼
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Highlighting historical facts is very motivational tool for younger generations
History of Medicine is driving force in ongoing Medical research activities and nourishes the spirit of it in essence
It is excellent narrotion on the Music loving first Woman professor Dr . VIRGINIA APGAR .We are greatful for the guidence APGAR to the obstetricians to save the new born !