March is Women’s History Month and The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum have joined together to commemorate and encourage the study, observance and celebration of the vital role of women in American history.
Bloom Ob/Gyn would like to specifically honor Dr. Virginia Apgar.
Best known for her rapid and simple method for assessing newborn viability (the Apgar score), she was also a leader in the emerging fields of Anesthesiology, Neonatology, and Teratology. She graduated from Mount Holyoke College in 1929 and began her medical training at Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons (P & S), one of only nine women in a class of ninety. Despite a promising performance in surgery, she was compelled by her mentor to pursue a residency in Anesthesiology and would later become one of the first female division chairs in that field. Her specific interest in Obstetric Anesthesia resulted in her attendance at over 17,000 births and her namesake newborn scorecard that we still use today. Dr. Apgar also received her Masters in Public Health and served as an appointee with the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis-March of Dimes. For these reasons – and many more – it’s women like Dr. Virginia Apgar who inspire us to be active, engaging, and always in pursuit of knowledge.
To learn more about Women’s History Month, CLICK HERE.
To learn more about Dr. Virginia Apgar, CLICK HERE.