Mason Andrews
Encyclopedia
Dr. Mason Andrews was the physician who delivered America's first in vitro
baby, a president of the American Gynecological and Obstetrical Society and a visionary leader of the late 20th century renaissance of his home town. Dr. Andrews served on the Norfolk City Council for 26 years and was mayor from 1992-1994.
(EVMS), which he had played a leading role in creating just a few years earlier.
Writing at the time of Andrews' death, Patricia Sullivan of The Washington Post
observed that "[t]he birth of the first U.S. 'test-tube baby' gave hope to hundreds of thousands of U.S. women who were unable to become pregnant. Carr was the first of about 330,000 babies who have since been born through in vitro fertilization in the United States, according to the American Society of Reproductive Medicine
."
of the need for a new medical school.
In 1964, the Eastern Virginia Medical Center Authority was formed with the charge of developing the new medical school. Andrews served as the chairman of the authority from 1964-1970. Speaking in 2006, EVMS President Harry T. Lester stated that "Dr. Andrews is rightfully seen as the prime mover behind EVMS."
Under Andrews' leadership, a medical center complex was built in an area that had once been slums. The medical complex now consists of the EVMS campus, Norfolk General Hospital, the Medical Tower, the Norfolk Public Health Department, Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters
and the Tidewater Rehabilitation Institute.
In addition, as chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at EVMS, Andrews was instrumental in bringing the team of Drs. Howard and Georgeanna Jones
to Norfolk. The Drs. Jones specialized in treating infertility problems. In 1981, they brought international attention to Norfolk with the role they played in Elizabeth Carr's birth. With the success of the in-vitro fertilization program, the Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine was founded in 1983.
mall. MacArthur Center, considered a risky investment, has generated millions of dollars in direct tax revenue to the city above and beyond its debt service and has become a catalyst for development of Norfolk's historic retail center along Granby Street.
Other downtown projects promoted by Andrews included the Norfolk campus of Tidewater Community College
.
“In many ways, he was the architect of downtown as we now know it,” said Cathy Coleman, of the Downtown Norfolk
Council. Quoted by The Virginian-Pilot
in 2006, Coleman remarked that "(Andrews') imprint is everywhere, from the waterfront to Main Street to Tidewater Community College to the medical center to the streetscapes – it just goes on and on.”
Andrews promoted a downtown development strategy that combined meticulous planning with millions of dollars of city money to lure private investment. Once the region’s retail core, downtown had been decimated by suburban shopping malls. Waterfront property was considered so cheap that it was used for parking. Andrews championed downtown Norfolk as the Hampton Roads
region’s business and entertainment center. The waterfront, he said, should become the focal point of downtown life. By the time of his death, what was once regarded as his farfetched vision had been realized.
, and later received his Bachelor's degree in Chemistry from Princeton University
in 1940 and his M.D. from Johns Hopkins University
in 1943 where he completed his residency as well. Dr. Andrews taught Obstetrics and Gynecology at Johns Hopkins and later at EVMS.
Andrews began a successful OB/GYN private practice in Norfolk in 1950.
Dr. Andrews was married to Sabine Alston Goodman Andrews for 57 years. They had two daughters, Jean and Mason.
Elizabeth Carr would grow up to become a newspaper reporter in Augusta, Maine
and later worked for boston.com
. "The running joke in my family was that Mason, whom we called Mace the Ace, had the plans for Waterside at the same time I was about to be born," she said. "My parents always said we were Mace's two babies."
She said Andrews made a point of staying in touch with her, always called her on holidays and sent her a wedding gift.
"I grew up on Mason's lap," she said. "Every time we got together, he would make a point to take my family out to dinner and would always make sure I was keeping my grades up."
In vitro
In vitro refers to studies in experimental biology that are conducted using components of an organism that have been isolated from their usual biological context in order to permit a more detailed or more convenient analysis than can be done with whole organisms. Colloquially, these experiments...
baby, a president of the American Gynecological and Obstetrical Society and a visionary leader of the late 20th century renaissance of his home town. Dr. Andrews served on the Norfolk City Council for 26 years and was mayor from 1992-1994.
America's first "test tube baby"
Dr. Andrews had attended the birth of about 5,000 babies in Norfolk before delivering Elizabeth Carr by Caesarian section on December 28, 1981, at the Eastern Virginia Medical SchoolEastern Virginia Medical School
Eastern Virginia Medical School commonly referred to as EVMS, in Norfolk, Virginia is a public-private medical school founded by the citizens of Hampton Roads, Virginia...
(EVMS), which he had played a leading role in creating just a few years earlier.
Writing at the time of Andrews' death, Patricia Sullivan of The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
observed that "[t]he birth of the first U.S. 'test-tube baby' gave hope to hundreds of thousands of U.S. women who were unable to become pregnant. Carr was the first of about 330,000 babies who have since been born through in vitro fertilization in the United States, according to the American Society of Reproductive Medicine
American Society of Reproductive Medicine
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine is an organization that wants to advance the "art, science, and practice of reproductive medicine". It provides a forum for lay public, researchers, physicians and affiliated health workers through education, publications, and meetings...
."
Creation of a medical school
Andrews' community service began during the 1950s as a member of the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce and the Health Welfare and Recreation Planning Council. While serving as president of the Norfolk County Medical Society, Andrews appointed a bipartisan committee to study the need for a medical school in the area. The study was able to convince the Virginia General AssemblyVirginia General Assembly
The Virginia General Assembly is the legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the oldest legislative body in the Western Hemisphere, established on July 30, 1619. The General Assembly is a bicameral body consisting of a lower house, the Virginia House of Delegates, with 100 members,...
of the need for a new medical school.
