SACRED LEGACY ARCHIVES™

Mary Ellen Avery

1927-05-06 – 2011-12-04

Portrait of Mary Ellen Avery
Taken at the Witness Seminar “Prenatal Corticosteroids for Reducing Morbidity and Mortality after Preterm Birth” held by the History of Twentieth Century Medicine GroupCredit: History of Modern Biomedicine Research Group

Life & Legacy

Mary Ellen Avery (May 6, 1927 – December 4, 2011), also known as Mel, was an American pediatrician. In the 1950s, Avery's pioneering research efforts helped lead to the discovery of the main cause of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in premature babies: her identification of surfactant led to the development of replacement therapy for premature infants and has been credited with saving over 830,000 lives. Her childhood, mentors, drive, and education inspired Avery to be the visionary that she was. In 1991 President George H. W. Bush conferred the National Medal of Science on Avery for her work on RDS.

Occupation & Career

pediatrician, university teacher, physician

Education

Wheaton College; Johns Hopkins School of Medicine; Moorestown Friends School

Accomplishments, Inventions & Publications

National Medal of Science; Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science; Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; honorary doctor of Harvard University; E. Mead Johnson Award; Walsh McDermott Medal; John Howland Award; Alma Dea Morani Award

Legacy Highlights

Honors & Awards

Alma Dea Morani Award · E. Mead Johnson Award · Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences · Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science · honorary doctor of Harvard University · John Howland Award · National Medal of Science · Walsh McDermott Medal

Employer

Harvard Medical School

Organizations & Memberships

American Academy of Arts and Sciences · National Academy of Sciences

Education & Institutions

Johns Hopkins School of Medicine · Moorestown Friends School · Wheaton College

Verified Legacy Record

Sources & Provenance

  1. Wikidata population candidate Q515101 — wikidata View source

Are you related to Mary Ellen Avery?

Family members can contribute records, photographs and stories or request stewardship of this legacy.

Claim this legacy or contribute family history

View Family Tree