Helen+Taussig

1898-1986 
 * //__ Helen Taussig __//**

**//__ Achievements __//** Dr. Helen Taussig was the first woman to become the president of the American Heart Association. For her actions and contributions in the Blue baby syndrome, she received the Medal of Freedom from President Lyndon Johnson. She was also awarded the Albert Lasker award for outstanding contributions to medicine. She was named to the National Women's Hall of Fame in 1973. ** Early life ** In her early life, Taussig was born on May 24, 1898, Cambridge, MA. Her father was Father was Frank William Taussig. Her mother was Edith Guild Taussig. As a child, Helen had dyslexia. Still, this did not stop her from attending Radcliffe College for women, and being a very smart medical student in school. In school she mainly researched heart disease. After, she graduated from the John Hopkins School of medicine in 1927. ** Inventions ** As one of her inventions, she developed the Blalock-Taussig shunt, an artery-like tube designed to deliver oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the heart. American surgeon Alfred Blalock also developed this Blalock-Taussig shunt. Taussig helped make early babies live longer by use of her machine. ** Profession ** Dr. Taussig was most well down for her work in cardiology. Taussig also did a lot of work on anoxemia, or blue baby syndrome. She was an American cardiologist. She was well known throughout the country for her work. Taussig is known as the founder of pediatric cardiology. **Known for** Taussig is best known for developing the Blalock-Taussig shunt. This particular machine helped to increase the pulmonary blood flow, and direct the blood flow to the lungs and relieve cyanosis while the infant is waiting for corrective or palliative surgery. She is also known for her extensive work in cardiology **Retirement** Taussig was a writer, publishing an astounding number of medical papers. After that she protested the badness of a drug called thalidomide. It had damaging effects on the newborns that used it. Because of the effects of the drug, Taussig went to Congress and protested the use of it. Thalidomide was banned from the United States forever. Sadly, Dr. Taussig died at 87 on May 20, 1986, Chester County, PA **//__Book: Trailblazers in science and technology By: Lisa Young__//** Websites used: Wikipedia, Google Chrome, Internet explorer, Encyclopedia Britannica. Citation: “Helen Taussig.” //Encyclopaedia Britannica Online.// Encyclopedia Britannica, 2009. Web. 1 September 2009.