Virginia Apgar
Born 1909 · Age 116
American physician, obstetrical anesthesiologist and medical researcher best known for creating the 10-point Apgar score for assessing newborn health; leader in anesthesiology, neonatology and teratology and a public-health advocate at the March of Dimes.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Westfield, New Jersey
Virginia Apgar was born to Charles E. Apgar and Helen May Apgar in Westfield, NJ.
Active undergraduate student and musician
Played violin in the orchestra, participated in athletics and campus activities while maintaining strong academics.
Entered Mount Holyoke College
Began undergraduate studies, majored in zoology and supported herself with part-time jobs.
Graduated Westfield High School
Completed secondary education and had determined by this time to pursue medicine.
Received AB from Mount Holyoke College
Graduated with a degree in zoology (AB).
Entered Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Began medical training; one of only nine women in a class of ninety.
Completed MD at Columbia P&S
Graduated from medical school (fourth in her class) at the height of the Great Depression.
Entered two-year surgical internship at Presbyterian Hospital
Started surgical internship at Presbyterian Hospital (New York-Presbyterian/Columbia Medical Center).
Entered medical school with substantial student debt
Reported to have accrued over $4,000 in student debt upon finishing medical school during the Depression (context: 1933).
Guided to pursue anesthesiology by mentor Allen Whipple
After the first year of internship, mentor advised she switch from surgery to anesthesiology because of limited opportunities for women surgeons.
Residencies under Waters and Rovenstine
Attended residency programs with Ralph Waters (University of Wisconsin) and Emery Rovenstine (Bellevue Hospital) to train in anesthesiology.
Trained in Presbyterian nurse-anesthetist program
Completed a year of training in Presbyterian's nurse-anesthetist program after internship.
Returned to Presbyterian as Director of Division of Anesthesia
Appointed director of a new Division of Anesthesia within the Department of Surgery — first woman to head a division at Presbyterian.
Built physician-staffed anesthesiology service and training program
Transformed Presbyterian's anesthesia service from nurse-based to physician-staffed and established anesthesiology education program.
Anesthesiology recognized as medical specialty
By mid-1940s anesthesia began to be acknowledged as a formal medical specialty with required residency training.
Division became academic Department; appointed first woman full professor at Columbia P&S
When anesthesia became a department, Apgar was appointed full professor of anesthesiology—the first woman to hold full professor rank at Columbia's P&S.
Focused research on obstetrical anesthesia and neonatal outcomes
Devoted more time to research on effects of maternal anesthesia on newborns and lowering neonatal mortality.
Instrument-making and music pursuits
Began making instruments with a friend; together they made two violins, a viola, and a cello in the 1950s.
Developed the 10-point Apgar score
Created a rapid 5-category scoring method (heart rate, respiration, muscle tone, reflexes, color) to evaluate newborns at 1 and 5 minutes after birth.
Published 'A Proposal for a New Method in the Evaluation of the Newborn Infant'
First formal publication describing the Apgar scoring method (Curr Res Anesth Analg / related publication history).
Worked with colleagues to correlate Apgar with neonatal blood chemistry
Collaborative research with L. Stanley James, Duncan Holaday and others demonstrated physiologic correlates (oxygenation, acidity) for low scores.
Published 'Infant Resuscitation'
Published article on newborn resuscitation techniques (Postgrad Med, May 1956).
Published JAMA 'Evaluation of the newborn infant; second report'
Collaborative publication linking Apgar scoring with neonatal physiology and outcomes (JAMA, Dec 13, 1958).
Sabbatical leave and began MPH studies at Johns Hopkins
Took a sabbatical to gain proficiency in statistics and public health to study birth defects and prevention.
Collaborative multi-institution study relating Apgar to neonatal survival
Large collaborative project involving many institutions (reporting on ~17,221 babies) showed predictive value of 1- and 5-minute Apgar scores.
Extensive public speaking and media outreach
Delivered thousands of talks, appeared on radio/TV and wrote columns to educate the public about birth defects and newborn health.
