Helen Taussig
Born 1898 · Age 127
American cardiologist; founder of pediatric cardiology; co-originator of the Blalock-Thomas-Taussig shunt; advocate in banning thalidomide; long-time Johns Hopkins clinician and professor.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Helen Brooke Taussig born to Frank W. Taussig and Edith Thomas Guild.
Mother died of tuberculosis
Taussig's mother, Edith Thomas Guild, died when Helen was about 11 — a formative family event.
Contracted tuberculosis as a child (period of illness)
Taussig herself was ill with tuberculosis for several years after childhood; this affected schooling.
Partial deafness after ear infection (childhood onset)
Ear infection in childhood left Taussig partially deaf; later progressed to near-total deafness in adulthood.
Graduated Cambridge School for Girls
Completed secondary education at the Cambridge School for Girls.
Attended Radcliffe College (two years)
Studied at Radcliffe College for two years; was a champion tennis player during this period.
Earned B.A. from University of California, Berkeley
Graduated with a bachelor's degree from UC Berkeley (Phi Beta Kappa membership noted in sources).
Studied pre-med courses at Harvard/Boston University
Took courses in histology, bacteriology and anatomy; Harvard would not award women degrees then, leading to attendance at Boston University classes where she was segregated.
Admitted as full-degree candidate to Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Transferred to Johns Hopkins School of Medicine (one of the few schools then admitting women as degree candidates).
First scientific paper published (ox/ventricle muscle study)
Published 'Rhythmic Contractions in Isolated Strips of Mammalian Ventricle' (Taussig & Meserve) while an anatomy student at Boston University.
Earned M.D. from Johns Hopkins
Completed medical degree at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Archibald Fellowships awarded (two fellowships, 1927–1930)
Received two Archibald Fellowships during early career at Johns Hopkins.
Cardiology fellowship and pediatrics internship (1927–1930)
Served one year as cardiology fellow and two years as pediatrics intern at Johns Hopkins Hospital.
Appointed head of Children's Heart Clinic, Harriet Lane Home
Became chief of the pediatric heart clinic at Johns Hopkins' Harriet Lane Home and served in that role until 1963.
Developed tactile diagnostic methods and fluoroscopy use
Adapted to progressive deafness by lip-reading and 'listening' with fingertips; pioneered simultaneous use of x‑ray/fluoroscopy for infant cardiac diagnosis.
Proposed artificial shunt concept to colleagues
Suggested surgically creating an artificial ductus arteriosus (systemic-to-pulmonary shunt) to improve oxygenation in cyanotic infants.
Laboratory experimentation for the shunt (animal studies)
Alfred Blalock and Vivien Thomas conducted extensive experiments (roughly ~200 dogs) to develop a surgical shunt based on Taussig's concept.
First patient: Eileen Saxon (outcome)
Eileen Saxon initially improved (color changed from blue to pink and weight gain) after the Nov 9, 1944 operation but later became cyanotic and died before age 2; the operation proved surgical correction of cyanotic heart disease possible.
First human Blalock-Thomas-Taussig shunt performed
On Nov 9, 1944 Blalock (surgeon) and Vivien Thomas (surgical technician) performed the operation on 15‑month‑old Eileen Saxon — marking the first clinical application of Taussig's concept.
Three children operated on successfully within months
By 1945 the operation had been performed on three infants with notable improvement — the technique began to spread after presentations and publications.
Published surgical results in JAMA
Blalock and Taussig published their early surgical results demonstrating benefit of the shunt in JAMA (1945).
Published 'Congenital Malformations of the Heart'
Released her magnum opus — a foundational clinical and anatomical study that helped establish pediatric cardiology as a specialty.
E. Mead Johnson Award and Chevalier, Legion d'Honneur
Received multiple honors in 1947 recognizing contributions to pediatrics and medicine, including being named Chevalier (knight) of the French Legion d'Honneur.
Passano Foundation Award (shared with Alfred Blalock)
Award for outstanding contribution to medical science — first time award was shared and first time awarded to a woman.
Described Taussig–Bing anomaly (with Richard Bing)
First description (Taussig & Bing) of the cardiac malformation later named Taussig–Bing syndrome (a form of double-outlet right ventricle).
