Virginia Apgar
1909–1974 (age 65)
Physician
Biography
Virginia Apgar was a pioneering physician whose career in anesthesiology blossomed into a campaign for newborn health, culminating in the creation of the Apgar Score in 1952 to quickly assess the condition of infants. Her insistence on precise, humane care made her a leading advocate for safe deliveries and immediate neonatal response.
She continued her advocacy through leadership roles with the March of Dimes and in public health, lecturing around the world and consulting with governments to reduce infant mortality. Her calm authority and insistence on scientific rigor transformed the way millions of babies were greeted and cared for in their first moments.