Increased March of Dimes fundraising and outreach
As an effective ambassador, she helped more than double the NF's annual income during her tenure.
Had attended over 17,000 births
By the late 1950s Apgar had personally attended >17,000 births, informing her scoring observations.
Received MPH from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health
Completed Master of Public Health degree (1959).
Joined National Foundation (March of Dimes) as head of Division of Congenital Malformations
Left Columbia to direct March of Dimes programs on birth defects and congenital malformations.
Orchid named after her
New orchid variety was named for Virginia Apgar by Harold Patterson; she was an avid gardener.
Acronym APGAR coined
The letters APGAR (Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration) were coined as a mnemonic for the score.
Honorary Doctorate from Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania
Received an honorary doctorate recognizing contributions to medicine and public health.
Active in rubella immunization campaigns
Spearheaded March of Dimes programs to promote rubella immunization after the 1964-65 rubella epidemic.
Promoted Rho(D) immune globulin (RhoGAM) use
Advocated use of Rh immune globulin to prevent hemolytic disease of the newborn due to Rh incompatibility.
Honorary Doctorate from Mount Holyoke College
Mount Holyoke awarded her an honorary doctorate.
Lecturer in Pediatrics at Cornell University School of Medicine
Served as lecturer teaching teratology and pediatrics (1965–1971).
Published 'The newborn (Apgar) scoring system: Reflections and advice'
Reflection and guidance on the use and interpretation of the Apgar score (Pediatr Clin North Am 1966).
Featured in March of Dimes film 'Apgar on Apgar'
March of Dimes produced a film showcasing the Apgar score and its use in newborn assessment.
Elizabeth Blackwell Award from AMWA
Received the Elizabeth Blackwell Award from the American Medical Women's Association.
Distinguished Service Award from American Society of Anesthesiologists
Honored for her service and pioneering work in anesthesiology.
Director of Basic Medical Research (March of Dimes)
Served as Director of Basic Medical Research at the National Foundation (1967–1968).
Advocated for federal rubella immunization appropriations (testimony)
Urged passage of funding for rubella immunization before a U.S. Senate committee (1969 testimony referenced in sources; active advocacy 1968–1969).
Advocated before U.S. Senate committee for immunization appropriations
Urged federal funding for immunization programs (rubella) in testimony to a Senate committee, pressing for prevention of congenital defects.
Took flying lessons
In her fifties and early sixties she took flying lessons and pursued piloting as a personal interest (letter about progress in 1970).
Promoted to Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at Cornell
From lecturer to clinical professor (1971–1974), the first faculty position in teratology.
Appointed Vice-President for Medical Affairs (March of Dimes)
Served as Vice-President for Medical Affairs (NLM source lists term 1971–1974).
Helped convene the first Committee on Perinatal Health
Contributed to a joint committee (AMA, ACOG, AAFP, AAP, March of Dimes) to improve maternal-fetal health and reduce infant mortality.
Published 'Is My Baby All Right?' (with Joan Beck)
Authored a consumer-oriented book on birth defects and infant health.
Lecturer in Medical Genetics at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health
Appointed lecturer in medical genetics (1973).
Alumni Gold Medal for Distinguished Achievement (Columbia P&S)
Received Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons Alumni Gold Medal.
Named Woman of the Year in Science by Ladies' Home Journal
National recognition as Woman of the Year in Science.
Ralph M. Waters Award (American Society of Anesthesiologists)
Received the Ralph M. Waters Award from the ASA.
Published over 60 scientific articles by end of career
Authored more than sixty scientific articles and numerous essays on anesthesiology, newborn resuscitation and birth defects.
Left enduring clinical practice standard
By her death, the Apgar score had become standard practice worldwide — a legacy reducing neonatal mortality and shaping neonatology.
Died of liver disease
Passed away at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center after progressive liver disease.
Commemorative U.S. postage stamp issued
U.S. Postal Service issued a commemorative stamp honoring Virginia Apgar (posthumous recognition).
Inducted into National Women's Hall of Fame
Posthumous induction honoring her contributions to medicine and child health.
Key Achievement Ages
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