The History of Doctors

AMA Brings Innovation

1847

The American Medical Association is established, bringing forth great advancements in medicine and medical technology. https://www.bartonassociates.com/history-of-physicians

First American Medical Directory

1906

The AMA creates the first medical directory in America, listing over 128,000 licensed physicians in North America. https://www.ama-assn.org/about/ama-history/ama-history

Band-Aid Invented

1921

Earle Dickson invents the Band-Aid http://www.datesandevents.org/events-timelines/10-history-of-medicine-timeline.htm

Insulin Introduced

1922

Insulin is first used to treat diabetes. http://www.datesandevents.org/events-timelines/10-history-of-medicine-timeline.htm

First Hospital Blood Bank

1937

Doctor Bernard Fantus establishes first hospital-based blood bank at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. https://www.bartonassociates.com/history-of-physicians

AMA Opens Office in Washington

1943

The AMA opens its first Washington, D.C office. https://www.ama-assn.org/about/ama-history/ama-history

First Flu Vaccine

1945

The first vaccine for influenza (flu) is developed. http://www.datesandevents.org/events-timelines/10-history-of-medicine-timeline.htm

First Polio Vaccine

1955

The first vaccine for polio is created by Jonas Salk. http://www.datesandevents.org/events-timelines/10-history-of-medicine-timeline.htm

AMA Fights Polio

1961

AMA recommends nationwide vaccination with the Sabin oral vaccine to prevent polio. https://www.ama-assn.org/about/ama-history/ama-history

First Human Organ Transplant

Dec 3, 1967

Louis Washkansky receives the first successful organ transplant to a human, performed by surgeon Christiaan Barnard. He lived for nineteen days before dying to pneumonia caused by his weakened immune system. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-human-heart-transplant

First EMR Developed

1972

The Regenstrief Institute develops the first Electronic Medical Records system, which would rise in popularity later in history with the widespread usage of computers. https://www.bartonassociates.com/history-of-physicians

AMA Fights Tobacco

1972

The AMA begins a war on smoking, pressuring the United States government to reduce the use of tobacco products. https://www.ama-assn.org/about/ama-history/ama-history

First Test Tube Baby Born

Jun 25, 1978

Louise Brown is the first human conceived and birthed through vitro fertilization. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/worlds-first-test-tube-baby-born

Smallpox Eradicated

1980

The disease Smallpox is eradicated by the World Health Organization through aggressive vaccination. https://www.cdc.gov/smallpox/history/smallpox-origin.html

First Artificial Heart

1982

Dr. William DeVries successfully transplants an artificial heart into a human, allowing the patient to live for 112 more days before dying. https://www.bartonassociates.com/history-of-physicians

First Facial Transplant

2005

After being mauled by her dog Isabelle Dinoire is the first human patient to receive a partial facial transplant, conducted by French physicians Jean-Michel Dubernard and Bernard Devauchelle. https://www.bartonassociates.com/history-of-physicians

First Transplanted Printed Thumb

2016

Team of physicians successfully transplants a working 3D printed titanium thumb onto a woman who had her original thumb amputated. https://www.bartonassociates.com/history-of-physicians