Kenneth Blackfan
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Blackfan was an American pediatrician, born on September 9, 1883 in Cambridge, New York, and died November 1941.
Blackfan began his medical studies at the Albany Medical School
of Union University, New York
, graduating at the age of only 22. Initially, he returned home to join his father in general practice. He became bored with this, however, and four years later in 1909 he returned to Albany seeking fresh challenges. Encouraged by Richard Pearse
, he decided to do some pediatric training in the Founding Hospital in Philadelphia.
He did a residency under John Howland starting in 1911 at Washington University in St. Louis
, and in 1913 Blackfan followed Howland to Johns Hopkins Hospital
in Baltimore. Here he worked with Walter Dandy
(described of the Dandy-Walker syndrome
) on internal hydrocephalus
. Walker and Blackfan discovered where cerebrospinal fluid
originated by tracking dye injected into the cerebral ventricle of a dog.
Blackfan eventually became an associate professor of pediatrics at Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1918, then moved to Cincinnati Children's Hospital
Medical Center and finally to Harvard University
where he became director of clinical services at Children's Hospital
and professor of pediatrics. He occupied this position until his death in 1941.
At Harvard, his main interests were nutrition
and hematology
. He was Louis K Diamond
’s mentor, and together they wrote the first collection of photographs of microscopic appearances of the Blood in Childhood disease. In 1938, they described Diamond-Blackfan syndrome
. He also mentored Sidney Farber
the father of modern cancer chemotherapy
. The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
, next door to Children's Hospital
in Boston is partially named after Sidney Farber.
Blackfan died of lung cancer in 1941, age 58, at the height of his career.
Children's Hospital in Boston is on Blackfan Street which is named after Blackfan.
Blackfan began his medical studies at the Albany Medical School
Albany Medical College
Albany Medical College is a medical school located in Albany, New York, United States. It was founded in 1839 by Amos Dean, Dr. Thomas Hun and others, and is one of the oldest medical schools in the nation...
of Union University, New York
Union University (New York)
Union University is a federation of several graduate and undergraduate institutions which are located in the New York State, United States. Its constituent entities include Albany College of Pharmacy, Albany Law School, Albany Medical College, Dudley Observatory, Graduate College of Union...
, graduating at the age of only 22. Initially, he returned home to join his father in general practice. He became bored with this, however, and four years later in 1909 he returned to Albany seeking fresh challenges. Encouraged by Richard Pearse
Richard Pearse
Richard William Pearse , son of Cornish immigrants from St Columb near Newquay, a New Zealand farmer and inventor who performed pioneering experiments in aviation....
, he decided to do some pediatric training in the Founding Hospital in Philadelphia.
He did a residency under John Howland starting in 1911 at Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis is a private research university located in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1853, and named for George Washington, the university has students and faculty from all fifty U.S. states and more than 110 nations...
, and in 1913 Blackfan followed Howland to Johns Hopkins Hospital
Johns Hopkins Hospital
The Johns Hopkins Hospital is the teaching hospital and biomedical research facility of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, located in Baltimore, Maryland . It was founded using money from a bequest by philanthropist Johns Hopkins...
in Baltimore. Here he worked with Walter Dandy
Walter Dandy
Walter Edward Dandy, M.D. was an American neurosurgeon and scientist. He is considered one of the founding fathers of neurosurgery, along with Victor Horsley and Harvey Cushing...
(described of the Dandy-Walker syndrome
Dandy-Walker syndrome
Dandy–Walker syndrome , or Dandy–Walker complex, is a congenital brain malformation involving the cerebellum and the fluid filled spaces around it. A key feature of this syndrome is the partial or even complete absence of the part of the brain located between the two cerebellar hemispheres...
) on internal hydrocephalus
Hydrocephalus
Hydrocephalus , also known as "water in the brain," is a medical condition in which there is an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles, or cavities, of the brain. This may cause increased intracranial pressure inside the skull and progressive enlargement of the head,...
. Walker and Blackfan discovered where cerebrospinal fluid
Cerebrospinal fluid
Cerebrospinal fluid , Liquor cerebrospinalis, is a clear, colorless, bodily fluid, that occupies the subarachnoid space and the ventricular system around and inside the brain and spinal cord...
originated by tracking dye injected into the cerebral ventricle of a dog.
Blackfan eventually became an associate professor of pediatrics at Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1918, then moved to Cincinnati Children's Hospital
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center is a 523-bed pediatric hospital located in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is currently ranked the third-best pediatric medical center in the United States by US News and World Report...
Medical Center and finally to Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
where he became director of clinical services at Children's Hospital
Children's Hospital Boston
Children's Hospital Boston is a 396-licensed bed children's hospital in the Longwood Medical and Academic Area of Boston, Massachusetts.At 300 Longwood Avenue, Children's is adjacent both to its teaching affiliate, Harvard Medical School, and to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute...
and professor of pediatrics. He occupied this position until his death in 1941.
At Harvard, his main interests were nutrition
Nutrition
Nutrition is the provision, to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary to support life. Many common health problems can be prevented or alleviated with a healthy diet....
and hematology
Hematology
Hematology, also spelled haematology , is the branch of biology physiology, internal medicine, pathology, clinical laboratory work, and pediatrics that is concerned with the study of blood, the blood-forming organs, and blood diseases...
. He was Louis K Diamond
Louis K Diamond
Louis K. Diamond was an American pediatrician, known as the "father of pediatric hematology".Diamond was born in Kishinev, Bessarabia, at the time part of the Russian Empire. His family emigrated to the United States in 1904...
’s mentor, and together they wrote the first collection of photographs of microscopic appearances of the Blood in Childhood disease. In 1938, they described Diamond-Blackfan syndrome
Diamond-Blackfan anemia
Diamond–Blackfan anemia , also known as Blackfan–Diamond anemia and Inherited erythroblastopenia, is a congenital erythroid aplasia that usually presents in infancy. DBA patients have low red blood cell counts . The rest of their blood cells are normal...
. He also mentored Sidney Farber
Sidney Farber
Sidney Farber was a pediatric pathologist. He was born in 1903 in Buffalo, New York, the third oldest of a family of 14 children. He was a graduate of the University of Buffalo in 1923. He took his first year of medical school at the Universities of Heidelberg and Freiburg in Germany. He entered...
the father of modern cancer chemotherapy
History of cancer chemotherapy
The era of cancer chemotherapy began in the 1940s with the first use of nitrogen mustards and folic acid antagonist drugs. Cancer drug development has exploded since then into a multi-billion dollar industry...
. The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Dana–Farber Cancer Institute is part of a Comprehensive Cancer Center designated by the National Cancer Institute. It is a major affiliate of Harvard Medical School and is located in the Longwood Medical Area in Boston, Massachusetts.-Overview:...
, next door to Children's Hospital
Children's Hospital Boston
Children's Hospital Boston is a 396-licensed bed children's hospital in the Longwood Medical and Academic Area of Boston, Massachusetts.At 300 Longwood Avenue, Children's is adjacent both to its teaching affiliate, Harvard Medical School, and to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute...
in Boston is partially named after Sidney Farber.
Blackfan died of lung cancer in 1941, age 58, at the height of his career.
Children's Hospital in Boston is on Blackfan Street which is named after Blackfan.