Dorothy Reed Mendenhall
Encyclopedia
Dorothy Mabel Reed Mendenhall (1874-1964) was a well-known American
pediatrician and discoverer of the Reed-Sternberg cell
.
and became one of the first women to graduate from Johns Hopkins Medical School. She graduated "fourth in her class in 1900, she was awarded a prestigious internship at Johns Hopkins Hospital, serving under Dr. William Osler
. The next year she became a Pathology
fellow there under the direction of Dr. William Welch
. During this period Mendenhall taught bacteriology
, assisted at autopsies and undertook research on Hodgkin's disease. She made her best recognized contribution to medical science when she discovered the cell that is a primary characteristic of Hodgkin's lymphoma
and effectively disproved the common belief that the disease was a form of tuberculosis
. Mendenhall's findings, published in 1902, brought her international acclaim and the cell became known as the Reed cell (also called the Sternberg-Reed and Reed-Sternberg cell
)."
Next she accepted the first internship in pediatrics at the Babies Hospital in New York
(now the Babies & Children's Hospital - part of the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center). She worked under the direction or L.E. Holt, MD. He was a pioneer of pediatrics
, author of the first major textbook on the subject and author of "The care and feeding of children".
She left to marry Charles Mendenhall who had been hired as a member of the Physics
faculty at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
(UW). He became the Chairman of that department. They had four children—the first (a daughter) died one day after birth; the second (a son) died at age 1 in an accident. Another son, John "Blackjack" Mendenhall, became a renowned physician in his own right, and was also a faculty member at UW Medical school. He had first done a residency in pathology, as had his mother, but, following service in World War II, became a thoracic surgeon after he acquired tuberculosis himself. The youngest son of Dorothy Mendenhall, Thomas C. Mendenhall, was a professor of History at Yale University
, and served as the sixth President of Smith College
.
Dorothy Reed Mendenhall died of heart disease on July 31, 1964, at the age of 89.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
pediatrician and discoverer of the Reed-Sternberg cell
Reed-Sternberg cell
Reed–Sternberg cells are different giant cells found with light microscopy in biopsies from individuals with Hodgkin's lymphoma primarily due to EBV, and certain other disorders...
.
Biography
She did her undergraduate work at Smith CollegeSmith College
Smith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...
and became one of the first women to graduate from Johns Hopkins Medical School. She graduated "fourth in her class in 1900, she was awarded a prestigious internship at Johns Hopkins Hospital, serving under Dr. William Osler
William Osler
Sir William Osler, 1st Baronet was a physician. He was one of the "Big Four" founding professors at Johns Hopkins Hospital as the first Professor of Medicine and founder of the Medical Service there. Sir William Osler, 1st Baronet (July 12, 1849 – December 29, 1919) was a physician. He was...
. The next year she became a Pathology
Pathology
Pathology is the precise study and diagnosis of disease. The word pathology is from Ancient Greek , pathos, "feeling, suffering"; and , -logia, "the study of". Pathologization, to pathologize, refers to the process of defining a condition or behavior as pathological, e.g. pathological gambling....
fellow there under the direction of Dr. William Welch
William Welch
William C. Welch is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name The Messiah.-Professional wrestling career:...
. During this period Mendenhall taught bacteriology
Bacteriology
Bacteriology is the study of bacteria. This subdivision of microbiology involves the identification, classification, and characterization of bacterial species...
, assisted at autopsies and undertook research on Hodgkin's disease. She made her best recognized contribution to medical science when she discovered the cell that is a primary characteristic of Hodgkin's lymphoma
Hodgkin's lymphoma
Hodgkin's lymphoma, previously known as Hodgkin's disease, is a type of lymphoma, which is a cancer originating from white blood cells called lymphocytes...
and effectively disproved the common belief that the disease was a form of tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
. Mendenhall's findings, published in 1902, brought her international acclaim and the cell became known as the Reed cell (also called the Sternberg-Reed and Reed-Sternberg cell
Reed-Sternberg cell
Reed–Sternberg cells are different giant cells found with light microscopy in biopsies from individuals with Hodgkin's lymphoma primarily due to EBV, and certain other disorders...
)."
Next she accepted the first internship in pediatrics at the Babies Hospital in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
(now the Babies & Children's Hospital - part of the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center). She worked under the direction or L.E. Holt, MD. He was a pioneer of pediatrics
Pediatrics
Pediatrics or paediatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. A medical practitioner who specializes in this area is known as a pediatrician or paediatrician...
, author of the first major textbook on the subject and author of "The care and feeding of children".
She left to marry Charles Mendenhall who had been hired as a member of the Physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
faculty at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
(UW). He became the Chairman of that department. They had four children—the first (a daughter) died one day after birth; the second (a son) died at age 1 in an accident. Another son, John "Blackjack" Mendenhall, became a renowned physician in his own right, and was also a faculty member at UW Medical school. He had first done a residency in pathology, as had his mother, but, following service in World War II, became a thoracic surgeon after he acquired tuberculosis himself. The youngest son of Dorothy Mendenhall, Thomas C. Mendenhall, was a professor of History at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, and served as the sixth President of Smith College
Smith College
Smith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...
.
Dorothy Reed Mendenhall died of heart disease on July 31, 1964, at the age of 89.
External links
- http://asteria.fivecolleges.edu/findaids/sophiasmith/mnsss46_bioghist.html
- http://www.nlm.nih.gov/changingthefaceofmedicine/physicians/biography_221.html