Helen B. Taussig

Helen Brooke Taussig (May 24, 1898 – May 20, 1987) was an American cardiologist who is credited with founding the field of pediatric cardiology. She is best known for her work in developing the concept for a procedure that would extend the lives of children born with Tetralogy of Fallot, also known as "blue baby syndrome". This work was done in collaboration with surgeon Alfred Blalock and surgical technician Vivien Thomas, leading to the development of the Blalock-Thomas-Taussig Shunt.

Early Life and Education[edit | edit source]

Helen B. Taussig was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Frank William Taussig, an economist at Harvard University, and his wife, Edith Guild. Despite facing challenges with dyslexia and partial deafness from an early age, Taussig pursued her education with determination. She graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a bachelor's degree in 1921 and initially aimed to study at Harvard Medical School. However, due to the institution's policy against admitting women at the time, she instead enrolled at the Boston University School of Medicine, where she earned her medical degree.

Career[edit | edit source]

After completing her medical degree, Taussig moved to Johns Hopkins University where she began her career in pediatric cardiology, a field that was virtually nonexistent at the time. At Johns Hopkins, she became the first woman to hold a full professorship in the School of Medicine, and she was appointed the head of the Pediatrics Division of the Johns Hopkins Hospital's Cardiology department.

Taussig's most notable contribution to medicine was her work on the treatment of "blue baby syndrome". She hypothesized that the condition was caused by a lack of oxygenated blood reaching the body, which could be remedied by surgically creating a shunt to allow more blood to flow from the lungs to the rest of the body. This hypothesis led to the development of the Blalock-Thomas-Taussig Shunt in collaboration with Alfred Blalock and Vivien Thomas. The success of this procedure marked the beginning of modern cardiac surgery and significantly reduced the mortality rate of children suffering from Tetralogy of Fallot.

Legacy[edit | edit source]

Helen B. Taussig's contributions to pediatric cardiology and her pioneering work in the treatment of congenital heart defects have left a lasting legacy in the field of medicine. She received numerous awards and honors throughout her career, including the Lasker Award in 1954 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1964. Taussig was also a dedicated advocate for the regulation of thalidomide, a drug that caused birth defects, which further demonstrated her commitment to the well-being of children.

Taussig continued to work and teach until her retirement in 1963, although she remained active in the medical community until her death in 1987. Her life and work have inspired generations of medical professionals, and she is remembered as a pioneer in her field.