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Smallpox
Vaccination in England enforced by fines. Smallpox epidemic begins in England that lasts until 1859. Over 14,000 die. -
Vaccination Act of 1867
Vaccination Act of 1867 in England begins to elicit protest from the population and increase in the number of anti-vaccination groups. It compelled the vaccination of a baby within the first 90 days of its life. Those who objected would be continually badgered by magistrates and fined until the child turned 14. The law was passed on the assurance of medical officials that smallpox vaccinations were safe. -
1956
While the Jarvik-7 and its successors are the most well-known artificial hearts, it wasn’t the first to be made. One day at Montefiore Hospital in New York, Dr. Henry Heimlich invited his friend to observe an open-heart surgery. After watching the patient die, he used his knowledge of dummies to come up with the concept of the artificial heart.To this day, a completely implantable artificial heart remains one of the holy grails of medical engineering. -
world wide web
the world wide web is created. The era of digital health owes much to the rise of the internet, as popular health sites such as WebMD would not be in existence without it. Many of our current class and alumni companies also utilize the latest in web technologies in the same way: presenting useful information to doctors and their patients, and connecting them together to live better lives. -
2000
The Human Genome Project accelerates the rise in personalized medicine: In a collaboration between the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Institute of Health, and numerous other research institutions, the HGP sought to identify the 25,000 genes of a human genome. One of the many applications of this massive project, which are still being explored 13 years later, include a more comprehensive, genetic understanding of disease which can lead to a more individualized treatment of patients