27 Facts About Virginia Apgar

Virginia Apgar was an American physician of Armenian ethnic background, obstetrical anesthesiologist and medical researcher, best known as the inventor of the Apgar Score, a way to quickly assess the health of a newborn child immediately after birth in order to combat infant mortality.

Virginia Apgar's father was a business executive and amateur astronomer whose amateur radio work exposed an espionage ring during World War I Virginia Apgar's older brother died early from tuberculosis, and her other brother had a chronic illness.

Virginia Apgar graduated from Westfield High School in 1925, knowing that she wanted to be a doctor from a young age.

Virginia Apgar graduated from Mount Holyoke College in 1929, where she studied zoology with minors in physiology and chemistry.

Virginia Apgar was discouraged by Allen Whipple, the chairman of surgery at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, from continuing her career as a surgeon because he had seen many women attempt to be successful surgeons and ultimately fail.

Virginia Apgar instead encouraged her to practice anesthesiology because he felt that advancements in anesthesia were needed to further advance surgery and felt that she had the "energy and ability" to make a significant contribution.

Virginia Apgar then studied for a further six months under Emery Rovenstine in New York at Bellevue Hospital.

Virginia Apgar later received a master's degree in public health at Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, graduating in 1959.

Virginia Apgar was the first woman to head a specialty division at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Virginia Apgar was placed in charge of the division's administrative duties and was tasked with co-ordinating the staffing of the division and its work throughout the hospital.

In 1953, she introduced the first test, called the Virginia Apgar score, to assess the health of newborn babies.

Virginia Apgar noticed this trend and began to investigate methods for decreasing the infant mortality rate specifically within the first 24 hours of the infant's life.

In 1959, Virginia Apgar left Columbia and earned a Master of Public Health degree from the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health.

From 1959 until her death in 1974, Virginia Apgar worked for the March of Dimes Foundation, serving as vice president for medical affairs and directing its research program to prevent and treat birth defects.

In 1967, Virginia Apgar became vice president and director of basic research at The National Foundation-March of Dimes.

Virginia Apgar traveled thousands of miles each year to speak to widely varied audiences about the importance of early detection of birth defects and the need for more research in this area.

Virginia Apgar proved an excellent ambassador for the National Foundation, and the annual income of that organization more than doubled during her tenure there.

Virginia Apgar served the National Foundation as Director of Basic Medical Research and vice-president for Medical Affairs.

Virginia Apgar was a lecturer and then clinical professor of pediatrics at Cornell University School of Medicine, where she taught teratology.

Virginia Apgar was the first to hold a faculty position in this new area of pediatrics.

Virginia Apgar was equally at home speaking to teens as she was to the movers and shakers of society.

Virginia Apgar avoided women's organizations and causes, for the most part.

Virginia Apgar played the violin and her brother played piano and organ.

Virginia Apgar traveled with her violin, often playing in amateur chamber quartets wherever she happened to be.

Virginia Apgar was an enthusiastic gardener and enjoyed fly-fishing, golfing and stamp collecting.

Virginia Apgar never married or had children and died of cirrhosis on August 7,1974, at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center.

Virginia Apgar has continued to earn posthumous recognition for her contributions and achievements.