In 1964, the Eastern Virginia Medical Center Authority was formed with the charge of developing the new medical school. Andrews served as the chairman of the authority from 1964-1970. Speaking in 2006, EVMS President Harry T. Lester stated that "Dr. Andrews is rightfully seen as the prime mover behind EVMS."
Under Andrews' leadership, a medical center complex was built in an area that had once been slums. The medical complex now consists of the EVMS campus, Norfolk General Hospital, the Medical Tower, the Norfolk Public Health Department, Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters
Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters
Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters , located in Norfolk, Virginia, is the only freestanding children's hospital in Virginia and the home to one of the nation's top pediatric residency programs....
and the Tidewater Rehabilitation Institute.
In addition, as chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at EVMS, Andrews was instrumental in bringing the team of Drs. Howard and Georgeanna Jones
Georgeanna Seegar Jones
Georgeanna Seegar Jones was part of the husband and wife team which pioneered in vitro fertilization in the United States. Her husband was Dr. Howard Jones....
to Norfolk. The Drs. Jones specialized in treating infertility problems. In 1981, they brought international attention to Norfolk with the role they played in Elizabeth Carr's birth. With the success of the in-vitro fertilization program, the Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine was founded in 1983.
Norfolk visionary
During his tenure on the city council (1974-2000), Dr. Andrews was instrumental in the redevelopment of the downtown waterfront. Andrews introduced the developer of the Baltimore Inner Harbor, James Rouse, to Norfolk. Rouse designed the Waterside Festival Marketplace for the Norfolk waterfront. City officials largely credit Andrews for the opening of Waterside as well as Town Point Park and Nauticus on the waterfront and for the city’s bold decision to spend tens of millions of dollars to open the $300 million MacArthur CenterMacArthur Center
The MacArthur Center is a shopping center of the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. It is majority-owned and operated by the Taubman Company.-Mall Highlights:...
mall. MacArthur Center, considered a risky investment, has generated millions of dollars in direct tax revenue to the city above and beyond its debt service and has become a catalyst for development of Norfolk's historic retail center along Granby Street.
Other downtown projects promoted by Andrews included the Norfolk campus of Tidewater Community College
Tidewater Community College
Tidewater Community College is a two-year higher education institution in South Hampton Roads with campuses in Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Virginia Beach — and serving approximately 46,000 students. The school is known locally by its abbreviation, TCC.-History:The school was founded...
.
“In many ways, he was the architect of downtown as we now know it,” said Cathy Coleman, of the Downtown Norfolk
Council. Quoted by The Virginian-Pilot
The Virginian-Pilot
The Virginian-Pilot is a daily newspaper based in Norfolk, Virginia, and serving the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, southeastern Virginia, the Eastern Shore of Virginia, and northeastern North Carolina. The flagship property of Landmark Media Enterprises, The Pilot is Virginia's largest daily...
in 2006, Coleman remarked that "(Andrews') imprint is everywhere, from the waterfront to Main Street to Tidewater Community College to the medical center to the streetscapes – it just goes on and on.”
Andrews promoted a downtown development strategy that combined meticulous planning with millions of dollars of city money to lure private investment. Once the region’s retail core, downtown had been decimated by suburban shopping malls. Waterfront property was considered so cheap that it was used for parking. Andrews championed downtown Norfolk as the Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads is the name for both a body of water and the Norfolk–Virginia Beach metropolitan area which surrounds it in southeastern Virginia, United States...
region’s business and entertainment center. The waterfront, he said, should become the focal point of downtown life. By the time of his death, what was once regarded as his farfetched vision had been realized.
Education & family
Dr. Andrews graduated from Maury High SchoolMatthew Fontaine Maury High School
Matthew Fontaine Maury High School, one of five city comprehensive high schools, is a high school located in historic Ghent area of Norfolk, Virginia...
, and later received his Bachelor's degree in Chemistry from Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in 1940 and his M.D. from Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
in 1943 where he completed his residency as well. Dr. Andrews taught Obstetrics and Gynecology at Johns Hopkins and later at EVMS.
Andrews began a successful OB/GYN private practice in Norfolk in 1950.
Dr. Andrews was married to Sabine Alston Goodman Andrews for 57 years. They had two daughters, Jean and Mason.
Elizabeth Carr would grow up to become a newspaper reporter in Augusta, Maine
Augusta, Maine
Augusta is the capital of the US state of Maine, county seat of Kennebec County, and center of population for Maine. The city's population was 19,136 at the 2010 census, making it the third-smallest state capital after Montpelier, Vermont and Pierre, South Dakota...
and later worked for boston.com
Boston.com
Boston.com is a regional website that offers news and information about Boston, Massachusetts and its surroundings. It claims to be one of the most visited regional websites in the United States....
. "The running joke in my family was that Mason, whom we called Mace the Ace, had the plans for Waterside at the same time I was about to be born," she said. "My parents always said we were Mace's two babies."
She said Andrews made a point of staying in touch with her, always called her on holidays and sent her a wedding gift.
"I grew up on Mason's lap," she said. "Every time we got together, he would make a point to take my family out to dinner and would always make sure I was keeping my grades up."
See also
- "Excerpts from Dr. Mason Andrews’ speeches, essays", The Virginian-Pilot, October 14, 2006
- http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/archives/2006/10/20/news/16294.shtmlKrauss, Sam Fox, "Andrews '40 left mark on medicine", The Daily PrincetonianThe Daily PrincetonianThe Daily Princetonian is the daily independent student newspaper of Princeton University. It is published five days a week from September to May and three days a week during the University's Reading Period in January and May.- Finances :...
, October 20, 2006] - "EVMS to name building for Mason Andrews", Eastern Virginia Medical School, January 25, 2007
- Mason Andrews Service and Science Building at the Norfolk Campus of Tidewater Community College