Health Science Medical Figures

René Laënnec

Invented the stethoscope

Clara Barton

Formed the American Red Cross in 1881 and was a nurse during the Civil War

Ben Carson

Performed the first successful conjoined twins separation

Louis Pasteur

AKA “Germ Killer,” originated the process of pasteurization of milk to kill bacteria, and made Germ Theory

Florence Nightingale

Founder of modern nursing who helped at a military hospital during the Crimean War

Gregor Mendel

Discovered the basic principles of heredity and genetics, made Mendelism

Edward Jennar

“Father of Immunology” who pioneered concept of vaccine and made first vaccine out of cowpox to defend against smallpox

Hippocrates

Ancient Greek physician known as the “Father of Medicine” who is credited with writing the code of ethics known as the Hippocratic Oath

Joseph Murray

Performed the first successful kidney transplant on a non-related patient using immunosuppressive therapy

Frederick Hopkins

Discovered essential nutrient factors (vitamins)

William Kouwenhoven

Known as the “Father of CPR” and pioneered understanding electricity and the heart (defibrillation)

William Harvey

First to recognize and describe full circulation of blood in the human body

Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen

Discovered X-rays while experimenting with cathode rays

Watson and Crick

Discovered the molecular structure of DNA (double helix model)

Frederick Banting

One of the first to extract insulin from the pancreas (first done in dogs)

Alexander Flemming

Discovered penicillin

Anton van Loewenhoek

Invented the microscope

James Lind

Cured scurvy with the use of Vitamin C from citrus fruits (vitamin C deficiency)

Henry Judah Heimlich

Invented the Heimlich valve during the Vietnam War and invented the Heimlich maneuver which helps choking victims

James Blundell

Performed first successful blood transfusion in humans

Joseph Lister

Used disinfectants and antiseptics during surgery to prevent infection

Karl Landsteiner

Classified blood into four groups and discovered that when different blood types mix, red blood cells can clump/clot

Elizabeth Blackwell

First woman to receive a medical degree, founded the NY infirmary for women and children

Robert Jarvik

Invented first implantable artificial heart

Godfrey Hounsfield

Invented the computed axial tomography (CAT) scan

Ignaz Semmelweis

Discovered the cause of childbed fever (sepsis) and introduced antisepsis to medicine

Marie Curie

Pioneered the research of radioactivity and discovered radium and polonium

Robert Gallo and Luc Montagnier

Discovered the cause of the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and Human Papillomavirus (HIV)

Sir Humphry Davy

Discovered effects of nitrous oxide

Horace Wells

Pioneered the use of surgical anesthesia (nitrous oxide)

William Morton

Dental surgeon who gave the first successful public demonstration of ether anesthesia