10 Facts About Kenneth Blackfan

Early in his career, Kenneth Blackfan did work that identified the origin of cerebrospinal fluid.

Kenneth Blackfan was born on September 9,1883, in Cambridge, New York.

Kenneth Blackfan began his medical studies at the Albany Medical College, graduating at the age of only 22.

Kenneth Blackfan became bored with this and four years later in 1909 he returned to Albany seeking fresh challenges.

Kenneth Blackfan did a residency under John Howland starting in 1911 at Washington University in St Louis, and in 1913 Blackfan followed Howland to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.

Walker and Kenneth Blackfan discovered where cerebrospinal fluid originated by tracking dye injected into the cerebral ventricle of a dog.

Kenneth Blackfan eventually became an associate professor of pediatrics at Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1918, then moved to Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and finally to Harvard University where he became director of clinical services at Children's Hospital and professor of pediatrics.

Kenneth Blackfan occupied this position until his death in 1941.

Kenneth Blackfan was Louis K Diamond's mentor, and together they wrote the first collection of photographs of microscopic appearances of the Blood in Childhood disease.

Kenneth Blackfan died of lung cancer in 1941 at the height of his career.