Medical History and Advancements: 20th Century to Today

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers key historical figures, dates, and medical terminology from the 20th century through the modern era as described in the lecture notes.

Quackery

Practices that were prevalent in early 1900s healthcare due to a lack of medical knowledge and diagnostics.

Western medicine

Healthcare where professionals like doctors, nurses, and pharmacists treat disease using evidence-based practices such as drugs, surgery, and treatment protocols.

Holistic care

An approach involving the care of the mind, body, and spirit while focusing on physical, social, mental, and spiritual wellness.

Medicare and Medicaid

Governmental healthcare programs that were both established in 1965.

Karl Landsteiner

The scientist who discovered ABO blood groups in 1901, saving lives by making blood transfusions safer.

Insulin

A medication discovered in 1922 used for the treatment of diabetes.

Sir Alexander Fleming

The individual who discovered penicillin in 1928 after noticing mold killed staph bacteria in his lab.

HeLa cells

Immortal cells discovered in 1951 from Henrietta Lacks' cervical cancer that have the ability to regenerate themselves.

Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin

The researchers who developed the polio vaccine in 1955 to prevent the disease from killing or crippling people.

Francis Crick and James Watson

The scientists who discovered the structure of DNA in 1953.

Christian Barnard

The surgeon who performed the first successful human-to-human heart transplant in 1967.

Ben Carson

The neurosurgeon who successfully performed a 24-hour surgery to separate conjoined twins in 1987.

Human Genome Project

A project completed in April 2003 that allowed for the development of genomic medicine, including personalized care and gene therapy.

Telemedicine

A 21st-century technology that created opportunities for virtual healthcare.

CAM

An acronym for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, which is increasingly combined with Western medicine in modern healthcare trends.