Mary Ellen Avery, MD — pediatric medicine
Courtesy Mary Ellen Avery, MD, photograph by Bachrach
In the 1950s, Dr. Mary Ellen Avery’s (1927–2011) pioneering research efforts helped lead to the discovery of the main cause of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in premature babies. During a long career in academic medicine, Dr. Avery had a strong interest in helping train young physicians, particularly in pulmonary disease and neonatology. She was a role model and advocate for women entering the medical profession. Over the course of her medical career, she contributed significantly to the field of medicine as a researcher, educator, clinician, and administrator. In 1991, President George Bush conferred the National Medal of Science on Dr. Avery for her work on RDS.
Read more about Dr. Mary Ellen Avery.
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