Florence Rena Sabin (1871–1953) was an American medical scientist, educator, and public health advocate known for her pioneering research in anatomy, immunology, and tuberculosis. She was among the first women to gain prominence in medical research and education.
Born in Central City, Colorado, Sabin earned her B.S. from Smith College (1893) and her M.D. from Johns Hopkins University (1900.) She became the first female faculty member at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine (1902,) later rising to full professor in 1917.
Her research on the lymphatic system, blood cells, and tuberculosis led to significant medical advancements. Notable publications include An Atlas of the Medulla and Midbrain (1901,) a widely used anatomical textbook, and Franklin Mall: An Anatomist (1934,) a biography of her mentor. She authored over 100 scientific papers, shaping medical education and public health policy.
In 1925, Sabin became the first woman elected to the National Academy of Sciences. She later led Colorado’s public health reforms (1944–51,) improving tuberculosis control and healthcare policies.
Biographies include Edith G. Gelles’s Florence Sabin: Scientist and Teacher (1961) and Mary R. Mulkern’s Florence Sabin: Pioneer in Modern Medicine (1993.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Florence R. Sabin
The prohibition law, written for weaklings and derelicts, has divided the nation, like Gaul, into three parts—wets, drys, and hypocrites.
—Florence R. Sabin
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