Virginia Apgar was a trailblazing American physician whose work revolutionized the field of neonatology. Born in 1909, Apgar became an obstetrical anesthesiologist and medical researcher, best known for developing the Apgar score. This scoring system, introduced in 1952, provided a standardized method for assessing the health of newborns immediately after birth, significantly impacting neonatal care practices worldwide.
Early Life and Education
Virginia Apgar was born and
raised in Westfield, New Jersey, as the youngest of three children. Her father was a business executive and amateur astronomer, and her family faced personal challenges, including the early death of her older brother from tuberculosis. Despite these hardships, Apgar excelled academically and graduated from Westfield High School in 1925, knowing from a young age that she wanted to become a doctor.
Apgar pursued her undergraduate studies at Mount Holyoke College, where she majored in zoology with minors in physiology and chemistry. She then attended Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, graduating fourth in her class in 1933. Initially, Apgar trained in surgery but was encouraged to switch to anesthesiology, a field that was gaining recognition as a medical specialty.
Career and Development of the Apgar Score
Virginia Apgar became the first woman to head a specialty division at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, where she established the division of anesthesia. Her work in obstetrical anesthesiology led her to develop the Apgar score, a tool designed to quickly assess a newborn's health based on five criteria: appearance, pulse, grimace, activity, and respiration.
The Apgar score was first presented in 1952 and published in 1953, quickly gaining acceptance in the medical community. It provided a simple yet effective way to evaluate newborns' health and determine the need for immediate medical intervention. The score became a standard practice in hospitals across the United States and remains a vital tool in neonatal care today.
Legacy and Impact
Virginia Apgar's contributions to medicine extended beyond the Apgar score. She was a leader in the fields of anesthesiology and teratology and played a significant role in bringing attention to the problem of birth defects. In 1959, she joined the March of Dimes Foundation, where she worked to prevent and treat birth defects and advocated for universal vaccination against rubella.
Apgar's legacy continues to be celebrated, and her work has had a lasting impact on neonatal care and public health. Her development of the Apgar score has saved countless lives and remains a cornerstone of newborn assessment. Virginia Apgar's dedication to improving the health of newborns and her pioneering spirit have left an indelible mark on the field of medicine.
