C. Henry Kempe

C. Henry Kempe (April 6, 1922 – March 3, 1984) was a pioneering American pediatrician who is best known for his work in identifying and naming the Battered child syndrome. His groundbreaking research and advocacy brought significant attention to the issue of child abuse and led to major changes in both medical practice and public policy.

Early Life and Education

C. Henry Kempe was born in Breslau, Germany, in 1922. His family fled Nazi Germany in 1939, eventually settling in the United States. Kempe pursued his medical education at the University of California, Berkeley and later at the University of California, San Francisco, where he earned his medical degree.

Career

Kempe began his career in pediatrics and quickly became interested in the social and psychological aspects of child health. In 1962, he published a seminal paper titled "The Battered-Child Syndrome" in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). This paper was one of the first to describe the clinical manifestations of child abuse and to call for greater awareness and reporting of such cases by medical professionals.

Contributions to Child Welfare

Kempe's work led to the widespread recognition of child abuse as a significant social problem. He advocated for mandatory reporting laws, which require healthcare professionals to report suspected cases of child abuse to authorities. His efforts also contributed to the establishment of child protection services and the development of protocols for the medical evaluation of suspected abuse cases.

Legacy

C. Henry Kempe's contributions to the field of pediatrics and child welfare have had a lasting impact. The Kempe Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect at the University of Colorado is named in his honor and continues to advance research and education in the field of child protection.

Also see

• Battered child syndrome
• Child abuse
• Mandatory reporting in the United States
• Pediatrics