Clinic milestone: >1,000 shunts performed
By 1951 the Blalock-Thomas-Taussig shunt team had operated on over 1,000 children with a mortality rate around 5%; clinic became international referral center.
Honorary medal from American College of Chest Physicians
Recognized by the American College of Chest Physicians for contributions to cardiopulmonary medicine.
Albert Lasker Award and Feltrinelli Award (Italy)
Received the prestigious Lasker Award for outstanding contributions to medicine (for the 'blue baby' operation); also awarded the Italian Feltrinelli prize.
Elected Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences; Eleanor Roosevelt Award
Multiple honors in 1957 recognizing scholarly contributions; continued rising stature in medicine.
Second woman at Johns Hopkins to be promoted to full professor
Taussig's promotion made her one of the earliest women to attain full professorship at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
Promoted to full professor at Johns Hopkins
Became full professor at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine — one of the first women to attain that rank at the institution.
Second (expanded) edition of 'Congenital Malformations of the Heart'
Major expansion of her foundational text into two volumes published as a second edition.
Investigated phocomelia cases in Germany (thalidomide link)
After hearing of increased cases of limb malformations in Europe, traveled to Germany in Jan 1962 to examine affected infants and confirmed association with thalidomide.
Campaign to block thalidomide approval in U.S. (advocacy launch)
After confirming link between thalidomide and limb defects in Europe, Taussig launched a U.S. campaign — speaking, writing and lobbying to prevent FDA approval.
Retired from Johns Hopkins (formal retirement)
Formally retired as director of the Harriet Lane Home and clinician at Johns Hopkins but continued teaching, research and advocacy.
Gold Heart Award and AAUW Achievement Award
Received multiple recognitions in her retirement year for longstanding contributions to pediatric cardiology.
Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom
Received the United States' highest civilian honor from President Lyndon B. Johnson for contributions to medicine and public health.
University of Göttingen names cardiac clinic in her honor
International recognition: Göttingen named its cardiac clinic after Taussig.
First woman president of the American Heart Association
Elected president of the AHA — noted as first woman and as a pediatrician in that role (widely cited milestone).
Testified in the U.S. on dangers of thalidomide
Spoke and testified to U.S. regulatory bodies / Congress (sources vary on forum) opposing approval of thalidomide due to birth defects seen in Europe.
Received Elizabeth Blackwell Award
Honor presented by Hobart and William Smith Colleges recognizing outstanding contributions by a woman in medicine.
John Howland Award (American Pediatric Society)
Received Pediatrics' highest honor from the American Pediatric Society.
First woman Master of the American College of Physicians
Elected as the first female Master of ACP — a notable professional leadership milestone.
Elected to American Philosophical Society and inducted into National Women's Hall of Fame
Multiple honors in 1973 recognizing lasting impact on medicine and women's history.
Elected to National Academy of Sciences
Elected to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences for her scientific contributions (elected 1973).
Received Milton S. Eisenhower Medal for Distinguished Service
Johns Hopkins awarded Taussig the Milton S. Eisenhower Medal recognizing distinguished service.
Moved to retirement community in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
Relocated to a retirement community but continued periodic research and collaborations with University of Delaware.
Awarded Elizabeth Blackwell Medal (AMWA)
Recognized by the American Medical Women’s Association with its Elizabeth Blackwell Medal.
Career publications total recorded (129 papers)
Sources report Taussig authored 129 scientific papers over her career, 41 of which were published after her 1963 retirement.
Died in automobile collision
Died from injuries sustained in a car collision while driving friends to vote in a local election; donated her body to Johns Hopkins.
Portrayed in HBO film 'Something the Lord Made'
Taussig was portrayed by Mary Stuart Masterson in the HBO film about Vivien Thomas and the 'blue baby' operation; the film won multiple awards.
Johns Hopkins names a medical college and center in her honor
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine named one of its four colleges and the Helen B. Taussig Congenital Heart Disease Center in her honor (posthumous recognition).
Helen B. Taussig Research Award established at Johns Hopkins
The Helen B. Taussig Research Award began being given to postdoctoral fellows in basic sciences and clinical departments at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
Key Achievement Ages
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